tlemen, Dr. Lardner and Mr. Clegg
amongst others, advocated the plan; and an association was formed to
carry it into effect. Shares were created, and 18,000 pounds raised: and
a model apparatus was exhibited in London. Mr. Vignolles took his friend
Stephenson to see the model; and after carefully examining it, he
observed emphatically, "_It won't do_: it is only the fixed engines and
ropes over again, in another form; and, to tell you the truth, I don't
think this rope of wind will answer so well as the rope of wire did." He
did not think the principle would stand the test of practice, and he
objected to the mode of applying the principle. After all, it was only a
modification of the stationary-engine plan; and every day's experience
was proving that fixed engines could not compete with locomotives in
point of efficiency and economy. He stood by the locomotive engine; and
subsequent experience proved that he was right.

Messrs. Clegg and Samuda afterwards, in 1840, patented their plan of an
atmospheric railway; and they publicly tested its working on an
unfinished portion of the West London Railway. The results of the
experiment were so satisfactory, that the directors of the Dublin and
Kingstown line adopted it between Kingstown and Dalkey. The London and
Croydon Company also adopted the atmospheric principle; and their line
was opened in 1845. The ordinary mode of applying the power was to lay
between the line of rails a pipe, in which a large piston was inserted,
and attached by a shaft to the framework of a carriage. The propelling
power was the ordinary pressure of the atmosphere acting against the
piston in the tube on one side, a vacuum being created in the tube on the
other side of the piston by the working of a stationary engine. Great
was the popularity of the atmospheric system; and still George Stephenson
said "It won't do: it's but a gimcrack." Engineers of distinction said
he was prejudiced, and that he looked upon the locomotive as a pet child
of his own. "Wait a little," he replied, "and you will see that I am
right." It was generally supposed that the locomotive system was about
to be snuffed out. "Not so fast," said Stephenson. "Let us wait to see
if it will pay." He never believed it would. It was ingenious, clever,
scientific, and all that; but railways were commercial enterprises, not
toys; and if the atmospheric railway could not work to a profit, it would
not do. Considered in thi