THE LIFE

OF

ROBERT STEPHENSON, F.R.S.

ETC. ETC.

LATE PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.

BY

J. C. JEAFFRESON

BARRISTER-AT-LAW

WITH DESCRIPTIVE CHAPTERS ON

SOME OF HIS MOST IMPORTANT PROFESSIONAL WORKS

BY

WILLIAM POLE, F.R.S.

MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

LONGMAN, GREEN, LONGMAN, ROBERTS, & GREEN.

MOY WHI

CONTENTS

OF

THE SECOND VOLUME.

CHAPTER I.

THE BATTLE OF THE GAUGES.

(ETAT. 40-42.)

Great Western Railway in 1833-Brunel's Scheme for a Broad Gauge-

History of the Narrow Gauge-Advantages anticipated by Brunel from a

Broad Gauge-Brunel's Report of 1838-Theory of Railway Districts-

Break of Gauge first takes place at Gloucester in 1844-Goods Traffic, not

Passengers, the grand Cause of Difficulty at 'Breaks of Gauge '-Gauge

Pamphleteers—The Oxford and Wolverhampton Contest in 1845-Lord

Dalhousie's and Mr. Cobden's Motions-Royal Gauge Commission ap-

pointed-Brunel's Inconsistencies-The Railway Clearing House, insti-

tuted under the Auspices of Mr. Glyn and Mr. Hudson-Its leading

Principles and its Returns for 1845-Witnesses examined by the Gauge

Commissioners-Brunel left alone-Robert Stephenson's Character as a

Parliamentary Witness-His Evidence before the Gauge Commission—

Brunel's Expedients for obviating the Evils of 'Break of Gauge -The

Commissioners' Report-The last Argument in favour of Competition

advanced by the Broad Gauge Party and answered by Mr. Thornton

Hunt-Illustrated Evidence The Gauge Act-Robert Stephenson's

Report on Double Gauges
Page 1,

CHAPTER II.

IRON BRIDGES.

Mr. Stephenson's large Practice in Iron Bridges-Iis Article on the

Subject in the Encyclopædia Britannica-Modern Use of the Material—

Early Bridges-First Iron Arch Bridges-Tom Paine's Bridge-Full

VOL. II.

a

Development of the Iron Arch Bridge-First Use of Wrought Iron-

Suspension Bridges-Captain Samuel Brown-Mr. Telford-The Menai

Bridge-Introduction of Railways-Consequent large Demand for Iron

Bridges-Return to the Form of the simple Beam-Comparison of the

three different Systems of Iron Bridges-Advantages of the Girder

System-Cast-iron Girders-Compound Girders-The Dee Bridge -

Royal Commission on Iron Railway Structures-Introduction of Wrought-

iron Girders-Different Varieties of Girders-Examples-The Aire

Bridge-The Benha Bridge-Last Work of Mr. Stephenson's Life, Res-

toration of Tom Paine's Bridge
. Page 30

CHAPTER III.

THE BRITANNIA BRIDGE.

The Port of Holyhead-The Holyhead Trunk Road-Interruption by the

Menai Strait-Attempts to establish a Passage-Telford's Suspension

Bridge-Introduction of Railways-Chester and Holyhead Railway—

Proposal to use Telford's Bridge for Railway Purposes-Mr. Stephenson

designs an independent Bridge-The Britannia Rock-Proposal for a

Bridge of two Arches-Opposition in Parliament-First Idea of the

Tubular Construction-Its Novelty-Preliminary Experiments: Mr.

Fairbairn and Mr. Hodgkinson-Important Principles derived from the

Experiments-Mr. Stephenson's Report-Commencement of the Ma-

sonry-Further experimental Inquiries-Means of placing the Tubes in

their Positions-Contracts for the Tubes-Their Manufacture-Floating

and Raising-Description of the Bridge-Principle of Continuity-

Tubes Mr. Stephenson's Explanations of Peculiarities in their Construc-

tion-Towers and Abutments-Architectural Design-Cost-The Conway

Bridge

73

CHAPTER IV.

THE HIGH LEVEL BRIDGE AT NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.

Object of the Bridge-Ravine of the Tyne-Ancient Bridge at a Low

Level-Inconveniences of the Passage-Early Proposals for a High Level

Bridge-Mr. Green's Scheme-High Level Bridge Company-Mr. Ste-

phenson appointed Engineer-Newcastle and Darlington Railway-Pro-

posal for the Double Roadway-Parliamentary Proceedings-Description

of the Bridge-The Piers-The Iron Superstructure-Mr. Stephenson's

Motives for the Adoption of the Bowstring Girder-Letting of the

Contract-Driving the Piles-Manufacture of the Ironwork-Erection-

Completion.

113