Change of Engineers.

The company's engineer, Mr. Wallace, resigned in February, 1852, and was succeeded by page 45 Mr, John Whitton as engineer. Mr. Whitton (who was in England) arrived in the colony at the end af 1852. Shortly before his arrival the Governor-General, Sir William Denison, had submitted to the Executive Council proposals to the effect that railways using steam locomotives should be continued southwards from Sydney for thirty-three miles only, westward for twenty miles (beyond the junction with the southern line), and northward, from Newcastle, for thirty miles. Beyond these points horse-tramways, laid on existing roads, were to be constructed, at an estimated cost of £4,000 per mile, including rolling stock. The proposal covered 83 miles of steam railways and 627 miles of horse-tramways.

Mr. Whitton strongly opposed these proposals, pointing out that there were many grades of 1 in 8 on the western road, and that, under such conditions, traffic could not be worked satisfactorily. He recommended that a railway, worked by steam locomotives, should be built over the Blue Mountains.

The Governor-General combated this proposal, and, in support of his views, stated that a company of sappers and miners of the Royal Engineers, under the direction of Captain Hawkins, R.E., had made careful surveys, and had proved that a railway, as suggested by Mr. Whitton, was thoroughly impacticable.

The question remained in abeyance for some time, as Mr. Whitton hoped to convince Sir William Denison's successor, Sir John Young, of the superiority of his proposal to construct a 4ft. 8 ½in. gauge steam railway across the mountains.

At that time it was generally considered that such a railway could not be constructed over the rugged ridges of the dividing range, excepting at exorbitant cost, but, on that point, Mr. Whitton's opinions could not be shaken.