13
At Sloane Square Station two cast-iron sewers are carried over the Railway; one of them is 9 feet diameter and crosses the Railway diagonally. It is supported on each side by a wrought iron girder of 73 feet length, 6½ feet depth, and flanges of 2 feet width.
At Blackfriar Station a very complicated construction was required. The grade of the Railway had to be placed at 10 feet below high tide to pass under the north approach of Black friar's Bridge. Two sub-ways had to be carried over the Railway and the low level sewer under it, and the outlet for the gas company, the Fleet Street sewer and its storm-water conduit overflow had to be provided for. All of these lines met nearly at one place and crossed the Railway very obliquely. Those passing above the Railway were sustained by girders, some of which were 75 feet long.
At Pembroke square the Railway was carried very obliquely under eight new and valuable houses. The level of the rails is 20 feet below the street and 11 feet below the foundations of the houses.
The Railway was carried under the London Hospital in nearly the same manner. This is a massive stone building of four stories.
The underpinning was completed while I was in London, and I carefully examined the building, but did not find that any injury had been done, not even the cracking of the plastered walls.
The Railway passes within 10 feet of a row of large cut stone buildings in Cannon street, and as excavations therefor were dug to a level 15 feet below their foundations, with the precautions taken no injury has been done to them. It also passes flush with the tower of St. Mary's (White Chapel) Church in Aldgate street, and the Railway excavations were made 8 feet below the level of its foundation. No injury whatever has been done to the tower or church.
This portion of the Railway has been carried under and in front of many other buildings, and in no instance have they been injured.
In the middle of King William Street is a monument of William IV. which, with its base, weighs 168 tons, and the Railway is tunneled directly under this statue.
The Railway passes in front of the South Eastern Railway Station and Hotel. When we examined this work we found that the whole of this area had been temporarily bridged over, and the underground works were in progress.
Large granite blocks of 5 feet square had been laid on concrete bases; on these were to be placed iron columns surmounted by iron girders and jack arches, which were to support the carriage travel over the area in front of the station, and the space below was to be used for the Underground Railway Station.
The brick sewers were temporarily sustained by cradles and props. A gas-main of 24 inches diameter was suspended from the wooden bridge, and two 12 inch and several small water-pipes were also suspended or propped up from below. The sidewalks of the Railway in one place were in process of erection; in another place the roof arching; in another the roof girders; in another the inverted arches and track work, so that in one short distance could be seen the actual construction of almost all the varieties of work required in the building of any portion of the Railway.
