 To start the construction work , there was an official ' cutting of the first sod ' ceremony . This took place in September 1846 The site chosen for the ceremony was a field in Etruria . A roped off enclosure for directors was created and the remainder of the field was reserved for invited guests . A mile long procession headed by John Lewis Ricardo , Member of Parliament for Stoke @-@ on @-@ Trent and chairman of the NSR Company , formed . On Ricardo 's arrival , the crowds broke through the roped off area and Ricardo was pushed and shoved . During the actual cutting he buckled the silver spade and had difficulty removing the sod . Finally , his hat blew away . 
