A Letter to the Kensington Canal Company 62153 [Title: A Letter to the Kensington Canal Company on the Substitution of the Pneumatic Railway for the common Railway] [Author: John Vallance] [Subtitle: by which they contemplate extending their line of conveyance] [Link: http://www.gutenberg.org/6/2/1/5/62153 ] [Files: 62153-0.txt; 62153-h.htm] For those wishing to know: In 1827, at Brighton, England, John Vallance constructed a pneumatic railway where people were propelled through a tube by atomospheric pressure rather than being pulled by a stream engine. He demonstrated that it was possible, but couldn't get backing. By 1833 the Kensington Canal Company (West London) were considering turning their failed canal into a railway, and Vallance saw his opportunity. The "letter" is a long essay on how pnuematic railways work, what had been proven, why they would be superior to the stream railway etc. He didn't convince them but the essay shows Vallance was years ahead of his time in seeing the issues in high speed rail, the basics of railway engineering etc. All the best, David England with a nice sunset