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The Chester & Holyhead Railway was incorporated by an Act of
Parliament in 1844, and the promoters were thereby empowered to
build an 85-mile line along the North Wales coast, the engineer for
the line being Robert Stephenson. The C&HR was, from its
inception, intended to form part of a rail link between London and
Dublin - the assumption being that such a line would improve the
economic position of Ireland, while at the same time binding it
ever more closely to the rest of the United Kingdom. In engineering
terms, the C&HR presented huge challenges. The first 45 miles
would follow an easy route alongside the Dee Estuary, but at Conwy
the railway would have to cross a tidal river. The line would then
be carried past the great towering headland at Penmaenmawr, while
to the west of Bangor, the Menai Straits would have to be spanned
by a bridge large enough to clear the masts of the largest vessels.
The railway was completed by 1850 and, since that time, it has
fulfilled its primary role as an artery of communication between
England, Wales and Ireland.
Oxford History Tour is a unique insight into the illustrious
history of this venerable old university city. Local author Stanley
C. Jenkins guides us around the streets and alleyways, parks and
buildings, showing how its famous landmarks used to look and how
they've changed over the years as well as exploring its
lesser-known sights and hidden corners. With the help of a handy
location map, readers are invited to follow a timeline of events
and discover for themselves the changing face of Oxford.
Formed in 1864 by the amalgamation of the Oswestry & Newtown,
Newtown & Machynlleth, Llanidloes & Newtown and several
other railway companies, Cambrian Railways was the largest
independent railway in Wales, with a long, winding, single-track
main line that extended from Whitchurch in the east to Aberystwyth
and Pwllheli on the Welsh coast. In 1922, the company was
amalgamated with the Great Western Railway under the provisions of
the Railways Act 1921 and thereafter, the Cambrian line was worked
as an integral part of the GWR system. The present-day Cambrian
main line runs from Shrewsbury to Pwllheli, a distance of 1183/4
miles, and there is an important branch to Aberystwyth. The line,
which runs through spectacular mountain and coastal scenery, serves
as a vital lifeline for the inhabitants of scattered towns and
villages such as Welshpool, Machynlleth and Harlech, while at the
same time the sinuous Cambrian route plays an important role in the
Welsh tourist industry - a role that is further enhanced by the way
in which this highly scenic route provides a convenient link
between several of the famous Welsh 'heritage' railways.
The Midland main line from London St Pancras to the north of
England is one of Britain's most important trunk routes. With its
various loops and branches, this major artery of communication
links busy centres of population such as Leicester, Derby,
Nottingham, Sheffield, Manchester and Leeds. Notwithstanding its
obvious importance as a busy main line, the Midland route was built
in piecemeal fashion, the various sections (from London northwards)
being the Midland Railway London Extension (opened 1868); the
Leicester & Hitchen Railway (1857); the Midland Counties
Railway (1840); and the North Midland Railway (1840). In recent
years the Midland line has been regarded primarily as a link
between London and Sheffield, although a number of services have
continued to run through to Leeds, Manchester and other
destinations in the north of England. However, during the Midland
Railway period the best trains had run northward beyond Leeds, and
thence along the spectacular Settle & Carlisle route which, in
turn, provided a direct link to Scotland via the Glasgow &
South Western Railway. Prestigious Anglo-Scottish trains no longer
run on the Midland main line, but this historic route remains in
operation as a vital part of the national railway system.
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