ABSTRACT
After completing the London & Birmingham Railway, Robert Stephenson's reputation for railway-building achievement was high, but as one of the country's leading consulting engineers, he had all too little time for direct involvement in subsequent railway-building projects. The extraordinary number of projects and the attendant volume of work that Robert Stephenson undertook from 1839 required both a high dependence on delegation and effective administration. From 1840 Stephenson became responsible for the completion of the West London Railway, linking the London & Birmingham and Great Western Railways with the Kensington Canal and Thames Navigation. John Birkinshaw moved up from Birmingham to be his resident engineer for these and the extensions to Hull, Harrogate, Filey and Bridlington. Stephenson's work for the railways between Shrewsbury and Birmingham brought him back into contact with George Buck's former pupil, William Baker. All the Stephenson associates were well versed in surveying, parliamentary submissions and contract preparation.
