1838 session, and it was mutually accepted that protective clauses for the B&GR could be inserted; power was given for the B&GR to build the line itself if the C&GWUR failed to do so by a date; each company would build and own one town station. The B&GR under these provisions soon built the line itself. By August 1839 the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway had four locomotives, and 35 wagons had been delivered but an early opening that was anticipated was delayed by extremely bad weather. The directors joined the first public passenger journey on part of the route on 1 June 1840; involving two round trips. Opening of the line The line was opened in stages; from Cheltenham to Bromsgrove was opened to the public without ceremony on 24 June 1840 for passenger traffic. On 17 September 1840 it was extended to a temporary terminus at Cofton Farm a little south of semi-rural Longbridge, south of Birmingham. The Cheltenham to Gloucester section was opened on 4 November 1840. On 17 December 1840 northern extension, to Camp Hill, opened which became the Birmingham terminus for a time, as very early planned. The Tewkesbury branch opened on 21 July 1840. It was horse-operated until 1844; doubletrack was installed in 1864 in connection with the construction of the Malvern and Tewkesbury line. The line was more widely linked, as agreed, by building then opening a junction with the London and Birmingham Railway beyond Camp Hill on 17 August 1841 when Camp Hill was relegated to a goods station and Curzon Street station became a major junction station and further operational route terminus. Goods traffic started on the line in April 1841. One tunnel exists and was engineered for the line at Grovely Hill, near Bromsgrove; in length, lined in brick with no invert. The largest bridge is over the Avon at Eckington, Worcestershire, when built having three cast-iron segmental arches of span supported on two lines of iron columns. The rails were Vignoles rail weighing , laid on longitudinal sleepers, except on embankments over high where cross sleepers were used. The construction had cost £1,266,666. Locomotives Edward Bury, locomotive builder and superindent of the London and Birmingham Railway, was engaged in 1838 as consultant for motive power, workshops and stationary engine for the Lickey Incline. He promptly organised the purchase of two second hand engines, the Leicester and the Southampton to assist