Railway Times (06/May/1843) - Correspondence

The following letter contains an early reference to the subsequent formation of the Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal Company.

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The following is a transcription of a historic article and may contain occasional errors.

LONDON AND BRIGHTON RAILWAY.

To the Editor of the Railway Times.

SIR,

As a proprietor in the London and Brighton Railway, it has frequently struck me that a greater share of the traffic to France and the Channel Islands might be obtained upon that line than it has hitherto enjoyed, if the Directors would give greater encouragement to the proprietors of steam packets plying to Havre, and those islands, as well as to Dieppe. On comparing the distance from London to Havre by way of Southampton, and of Brighton, I find that the Brighton route has an advantage over the former of upwards of 60 miles, according to the following statement, which I trust is correct:—

London to Southampton : 77 miles.
Southampton to Havre : 128 miles.
Total: 205 miles.

London to Brighton : 47 miles.
Brighton to Havre : 95 miles.
Total : 142 miles.

In favour of the Brighton route : 63 miles.

When the railway from Havre to Rouen is completed, no doubt the former place will be the favourite port of disembarkation.

While I have my pen in hand, I would also mention that, as railways appear in a great measure to be superseding canals, at least in the carriage of the lighter description of goods, a few of the proprietors in the canal from Huddersfield to Ashton are now speculating upon the adviseableness of converting that undertaking into a railway, to join the Manchester and Sheffield line at Ashton. Any one now travelling to Manchester from Huddersfield, by railway, has first to proceed by omnibus to the Cooper Bridge station, a distance of 4 miles, and afterwards to travel 36 miles by the Manchester and Leeds Railway, making the total distance 40 miles; whereas, if the Huddersfield canal were converted into a railway, the distance between the two towns would be only about 26 miles — say, from Huddersfield to Ashton 18 miles, and thence to Manchester 8 miles. Should this be accomplished, and the connecting link of 4 miles, from Cooper Bridge to Huddersfield be formed, the distance from Leeds to Manchester would be reduced by about 6 miles, according to the following statement.

Present line from Leeds to Manchester : 60 miles.

Route by Huddersfield —
From Leeds to Cooper Bridge : 24 miles.
Cooper Bridge to Huddersfield : 4 miles.
Huddersfield to Ashton : 18 miles.
Ashton to Manchester : 8 miles.
Total : 54 miles.

In favour of the Huddersfield line : 6 miles.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

A BRIGHTON_PROPRIETOR.

Leeds, April 27, 1843,