Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain/Berwick and Kelso Railway

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BERWICK AND KELSO RAILWAY.[edit]

31 George III. Cap. 133, Royal Assent 31st May, 1811.

In the year 1811, an act was obtained to make a railway from Spittal, near Berwick, to Kelso, in Roxburgshire, entitled, 'An Act for making and maintaining a Railway from, or from near to, Spittal, in the county of Durham, to Kelso, in the county of Roxburgh; and for erecting and maintaining a Bridge over the River Tweed, from the parish of Norham, in the county of Durham, to the parish of Coldstream, in the county of Berwick.'

The line commences at Spittal, opposite the town of Berwick, on the south bank of the River Tweed, and continues parallel to the course of that river, by Tweedmouth, and East Ord, through the parish of Norham, to near Twisell, the seat of Sir Francis Blake, where it crosses the Tweed, and enters Scotland. Passing hence, by Kersfield, and to the north of Hirsel, the seat of the Earl of Home, it crosses the Leet Water, and thence, keeps the north bank of the Tweed, to its termination at Kelso.

At the time the act was obtained, there were one hundred and thirty-two subscribers, who were incorporated under the name of "The Berwick and Kelso Railway Company." They were empowered to raise among themselves £100,000, in one thousand shares of £100 each, with a further power of raising among themselves £50,000 in addition, or by promissory notes, under the common seal of the company; or they may raise the same, or any portion of it, on mortgage of the tolls authorized to be collected under the powers of this act.

TONNAGE RATES.[edit]

Stone for the repair of Roads 2d per Ton, per Mile.
Coal, Coke, Culm, Stone, Cinders, Chalk, Marl, Sand, Lime, Clay, Ashes, Peat, Lime-stone, Pitching and Paving-stone, Iron-stone or other Ore, Minerals and Bricks, and for all sorts of Manure, Grain, Flour, Meal, Potatoes, Hay and Straw 3d ditto, ditto.
For every Carriage carrying Passengers or Light Goods or Parcels, not exceeding Five Cwt 2d per Mile
For all other Goods, Commodities, Wares and Merchandize whatsoever 4d per Ton, per Mile.

Fractions to be taken as for a Quarter of a Ton and as for a Quarter of a Mile.

The proprietors are further empowered to collect a pontage, at the proposed bridge over the Tweed, for carriages, foot passengers, &c. but as these are without the limits of our publication, we omit them.

This railway was calculated to be of great advantage to the country through which it passed, but it has been abandoned by its original promoters, and though the act does not limit the company to any given time for the execution of the works, yet it is thought that it will never be completed under its provisions.