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

CHAP, xxvn.] EXTENSIVE RAILWAY INSPECTIONS. 325
Leeds railway. September 4th.—Sunday at Manchester. September
5th.—Journey along part of the Manchester and Leeds
railway. September 6th.—At Manchester, examiping and lay-
ing down the section of the South Union line to Stockport;
afterwards engaged on the Manchester and Leeds working
plans, in endeavouring to give a greater radius to the curves ;
seeing Mr. Seddon about the Liverpool, Manchester, and Leeds
Junction railway. September 7th.—Journey along the Man-
chester and Leeds line, then on to Derby. September 8th.
At Derby ; seeing Mr. Carter and Mr. Beale about the Tam-
worth deviation ; then home to Alton Grange. September
10th.—At Alton Grange, preparing report to the committee
of the Edinburgh and Dunbar railway.
Such is a specimen of the enormous amount of physical and
mental labour undergone by Mr. Stephenson during the busy
years above referred to. He was no sooner home, than he was
called away again by some other railway or business engagement.
Thus, in four days after his arrival at Alton Grange
from the above journey into Scotland, we find him going over
the whole of the North Midland line as far as Leeds ; then by
Halifax to Manchester, where he stayed for several days on the
business of the South Union line ; then to Birmingham and London
; back to Alton Grange, and next day to Congleton and
Leek ; thence to Leeds and Goole, and home again by the Shef-
field and Eotherham and the Midland works. And early in the
following month (October) he was engaged in the north of Ire-
land, examining the line, and reporting upon the plans, of the
projected Ulster railway. Then he was called upon to inspect
and report upon colliery works, salt works, brass and copper
works, and such like, in addition to his own colliery and railway
business. He usually also staked out himself the lines for which
he was engineer, and which involved a good deal of labour since
undertaken by assistants. And occasionally he would run up to
London, to attend in person to the preparation and depositing oiE"
the plans and sections of the projected undertakings for which
he was engaged as engineer.
It is pleasant to record that, in the midst of these engrossing
occupations, his heart remained as soft and loving as ever.
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