Progress of the work—1886. Colonel Rich, who is noted for the great attention he pays to all details, made a most exhaustive inspection of the tunnel itself and of all the machinery provided and fixed, and expressed himself perfectly satisfied with all that had been done: a copy of his report is appended below.
The work was finally opened for passenger traffic on the 1st December, 1886, nearly fourteen years from the time the Great Western Company had first commenced the works, and as nearly as possible seven years from the time they had let the contract to me.
[Colonel Rich’s Report.]
Board of Trade,
22nd Nov., 1886.
Sir,
I have the honour to report, for the information of the Board of Trade, that, in compliance with the instructions contained in your minute of the 10th inst., I have inspected the Severn Tunnel Railway, which connects the Great Western South Wales Union Railway with the South Wales Railway.
The new line is 8 miles 26 chains long. The gauge is 4 feet 8½ inches.
The ruling gradient is 1 in 90, and the sharpest curve has a radius of 10 chains.
This curve is at the junction with the South Wales Railway, and is only about 1½ chains long.
The railway is double throughout, except about 37·54 chains at Pilning, which will be partly doubled before the line is opened, and the rest as soon as