Changes

The Severn Valley Railway, as originally laid out, was intended, we believe, to proceed along the east bank of Severn for many miles further, and the Ordnance maps have the line so marked out to this day ; but having crossed the river at Upper Arley, the line proceeds along the west bank, <ref group="note">This wording is somewhat misleading. Robert Nicholson's first plan involved crossing at Victoria Bridge and following the west bank from Arley past Hampton Loade before re-crossing at Quatford, south of Bridgnorth and then remaining east of the river. No plan ever involved remaining east of the river before that point.</ref> thence to Shrewsbury. From Arley to [[Bridgnorth]] the river winds among hills now clothed with wood, now sloping down in green pastures to the river's brink, and presenting continually changing vistas, and the rail running at an elevation from the river of 30 to 50 yards, follows the windings of the stream in an ascending gradient. Under ordinary circumstances, the construction of the line upon this sloping bank would be considered a simple course of engineering, but the nature of the ground—in many places large boulders and rocks being mixed up with treacherous clay and loose soil—made the work one of remarkable difficulty. Time after time, when the level had been obtained, and the rail laid down, the ground beneath slipped towards the river. Slip after slip occurred, and the traces of these mishaps are still plainly visible as the train proceeds slowly up the valley. We believe, however, all is now pronounced safe. From Arley to [[Highley|Highley station]] (two miles), and from Highley to Hampton (two miles and a half), the evidences of these slips continually present themselves. The population round these two stations appear sparse; at Hampton's Lode there are some ironworks which belong to W. O. Foster, and here a few workmen's tenements are collected. After leaving [[Hampton Loade|Hampton station]] <ref group="note">The station was originally named Hampton at opening but renamed Hampton Loade within a month. The old version may have remained in use locally. </ref> the line diverges for a short time from the actual bank of the river, returning to it again at Bridgnorth, the approach to which picturesque town is exceedingly beautiful. Before the introduction of the railway, Bridgnorth was one of those out of-the-way places rarely intruded upon by tourists. Once open a time, when stage coaches were the only means of traffic, Bridgnorth was on the high road between Liverpool and Bristol—one of the most celebrated coach runs in the country, Worcester and Cheltenham being on the route—but these days disappeared: the rail has long turned the roaches off the road, but although it has swept away the old mode of conveyance, it is not until a few months ago that it supplied the rapid and more convenient substitute. It was the market town for the surrounding agricultural district; but trade it had little. Now, by means of the iron road, the inhabitants will soon lose their isolation and form a more intimate acquaintance with the rest of the world.