Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/575



The length of this canal is about six miles, and although of short extent is found very beneficial for the exporting minerals and of conveying sand and other manure to the adjoining lands.

SAINT HELEN'S AND RUNCORN GAP RAILWAY.
11 George IV. Cap. 61, Royal Assent 29th May, 1830.

THE main line of railway commences from Cowley Hill Colliery, about two miles north of the town of St. Helen's, from whence its course is southwardly by Gerrard's Bridge Colliery, crossing the Sankey Brook Navigation near St. Helen's; thence by Peaseley Cross, Barton Bank Colliery to Toad Leach, where it crosses the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Its course hence is by Tibbs Cross, Plumpton Mill, to the River Mersey at Widness Wharf, directly opposite the Old Quay Docks of the Mersey and Irwell Canal; crossing in its course the line of the Sankey Brook Extension near its western termination. Adjoining and communicating with the Mersey, a capacious wet dock, two hundred yards in length with two openings with tide locks, is to be constructed, where ships and other vessels may securely lie while waiting for cargoes.

The length of this railway, embracing the amended line from Runcott Lane towards Cowley Hill Colliery, is eight miles and seven furlongs; and there are thirteen branches which are together in length six miles, five furlongs and eight chains, viz. the branch from near Tibbs Cross, in a north-westwardly direction to the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, at Elton Head Colliery, is one mile, five furlongs and four chains in length; another in a north-westwardly direction, to join and communicate with the Liverpool and Manchester Bailway with greater facility, one furlong and five chains in length; and another branch from the same point, communicating with the above railway to the eastward, two furlongs and five chains in length; one from the north side of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, to communicate with it in a south-westwardly direction, two furlongs and three chains in length, and another branch to the eastward, with the same object, one furlong and five chains in length; from near