Background Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway

1 background

1.1 liverpool , manchester railway
1.2 william huskisson
1.3 rainhill trials , preparation opening

background
liverpool , manchester railway


george stephenson, engineer of liverpool , manchester railway

the liverpool , manchester railway (l&m) founded on 24 may 1823 liverpool merchants joseph sandars , henry booth, aim of linking textile mills of manchester nearest deep water port @ port of liverpool. @ time, means of bulk transport between 2 towns other animal-drawn carts water transport on mersey , irwell navigation, bridgewater canal , leeds , liverpool canal, of slow , expensive use; transporting raw cotton 35 miles (56 km) liverpool manchester expensive initial cost of shipping america liverpool. although horse , human powered railways had existed centuries, , steam power beginning used in experimental industrial railways, l&m first steam powered railway provide inter-city passenger service, , expensive engineering project yet undertaken in britain. (because of liverpool , manchester railway ran on land owned investors in company, , because many of locomotives owned engineering firms built them rather l&m, impossible give precise figure l&m s construction costs. direct construction cost of line opening around £820,000, , 2 years of lobbying necessary railway authorised estimated have cost £70,000. in comparison, bridgewater canal, had same purpose l&m in connecting manchester port of liverpool, had cost estimated £220,000 build in late 18th century. average labourer s wage in area @ time around £20 per year.)

the marquess of stafford, owner of bridgewater canal, friend of liverpool s member of parliament william huskisson, whom had worked @ british embassy in paris. although marquess had feared potential impact of railways on income canal , had been opposed railway, huskisson persuaded him allow railway use lands , invest in scheme.

in 1826 george stephenson appointed design , build 35-mile (56 km) route. stephenson built line using 4 equally spaced rails; envisaged allow line operate double tracked railway line under normal circumstances, in event of locomotive needing haul particularly wide load or of 1 of outside rails breaking, train run along central pair of rails. felt that, having rails close together, reduce amount of land required extremely expensive l&m scheme.

william huskisson

william huskisson born @ birtsmorton court, malvern, worcestershire, on 11 march 1770. in 1783, huskisson went paris live great-uncle dr. richard gem, witnessing years of french revolution, , present @ storming of bastille. learning economics marquis de condorcet, became assistant earl gower, later become marquess of stafford. in 1792 britain severed diplomatic relations french revolutionary government , huskisson returned london.

on huskisson s return london henry dundas, home secretary, appointed him oversee execution of aliens act, dealt refugees arriving in britain areas affected french revolution. performed task well, , in 1795 appointed under-secretary of state war @ age of 24. in 1796 elected member of parliament (mp) morpeth. in 1799 married eliza emily milbanke (known emily), daughter of admiral mark milbanke, , shortly afterwards moved eartham house near chichester. resigned public office in 1801 following fall of william pitt younger s government. in 1804 re-elected parliament liskeard, , appointed post of secretary treasury returning pitt. in 1809 huskisson resigned government along george canning following canning s duel fellow cabinet minister lord castlereagh. in 1814 re-entered public life first commissioner of woods , forests; although relatively minor post, influential in development of detailed legislation , policy, particularly regarding controversial relaxation of corn laws.

william huskisson

in 1823 huskisson appointed cabinet president of board of trade , treasurer of navy. in same year succeeded george canning in important constituency of liverpool. oversaw number of reforms aimed @ developing industry , free trade, including reform of navigation acts , reduction of taxes on manufacturing , on import of foreign goods. drove through restructuring of britain s network of overseas outposts , colonies network of economically , politically interdependent states became british empire, aiming gradual abolition of slavery , accelerating british colonisation.

in april 1827 huskisson s mentor george canning became prime minister, died less 4 months later , succeeded viscount goderich. goderich appointed huskisson secretary of state war , colonies. goderich resigned in january 1828 , replaced prime minister arthur wellesley, duke of wellington. huskisson, along many other protégés of canning, resigned later year on issue of lack of parliamentary representation manchester. huskisson remained in parliament mp liverpool, , devoted himself working on behalf of growing industrial towns of north west england; manchester guardian described him perhaps useful practical statesman of present day . although still weak previous serious illness, felt duty liverpool s mp attend opening of railway.

rainhill trials , preparation opening

in late 1829, construction of railway complete, rainhill trials held on short level stretch of completed line near rainhill, test how track withstood locomotives running on , determine type of locomotive used, £500 prize @ stake. trials publicised, , 10,000–15,000 people attended first day on 6 october 1829. of 5 entrants rocket, built george stephenson , son robert, entrant complete trial without suffering serious failure, , duly selected design used. (although described race, , shown such in illustrations, rainhill trials series of independent trials. each engine ran on different day.) @ around time of rainhill trials tunnel forthcoming liverpool terminus—the first tunnel ever dug under major built-up area—was completed. win on sceptical locals whitewashed, fitted lighting , band, , public charged shilling apiece walk through it.

by 1830 line complete, , locomotives began trial runs on route. on 14 june 1830 test run liverpool salford drew 2 passenger carriages , 7 loaded coal wagons 29 miles (47 km) in 2 hours 25 minutes without incident. booth convened meeting of directors evening, decided railway ready open in late summer. after consulting office of duke of wellington on when available attend inauguration ceremony, , learning due in area on 13 september attend dinner in manchester, agreed railway formally open on wednesday 15 september 1830.

fanny kemble, guest of stephenson s on test run of l&m prior opening

actress, author , anti-slavery campaigner fanny kemble, accompanied george stephenson on test of l&m prior opening, described tests in letter written in 1830:

we introduced little engine drag along rails. (for make these curious little fire horses mares) consisted of boiler, stove, platform, bench, , behind bench barrel containing enough water prevent being thirsty fifteen miles, whole machine not bigger common fire engine. goes upon 2 wheels, feet, , moved bright steel legs called pistons; these propelled steam, , in proportion more steam applied upper extremities (the hip-joints, suppose) of these pistons, faster move wheels; , when desirable diminish speed, steam, unless suffered escape burst boiler, evaporates through safety valve air. reins, bit, , bridle of wonderful beast, small steel handle, applies or withdraws steam legs or pistons, child might manage it. coals, oats, under bench, , there small glass tube affixed boiler, water in it, indicates fullness or emptiness when creature wants water, conveyed reservoirs ...

this snorting little animal, felt rather inclined pat, harnessed our carriage, , mr. stephenson having taken me on bench of engine him, started @ ten miles hour ... [george stephenson s] way of explaining himself peculiar, striking, , understood, without difficulty, said me ... engine having received supply of water, carriage placed behind it, cannot turn, , set off @ utmost speed, thirty-five miles hour, swifter bird flies (for tried experiment snipe). cannot conceive sensation of cutting air was; motion smooth possible, too. either have read or written; , was, stood up, , bonnet off drank air before me. wind, strong, or perhaps force of our own thrusting against it, absolutely weighed eyelids down. when closed eyes sensation of flying quite delightful, , strange beyond description; yet strange was, had perfect sense of security, , not slightest fear ...

now word or 2 master of these marvels, whom horribly in love. man fifty fifty-five years of age; face fine, though careworn, , bears expression of deep thoughtfulness; mode of explaining ideas peculiar , original, striking, , forcible; , although accents indicates north country birth, language has not slightest touch of vulgarity or coarseness. has turned head. 4 years have sufficed bring great undertaking end. railroad opened upon fifteenth of next month. duke of wellington coming down present on occasion, and, suppose, thousands of spectators , novelty of spectacle, there never have been scene of more striking interest.

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