Continuation to Manchester Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway

the liverpool , manchester railway @ chat moss, 1833

at time whatton s party of surgeons arrived @ eccles, riders on horseback arrived @ parkside manchester , salford. reported crowd in manchester becoming restless, , authorities feared riot if duke did not arrive. duke s party returned edmondson s elaborate ducal carriage, still on southern track. northumbrian had gone ahead huskisson , other 7 locomotives on northern track, , there no way move remained of duke s train onto northern track or transfer locomotive southern. long chain tied between phoenix on northern track, , 3 remaining carriages of duke s train on southern track. @ 1.30 pm phoenix , train attached north star , train , 2 locomotives set out @ low speed towards manchester, passing eccles , heading deserted marshland of chat moss.

during long interval spent in state of uncertainty, individual feelings vented in variety of ways. in tears, retired crowd , paced hastily , down road, seated side in silence. stood absorbed, while others discussed accident in little knots , parties—some gesticulating, while others looking on speechless , motionless. final decision being in favour of advancing, seats resumed, , moved on; buoyant exhilaration of morning past, , whole wore sombre aspect of funeral procession. military band left return could; saw them, crest-fallen, picking way homeward through mud , mire; our trumpeters, had hitherto rather overpowered efforts, ordered keep silence, , no responsive greetings met shouts of spectators, yet in ignorance of sad event. weather, too, began assume cheerless aspect, , lively face of well-cultivated country exchanged dreary wilds of chatmoss, paradise of o wisps, snipes, , blue devils ... heavy shower, distant thunder, tended little raise our spirits in crossing irreclaimable wilderness of 6 miles in extent, continuing more or less intermission till end of our journey.

arrival in manchester

as wellington s makeshift train headed towards manchester, accompanied along route cheering crowds, still unaware of accident. passed milepost marking 25 miles (40 km) liverpool, in middle of chat moss, met stephenson , northumbrian on southern track, returning manchester. stephenson told party of huskisson s condition when last saw him before leaving eccles manchester (erroneously claiming amputation had been attempted successfully), , boasted of having set new speed record. 3 remaining carriages of wellington s original train, still on southern track, detached train , attached northumbrian, set off @ full speed manchester. train approached manchester trackside bystanders became increasingly hostile, booing, hissing , waving banners against wellington. hostile crowds spilled onto track, forcing trains slow crawl. crowds on track became dense unable disperse trains approached, , trains obliged play part of juggernaut car , pushing people out of path own momentum.

liverpool road railway station

the duke of wellington arrived @ liverpool road, l&m s manchester terminus, little before 3.00 pm. messengers sent parkside had warned, crowd had become hostile; 1 observer described them slovenly, ragged set, hair uncombed , beards unshaven, waistcoats open, exhibiting unwashed skin, dirty linen, , bare necks. while present cheered, others—especially weavers—hissed duke , pelted carriage vegetables. 2 tricolore flags hoisted, , banners reading no corn laws , vote ballot waved. passengers on trains disembarked , headed buffet of cold meats in l&m s warehouse. on disembarking train rev thomas blackburne learned first time huskisson in vicarage, , rushed home eccles horse. fearing hostile crowd, wellington refused leave carriage, sent food brought in him, , ordered locomotives readied return liverpool possible. @ 4.37 pm trains began pull out of manchester head liverpool.

return liverpool

the hasty departure manchester degenerated chaos. mechanical failures , lack of space turn locomotives meant 7 trains on northern track unable out of station. 3 carriages—the duke s among them—managed leave successfully. @ around 6.30 pm duke arrived in roby, , went spend night @ marquess of salisbury s house @ childwall hall. meanwhile, remaining 24 passenger carriages lashed rope , fastened 3 locomotives remained usable, hauled single long train, carrying around 600 passengers, out of manchester @ speed of around 5 mph (8 km/h), further slowed crowds of people standing on tracks , grit , mud settling on rails.

the 8 trains had been scheduled arrive in liverpool @ 4.00 pm. 7.00 pm, passenger train not yet halfway liverpool. darkness fell began rain, , drivers, fearing safety of trains in dark , wet, slowed train further. had not been intended inaugural journey take place in darkness trains not fitted lighting or engine lamps; driver of comet, leading train, held burning tarry rope light way ahead. although of crowds lining route dispersing, many others had remained see trains return. these crowds had been drinking day; train passed under bridges train, open carriages, pelted objects thrown down bridges, , on 1 occasion comet struck wheelbarrow, apparently deliberately placed across rails. passing eccles, train stopped briefly enquiries made huskisson; enquiring told looking frail, , successful operation unlikely in current condition.

a replica of rocket , 1 of passenger coaches used on opening day of l&m

shortly after passing accident site @ parkside, train passed group of uniformed men walking along railway carrying variety of objects. later transpired band, had left wagon when had been commandeered carry injured huskisson. train had carried duke of wellington roby had not had space them, , had left them wait other trains believed following. band had given waiting , walked home, along grass verge turning mud under heavy rain. train passed sutton 3 engines unable haul combined weight of train incline, , 400 of men aboard obliged out of train , walk mile, illuminated sparks flying locomotives, engines hauled empty carriages gradient. train arrived in liverpool @ 10.30 pm. many of guests had planned return home in daylight following completion of journey, , set out pitch-black city in search of somewhere sleep.

the group had watched departure of trains top of chimney near liverpool tunnel, meanwhile, had been forgotten in confusion, , unable down vantage point. @ around 8.00 pm john harrison, teacher of gymnastics , swordsmanship, lowered himself down rope hand-over-hand, , coaxed others follow him down in same manner. angry group set out in search of worker had been supposed bring them down.

james radley, owner of liverpool s landmark adelphi hotel, had laid on banquet 7.00 pm celebrate success , promotion of steam power . had prepared food 230, , sold 60 advance tickets. 9.00 pm, of passengers still on train manchester including liverpool trade magnate william brown chair meeting, 20 people had turned up. businessman , politician john ashton yates drafted in replace brown, , 20 diners began subdued two-hour meal, interrupted riders bringing latest news eccles. during main course messages brought operation had been performed , huskisson recovering; dessert messenger brought message no operation had been performed after all, , huskisson worsening. time meal concluded @ around 11.00 pm, no reliable news of huskisson s condition had arrived. following toast king , huskisson s recovery, steamship pioneer francis b. ogden, @ time american consul in liverpool, gave speech planned baltimore , ohio railroad , of forthcoming schemes connect new orleans great lakes rail. although did not know it, time huskisson dead.