Note 263 — Chapter XIV · Manchester and Leeds, and Midland Railways—Stephenson’s Life at Alton—Visit to Belgium—General Extension of Railways and their Results.

During this period he was engaged on the North Midland, extending from Derby to Leeds; the York and North Midland, from Normanton to York; the Manchester and Leeds; the Birmingham and Derby, and the Sheffield and Rotherham Railways; the whole of these, of which he was principal engineer, having been authorised in 1836. In that session alone, powers were obtained for the construction of 214 miles of new railways under his direction, at an expenditure of upwards of five millions sterling.