Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-04-19
Completion of the Britannia Tubular
Bird se.

The opening of this magnificent structure
looked forward 10 with 50 much interest, took
place on March 5h.
AT g. O'Clock in the morning three powerful
engines, (;Le Cambria, the 81. David aud the
Pegasus Vi from - t. 90 horse power each
decorated vita flag Of all nations and union
Jacks, steamed up ard harne.sed together, start
ed from the Bangor station. At : o'clock the
adventurous convoy, moving at a speed of sew
Ell miles an hour, were lost sight Of in the re-
cess Of the vast IRON corridor. They were pro-
peIitd at Slow pace, with view OF boldly pro-
wing, by means OF dead weight, the Cabre OF
The bridge, at every hazard. The total weight
of the locomotive was 80 tons. The appeal =
ance of the interior Of the tube daring the in
teresting eXi erinent was Of novel and femar-
kable character
Ihe pau>es that occurred during the progress
Of the transit furnished an imposing view oi the
interior OF the gigantic structure, which, as
contrasted with that OF tunnel Oi similar length
was rendered comparatively cheerful by the re-
currence at Il t'rvals Of IOophoIes OF ight, which
serve the three useful purposes of vcn,ila>ug
and lighting, and divestlng the tube OF steam
from the passing engines. The locomotives
werc hronr'' 'ard.tiil IN the ceutre OF each
Of the 4i, .... without causing the sliuht-
est 'tuu o.d cuon. The fr,t process-that
ot gong l.t ...u the tube and returning-oc-
cup.ed altDa.. ..u minutes.
TIn -'.H e rmeutai convoy that went
tWeniy.ipur heavily laden
uuge blocks Of Byn0o coal =,
va DE. v.- ..-. included, an aggregate weight
Of 3uU tons in5 was drawn deliberately
through, al the rate Of from eight to ten miles
an hour the steam working at quarter power
A GREATNESS silence prevailed until the train
came out with colors flying on the other side ol
the tube, when loud acclami,tions arose followed
at intervals by the rattle OF artillery down the
straits. Upon the return, which occupied about
seven minutes, similar demonstrations cnsupd
and during the progress of the train, those who
were appointed toascertlin any possible vbfa-
ton, reported that tucy could detect 10 sensLe
DETECTION.
An ordeal stronger still was then resored to !;
a train Of 200 tons of coal was allowed to rest,
with all its weight, for two hours in the centre
of the Carnarvonshre tube, and at the end OF
the time, on the load being removed it was
found to have caused detection of only four
tonths of an inch. 1t is calculated that the
whole bridge might with safety and without in
Jury to itself he detected to the extent of l3
inches. These loads, it is most material to re.
member, are Immensely more than the bridge
will ever be called upon to bear in the ordinary
run oil traffic, though tie engineers are Of opin-
ion that it would support with ease, and without
much show of DETECTION, a dead weight on its
center of 1000 tons. Twelve miles an heur is
the limit of speed at which Mr. Stephenson in.
tends that trains shall at first 90 through, more
particularly there are share curves at the ter
mini Of the tube.
About II O'clock another testing train was
taken through the tube. 1t consisted of the
three engines, the 2JO tons of coal and from So
TO 40 railway carriages, containing between
600 and 700 passengers, packed together as
closely as ligs in "A basket, all so clamorous and
eager 10 60 through the the tube, that it be-
came impossible to accommodate them.
We gIIded slowly into the interior, salulcd by
a loud burst of RUE Britannia from an array
of Liverpool seamen up aloit in the towers at
the entrance, on tie front of which, cut deeply
in the stone were the words Erected Ammo
DOmini, lS5J-Robert Stephenson, engineer
AS the huge train tralled slowly through the
tube, successive savos Of artillery were fired at
each end.
The general opinion of the numerous engi-
neers present appears to be that the Britannia
lube bridge is as trustworthy as any tunnel on
ezra frma.
1t is understood that the public inauguration
for every day traffic may be expected on the l5lh
nst The Inauguration was to take place on
he l7th, st. Patricks day, out of compliment
o the natives OF the sister isle, but that day
happened to fall on Sunday, this could not be
accomplished