, were to afford the means of ascending the inclined planes. The
directors felt themselves quite unable to choose from amidst this
multitude of projects. The engineer expressed himself as decidedly as
heretofore in favour of smooth rails and locomotive engines, which, he
was confident, would be found the most economical and by far the most
convenient moving power that could be employed. The Stockton and
Darlington Railway being now at work, another deputation went down
personally to inspect the fixed and locomotive engines on that line, as
well as at Hetton and Killingworth. They returned to Liverpool with much
information; but their testimony as to the relative merits of the two
kinds of engines was so contradictory, that the directors were as far
from a decision as ever.

They then resolved to call to their aid two professional engineers of
high standing, who should visit the Darlington and Newcastle railways,
carefully examine both modes of working--the fixed and the
locomotive,--and report to them fully on the subject. The gentlemen
selected were Mr. Walker of Limehouse, and Mr. Rastrick of Stourbridge.
After carefully examining the modes of working the northern railways,
they made their report to the directors in the spring of 1829. They
concurred in the opinion that the cost of an establishment of fixed
engines would be somewhat greater than that of locomotives to do the same
work; but thought the annual charge would be less if the former were
adopted. They calculated that the cost of moving a ton of goods thirty
miles by fixed engines would be 6.40d., and by locomotives,
8.36d.,--assuming a profitable traffic to be obtained both ways. At the
same time it was admitted that there appeared more ground for expecting
improvements in the construction and working of locomotives than of
stationary engines. On the whole, however, and looking especially at the
computed annual charge of working the road on the two systems on a large
scale, the two reporting engineers were of opinion that fixed engines
were preferable, and accordingly recommended their adoption. And, in
order to carry the system recommended by them into effect, they proposed
to divide the railroad between Liverpool and Manchester into nineteen
stages of about a mile and a half each, with twenty-one engines fixed at
the different points to work the trains forward.

Such was the result, so far, of George Stephenson's labours. Two of the
best practi