George Turnbull (1809-1889): Autobiography: Chapter 13

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Chapter 13. 1860. (pages 167-173). East Indian Railway.

1860. January 1st. We left little Nelly in charge of Mrs. Shervinton, at Buxar, at seven o’clock, crossed the Ganges, and on to Gazeephore and Benares, 76 miles, arriving at 8 p.m. Spent a little time there, and visited most of the interesting places. Kincot merchants, and enjoyed a sail down the river, to admire the magnificent appearance of the buildings fronting the river.

We soon returned to Buxar by garrhee dak, as it was called, and the Shervintons had arranged a dinner party to meet us, Garstin, the magistrate. Dr. Bydone, Capt. and Mrs. Bartley; she turned out to be the daughter of Sir Sidney Bell, a distant connection of mine, who filled the office at that time of Judge at Capetown.

On the 5th were at Beheea again, where were Henry Burrows, Maggie Burrows, Sandie Gray, Walter Thomson, Mr. Nichol and others. We were, as usual, hospitably received.

The rails being now laid in considerable lengths along the line, travelling was easier and more expeditious as we went along on trollies, long distances in one day. So we were at Barrh the 11th and set up tents at McAdams’ bungalow, who was glad to see us. He was an excellent man and, did his work conscientiously and well, and was much vexed at the slow movement of Mr. Lemarchand, who was one of his assistants, and gave him great trouble with bad bricks and bad mortar and little of them. Poor fellow, he was not to live very long. On the 24th we were again at Talgeria, did not go round by Rajmahal this time but went straight on to Seetapuhar, where the deep cutting was going on under G. Anley’s charge. Poor Mudge had died, and others were gone beside him. Anley expected to have a road through the cutting in about six weeks, which would open the way to Rajmahal.

We met Mr. Palmer, the agent, and Major Strachey at Pakour, and I returned with them to Rajmahal and long conference ensued about future proceedings; neither Palmer nor Strachey knew anything about the subject, so I did not trouble my mind about their opinions, but settled all and everything with Batchelor and Stokes. We were at Pakour again on the 29th.

February. Arrived again at Calcutta on the 2nd February, having been away nearly twelve weeks.

Mr. Purdon, the engineer of the Eastern of Bengal Railway, was living in Calcutta; the new agent for that line, Mr. Perie Gordon, was installed about this time. Purdon and he did not get on well together.

Fanny and I dined at the Purdons on the 28th with Mr. and Mrs. Oldham, Mr. and Miss Fergusson, Mr. Granville, the architect, and others.

March. We had a dinner party on the 5th, Mr. and Mrs. Theobald, Mr. and Mrs. Oldham, Major and Mrs. Ferris, Major Atkinson, Miss Victor, Mr. Scott Smith, Mr. Thomson.

On the 6th water was admitted against the new gates of the Union Dock at Howrah ; all was right and everything went off satisfactorily.

The Bengal Government asked me what were my ideas about a bridge over the River Hooghly. I replied that no design could be made of a bridge without first making careful borings along the bed of the river in various places, at intervals, from Calcutta to at least twenty-five miles above Calcutta, so as to determine where something like a foundation could be had. They requested me to do it and so I detached Cubitt Rundle to make sections and borings, beginning at Pulna Ghat.

Geordie born on the 17th. I was at Rajmahal when a telegram arrived from Dr. Webb, announcing that our first son was born on the 17th at ten p.m., and that the mother was doing well. This was the beginning of George Lindsay Turnbull! I returned to Calcutta arriving on the 20th, and found Fanny and the little boy going on very favourably, only Fanny was much troubled with boils and prickly heat also.

Much discussion at this time about stations and other matters. Major Strachey was consulting engineer for the Government. All designs and plans were submitted to Government for sanction, and were referred to Strachey for report and opinion, especially as to estimates. Many plans and estimates were submitted, and it was a slow process to obtain sanction, which occasioned delay, especially in regard to machinery, engines, pumps, and all the equipments which had to be sent out from England. Plans were in for Barakur branch line and stations, Monghyr station and shops, Howrah workshops, engine shops, Khano Junction plans, and many others. Strachey sanctioned them all by degrees, but not without many enquiries and many calculations, which was no more than his duty; and so we had no cause of complaint, except a little delay.

April. On the 20th Geordie was baptized in the Cathedral by Mr. Moule ; also Dr. Chevers’ little boy was baptized at the same time. We had a tiffin party afterwards, where were Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Field, Mr. Solano, Mr. Boyle, Mr. and Miss Burrows and Mrs. Theobald.

