Letter from George Stephenson to the Promoters of a Line from Cockermouth to Workington

Tapton House July 16th 1844

To the Promoters of a line of Railway from Cockermouth to Workington.

Gentlemen
Having examined the line of Country betwixt these two Towns for the purpose of making a Railway; I have duly considered the nature of the work required for the construction of a Railway on the route I have stated; and I am satisfied that £7000 per mile will be sufficient for a single line, including land, and stations. I am supposing the land to cost £150 per Acre (that is the average) and 7 acres per mile: but to be quite safe we will say £8000 per mile. For the latter sum I would guarantee the construction of the line crossing the river five times with good substantial wooden Bridges and proper Stations houses where required. Supposing the line to be eight miles long at £8000 per mile which will amount to £64,000.

[Page 2]

From the favourable nature of the gradients I feel quite justified that the line can be worked for about 33 per Cent of the gross income.
Having now given you the sum required to make the line, and also the sum required to work the line; these two statements will enable you to judge whether a traffic case can be made out to pay a fair per-centage on the outlay. My own opinion is, that it will be a safe and profitable investment; but before any thing more is done I should recommend that a statement of traffic be made out by some careful person. You can collect from other Railway Acts the charges of different articles per mile; when this part of the business has been gone through you will be able to form a pretty correct judgement as to the merits of the scheme.
I am Gentleman
Your mo: Obt. servant,
GW Stephenson