rise until, after a time, it exhibited the appearance of a huge fungus, of perhaps 200 yards circumference at the base. Perseverance did, however, overcome this difficulty, and I believe the bed of the Railroad is here as firm as any portion of the line, although the workmen almost despaired of it; frequently, in the progress of the work, having finished an apparently firm and straight embankment at night, which in the morning had either totally disappeared or materially sunk.
28½ 68¾
Here the rise of the Railroad is much increased, it being for the next mile and a half 1 in 656, thence continually ascending (with the exception of two short levels) until the steep is increased to 1 in 330, which continues to the 84th mile, a little beyond Wolverhampton. The traveller will and a decided alteration in the speed of the carriages when he arrives at the 76th mile post, which will not be increased until he passes through the tunnel, just before the 83½ post beyond the Wolverhampton station. The ground at the 83½ mile post is the highest on the line, it being 440 feet above low water mark at Liverpool, 50 above the high ground at Whitmore, 80 above the railway station at Birmingham, and 380 above the lowest ground on the line, which is atc