On the 21st Fanny and I went to a large dinner party at the Lieut.-Governor's, Sir John Peter Grant, at Belvidere House. Mr. Wilson, the new Minister of Finance, was there. It was a great loss to them when he died, as all acknowledged he would have set going many useful reforms in various departments of the Revenue.

May. I find in diary that I wrote to my sister Sibella, enclosing to her a copy of the Lieut.-Governor’s letter of encomium on me for my management of the railway. This letter I cannot find, but if it turns up I will insert it in the end of the book.

Harry Ramsbotham came to stay with us on the 8th; he was a very fine, intelligent, agreeable young man. His early death was very sad. Supposed to have been from an over-dose of chloroform ; it occurred at 7, Portman Square, London.

Captain Stanton was now in some capacity as assistant to Strachey; he was then a young man, very agreeable and gentlemanlike, but he knew nothing about railways, or works in general. He was anxious to go along the line and see the works, and so I, nothing loth, arranged a journey, and we started together on the 17th May, about the hottest time of the year. I was rather desirous of making an inspection, as I was not expected at this time of year, and wanted to go when I was not expected 1 We reached Synthia at 4 p.m.; temp, in railway carriage was 102°. At Pulsa to breakfast on i8th, temp. 104° in the palkee, 100° in Latimer’s bungalow. On the 19th at Seetapuhor rock cutting, temp. 114° in shade ; in the bungalow on the hill top, 100" inside. At Rajmahal, Vigors was ill of fever ; he was very hospitable, and “ entertained strangers.” Here we found in his bungalow Mr. Yule, the Commissioner; also Ward, Wilmot, Durham, Glynn, Orr. Some went on with us to Talgeria. We worked our way on to Monghyr by trolly and palkee, and had the pleasure of walking through the tunnel with Mr. Harris, the top heading being completed throughout, and good ventilation established. It was clear now that the tunnel would be completed and rails laid through it before it was wanted for traffic, which was satisfactory. Patna Station buildings were nearly up to flow level.

On the 30th we were at the Soane. All the wells were down to near the clay, and most of them well into the clay. One stage up, and part of the ironwork fixed in place. All satisfactory at the Soane works.

I think Capt. Stanton left me here ; anyhow, I returned by myself, crossing from Bankipore south by Gya and along the Trunk road, in place of going along the line. It was very hot when I stopped at the Bellah dak bungalow for breakfast at 11 o’clock. Wind was from the S. W., steady, rather strong; temp, in the bungalow was at 110°. I think the highest I ever saw it stand inside a house, but as there were no glass windows, only Jhilmils outside, i.e., Venetian shutters, the warm wind blew through, and 11 o° was merely the temp, of the wind. The wind was dry, and I was in good health, . and I remember I did not feel it oppressive.

June. Reached Raneegunge on the 4th, and Calcutta on the 5th at 5 a.m., and found Fanny and the children all well.

On the 4th June a removal was made of office and dwelling from 33, Chowringhee Road to 9, Russel Street.

On the 12th we dined at the Henfreys, who were then settled in Calcutta, Mr. H. was carrying on the works of the Eastern of Bengal Railway, Mr. Brassey being his partner in the contract. W. Anderson (Bank Oriental), Leonard, Fergussons, C. Stewart, Capt. and Mrs. Tronson, and others.

July. On the 2nd left Burdwan with a ballast engine and composite carriage, and on to Symtrea and Rajmahal, and made arrangements with Vigors about a temporary station, and other matters.

Left Rajmahal again on the 4th in a third class carriage, with the Napoleon locomotive and three trucks and van, and straight through the Seetapuhar cutting, and on to Burdwan and Calcutta. This was the first train from Rajmahal. I then reported to Mr. Noad, Mr. Palmer and Capt. Beadle, the fact that a train had come through from Rajmahal to Burdwan and' Calcutta.

On the 14th Miss Victor was married to Capt. Warren, R.A.; a large party at church. Our dinner party consisted that day of Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow, Mr. and Miss Burrows, Messrs. Palmer, Thomson, Murray, Miss Sykes.

Fanny and I dined at Government House. Lord Canning, the Governor-General, was very agreeable. A small party of official men. His lordship complimented me on the opening through to Rajmahal. Next day we were at a ball given by the Lieut.-Governor, at Belvedere.

Lady Canning was coming down from Darjeeling, and a splendid train was arranged for her, which brought her from Rajmahal to Calcutta, 202-^- miles, in eight hours. Palmer, Stokes, and others - accompanied the train.

Various dinner parties at this time, not very interesting to record now.

August. The “Nemesis” sailed on the 9th. Among the passengers were Power, James Hunt, Hickmot, Spenser, &c.

September. After much discussion, arranged with Mr. Palmer about opening the line to Rajmahal. I reported formally that the line may be opened to the public on the 15th of October. The Governor-General and a party to go up on the 15th; a public dinner to be given there; return to Calcutta on the i6th, and a grand ball on the 17th.

