1840s review John Cooke Bourne

interior kilsby tunnel, 1837



viaduct on river blythe, 1838

a 1840 review in gentleman s magazine describes volume contains series of thirty-seven views of portions of line of birmingham railway, entrance in euston grove termination. executed in lithography, , tinted; , justice say, great credit pencil of artist. there perhaps, no object less picturesque, or appearance, more incapable of producing effect, dull strait level of rail-road; in hands of mr. bourne, subject seems have lost of untractable character, , skilful use of accessories, has turned out far more agreeable @ first sight promised have been. various stages of undertaking represented excavation , embankment, complete work. in of views, scene varied bustle , life displayed hundreds of workmen engaged in different avocations.

two views of kilsby tunnel interesting; in first working shaft, powerful light bursting through aperture in roof, , shewing group of workmen , horses 1 of operators descending, affords striking idea of vastness of tunnel itself. visibleness of ray of light shaft, says mr. britton, occasioned opaqueness , humidity of atmosphere, arising want of ventilator. in 2008 article mike mckiernan commented same picture:

in drawing, excavation of tunnel advanced. single track runs through middle (it have 2 lines) while workers (navvies) gather in mid-distance under shaft. 2 horses, harnessed haulage, stand patiently nearby. group of men struggle move basket of rubble , above them 1 worker ascends surface more rubble. in background, on right, smoke rising fire while in right foreground, worker sharpening tool on grinding wheel. @ time, of bourne s fellow artists concerned capturing pastoral idyll of innocent peasants pursuing rural tasks. bourne celebrates navvies strenuous work in sacred way. uses light shaft create spiritual atmosphere, man ascends heavenward...

according 1840 review picture grand ventilator shaft conveys equally idea of appearance of vast passage diminishing in distance mere speck. picturesque plate of viaduct on river blythe, near termination of railroad, has singular merit of displaying on opposite sides of same view, comparison between ancient , modern modes of bridge building. massive piers, further secured buttresses , narrow arches of ancient fort bridge, afford curious contrast great altitude , extensive span slender supports of modern viaduct.