Note 42 — Chapter III · EARLY HISTORY OF THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. A.D. 1833—1835. ÆTATIS 27—30.
Reading edition
During Mr. Stephenson’s cross-examination, several questions were put to him as to the dangerous consequences which might be expected to result from travelling through a tunnel a thousand yards long. At length he lost all patience at the ignorance displayed by the questions put to him by counsel, and the following passage of arms took place:—
‘Mr. Stephenson. I wish you had a little engineering knowledge—you would not talk to me so.
Counsel. I feel the disadvantage.
Mr. Stephenson. I am sure you must.’
In other parts of the engineering evidence there are some statements which read strangely enough at the present day, as for example the following: ‘The noise of two trains passing in a tunnel would shake the nerves of this assembly. I do not know such a noise. No passenger would be induced to go twice.’