Page:Walker (1888) The Severn Tunnel.djvu/254

Rh made a thorough examination of all the pumping and ventilating machinery, descended the Sudbrook Shaft, and examined the tunnel under the river; and then returning to the surface, wound up with what Englishmen can never dispense with—a good lunch in the school-room, and on leaving the works, expressed themselves highly delighted with all that they had seen.

On the 15th September the members of the South Wales Institute of Engineers also visited the works, and made a thorough examination of them.

On the 22nd October the laying of the rails of the permanent road was commenced from the Gloucestershire side of the river; and on the 20th November the largest of all the pumps, the 37-inch plunger, was completed, and started to work in the Old Pit, thus giving us two pumps in reserve over and above what was necessary to deal with the Great Spring.

The bottom heading, between Sudbrook and 5 miles 4 chains, was completed on the 16th December, two days under five years from the date on which the contract had been signed.

The progress section, which is given on the other side, shows the work that was done in the year 1884; but shortly stated, the whole of the tunnel was completed, except about 200 yards between 5 miles 4 chains and Sudbrook, and 500 yards of invert under the ‘Shoots,’ where the connections were to be made with the 9-ft. barrel and the 5-ft. drain.