The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-08-16 00:00:00

.‘

ST. HELEN'S AND RUNCORN-GAP RAILWAY

600
This line, which has been silently pursuing its opal' of
for the last two years, or a little more, may be said to be
...0
completed, and fairly open for business. During the last la of
of
the transit of coals from the collieries in the neighbourbowip.
St. Helen's, to the dock at Widness Marsh, has rapidlytbs
creased, and it is now no uncommon thing to send dowtator
line, and ship, from 400 to 600 tons per day. This rate crop of
nage, however, is far below that which the line is caPau'o"
conveying. It is calculated, and experience proves, that f
eO4
1200 to 1500 tons can readily be transported from St. Ileaocg
to the docks, and shipped for sea on the same day. The .ev,
which the company has constructed on this side of the IVler'A
at the termination of the railway opposite Runcorn, ig 5 1)10
ciently capacious to hold more than forty vessels, and is 013.3t0r
of admitting vessels of 390 tons burden. Each coal proprietod
is provided with his own branch-line from the main road;,
ip-
his own shipping-machine at the dock, by which means aT the
terruption from his neighbour's trade is prevented, aa"fr,ol
business is carried on with much ease and convenience.
proof of the facilities afforded for dispatch, a vessel has 14.00
brought into the dock, 70 tons of coal discharged into her 'do
the waggons, and in forty minutes has again been staaos,
with all her sails set, down the channel for Liverpool. `
we believe, is no uncommon occurrence.
The locomotive engines on this line are exceedingly et/rtells
ful, being capable of taking from 150 to 200 tons of coals 11001
rate of eight and ten miles per hour, and at a much flre.jei
speed if required ; and, as the line of railway is only eight 70
in length, more than 1800 tons of coal can be conveyed 1
Stl . Helen's to the docks in twelve hours.
n addition to several important branch roads from the Sao
line to several of the principal collieries already completed
in use, others are about,to be constructed to some of the 11-liti
tant mines in the vicinity of St. Helen's, so that in a few m° opt
the present trade of the railway will probably be increased reel)
least three times its preseut extent. the shares, which have od
for a time below par, are now obtained with difficulty at 90,bottt
in a few weeks it is confidently expected they will be 8
their original value.
• g iii
The flourishing town of St. Helen's is rapidly increasoteen
extent and population, particularly since the railway has, aclf
drawing to a close. Three large establishments have air cof
been built by the side of the railway, for the manufacta! bas
copper, glass, and for chemical works, the latter of which is
commenced business; and there are also other important v
in contemplation. ry
There is also a considerable import trade, more than the s,,d
prietors contemplated, in salt, timber, pig-iron, pipeclaYl. of
other raw materials for the different manufacturing tovnigach
St. Helen's, Bolton, Wigan, and Manchester, who find it !at:lir
cheaper to send the vessels into the railway-docks, aauvect
charge at once into the waggons, and send their materials " 001,
to their destination ; thus avoiding the heavy dues at Livel •
as well as expensive cartage to places of conveyance.