October. This program was carried out accordingly, and opening of the railway to Rajmahal was accomplished.

On the 15th a new train left Howrah at 8.30 a.m., with Governor-General and about 200 gentlemen from Calcutta, arrived at Rajmahal, 202.5 miles, before five o’clock. They breakfasted on the way at Rampore Haut, at Perry’s bungalow. All things went well, all seemed pleased. A grand dinner afterwards at Rajmahal, with the usual speeches, all duly recorded in the newspapers. There were Sir Bartie Frere, Sir Hugh Rose, Mr. Sconce, Mr. Ritchie, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Richard Temple, Sir John Peter Grant, and other eminent men. The Governor-General made me sit on his right hand, and I had to make a speech in reply to the toast of my health. I took the precaution to prepare my speech, wrote it down and conned it well, so when it came to the push I found no difficulty about speaking it.

On the 16th the same train brought the company back. Everything went off well, for which I was thankful, as the responsibility rested with me, and I knew, although I said nothing about it, that some of the embankments, being quite new, were soft and not well consolidated, and there might be a sudden and unexpected subsidence ; these ticklish parts were travelled over slowly and safely, but it was rather an anxious two days.

Ball given by the Railway Company. Next night there was a grand public ball given by the RailwayCompany in the Town Hall; very crowded ball. In the absence of Mrs. Palmer, the wife of the Agent, Fanny, was the “ Burrah Mem ” and received the Viceroy, Lady Canning, and the other great ladies. Seven hundred guests.

November. Fanny and I dined with the Governor-General and Lady Canning on the 16th—what he called a private party—that is not an official one; Lord and Lady Canning, Sir Bartie and Lady Frere, Sir Charles and Lady Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. Bowring, Mr. Bayley (Sudder Court), Charles Hugh Lushington and Lady Margaret. The Gov.-Gen. said he was to leave on the 19th for the N. W. P.

On the 20th left Calcutta with Nellie and wee Geordie and their mother, by train from Howrah, and left the train at Teenpuhar junction, and got into our tents for a tour along the works.

December. The usual routine went on, and on the 21st December we were at the Soane Bridge, which was now the work about which I felt most anxiety, as Power had gone home to England and Mr. Schmidt was in charge ; a fine, intelligent, clever young man, but with little or no experience. All turned out however, to be quite right in the end, as Schmidt was “up to the occasion,” and I found the works going on well. Three of the iron spans were up and in place ; two spans going on, staging or timber framework for the next seven spans going. I placed no limit to the expense of the staging for erecting the girders, because I arranged that the timbers were to be of Sal timber 9.5 inches square, all of them to be afterwards, when the bridge was finished, cut up into sleepers ; this effected an enormous saving of expense.

Schmidt promised to complete fourteen spans before the rainy season of 1851, and the remaining fifteen spans before the rains of 1862. That rate of speed was exceeded.

There was a bed of sand from thirty to forty feet deep or thick in the bed of the river, underneath that a bed of clay. The top clay is not very hard, that is, it will scour under a strong current of water, the top clay of a dark red colour with bits of iron kunkur in it; below that is a yellow clay, hard and tenacious, and not likely to scour.

The instructions left with Schmidt were that the well foundations were to go thirty feet below the low water level, and to go ten feet into the clay; in no case is any well to be less than ten feet into the clay.

The total iron work for the bridge was estimated at 5,683 tons, of which 4,572 tons were delivered on the works at this time.

25th. At Beheea, Mr. and Miss Burrows, Mr. Swinton, who was then Judge at Arrah, Capt. Stanton, Mr. Thomson, Smithson, &c. A large party of us next day went out to Jugduspore, a fine drive through jungle partially cleared. Koer Singh’s house in ruins — ruin of temple — Mr. Miller in charge of the clearings, living at Jugduspore indigo factory. People coming back slowly to their old quarters as confidence is restored. Burrows has effected an immense deal of good here, doubtless he will profit by it,

On the 28th we left Burrows’ hospitable “castle,” and moved on and encamped at Doomraon, arranged about a station there, the Rajah of that place is a sort of dubious character, afraid to oppose the railway people and afraid to help them; he said he never knew whether the government wished him to favour the railway or otherwise. His was not an exceptional case, nor is it without some parallel in English history.

Letters this year, 4,057. We were at the River Kurrumnassa on the last day of the year. Number of business letters written this year, as in letter book, 4,057 - with my own hand.

The length of Soane District let to Burn and Co., managed by Henry Burrows, a partner in the firm, was 78.5 miles between the Rivers Soane and Kurrumnassa.

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