The life of George Stephenson, railway engineer - Lighthouse ...

172 LIFE OF GEORGE STEPHENSON. [chap.xv.
He endeavoured to introduce the locomotive upon the Moreton-
on-Marsh Railway ; but Mr. Rastrick, who was the engineer of
the line, was so much opposed to its use that Mr. James failed
in carrying his point, and he consequently gave up all further
connection with that company. In the following year (1822) he
wrote to Mr. Losh from Boswell Court, as to a locomotive which
he wished to get from Mr. Stephenson for the working of the
Croydon and Merstham Railroad, but against which Mr. Ste-
phenson had dissuaded him, as the cast-iron plates were not cal-
culated to bear the weight of the engine, and the result could
only bring the locomotive into disrepute. Mr. James was, how-
ever, very anxious to have the engine introduced on some railway
in the south of England. " I can appreciate," he said, " Mr.
Stephenson's objections to use his engine on this defective road
but years will elapse, and the patent may expire, before we can
get a new road in the south for his engine if this plan is not em-
braced." Mr. James at the same time intimated that he was
busy with the plans and sections of the Liverpool line, which
would furnish a proper opportunity for the introduction of the
engine "for the conveyance of passengers and light goods with
the utmost dispatch" between that town and Manchester. By
the following year, he added, he hoped to have four bills before
Parliament for railroads 150 miles in length, the surveys of
•which were completed.
The survej- of the Liverpool and Manchester line was pro-
ceeded with early in 1822, Mr. Padley conducting the work
under the superintendence of Mr. Francis Giles. The people
of the locality still offered every possible resistance to their pro-
ceedings ; and the surveyors were, on several occasions, driven
off the ground by force. They were under the necessity of pro-
ceeding with their work in the early dawn, before the inhabitants
were astir. Chat Moss was surveyed by placing hurdles on the
bog ; and thus, with great difficulty, a very imperfect survey of
the proposed line was at length effected.
Mr. James, however, failed to produce the plans and estimates
for the session of 1823 ; but he sent in to the promoters of the
line his preliminary report on the survey of investigation, in
which he stated " that from their commencement the works may
;