Chapter 16

ROBERT STEPHENSON'S CAREER--THE STEPHENSONS AND BRUNEL--EAST COAST ROUTE TO SCOTLAND--ROYAL BORDER BRIDGE, BERWICK--HIGH LEVEL BRIDGE, NEWCASTLE.

George Stephenson's retirement--Robert's employment 301-319 as Parliamentary Engineer--His rival Brunel--The Great Western Railway--The width of gauge--Robert Stephenson's caution as to investments--The Newcastle and Berwick Railway--Contest in Parliament--George Stephenson's interview with Lord Howick--Royal Border Bridge, Berwick--Progress of iron-bridge building--Robert Stephenson constructs the High Level Bridge, Newcastle--Pile-driving by steam--Characteristics of the structure--Through railway to Scotland completed