Transcribed by Petra Mitchinson. Geo. The Times, Tuesday, Dec 03, 1839; pg. 5; Issue 17215; col C THE RIVAL WESTERN LINES TO SCOTLAND. - Considerable discussion is now going on in the north respecting the western lines into Scotland. Two have been proposed from Lancaster to Carlisle, one by way of Whitehaven, over Morecombe-bay, and along the coast to Maryport, to join the Maryport and Carlisle Railway; and the other an inland line from the North Union Railway at Preston, by Penrith to Carlisle. The easier gradients are no doubt by the coast line, but then the embankment for ten miles over Morecombe-bay, and two more over the Duddon Sands, exposed to all the fury of the Western Ocean, is a most formidable undertaking. There appears also to be 90 miles of railway to make instead of 60 by the inland line. On the other hand, the works of the inland line are reported to be heavy, and the country far from easy. It is true there may be only 60 miles to make, but if these 60 are more intractable and expensive than the 90, and more difficult to work after they are made, nothing may be gained by the shorter distance. The whole question of preference will then turn upon the time saved by the 30 miles less the expense of the two lines, and the relative advantages of the intermediate traffic. We confess we have not data enough before us to determine the question of preference, and we are exceedingly unwilling to hazard an imperfect opinion. One of the lines, we presume, will be made, but we think great caution should be exercised in the selection. Very little doubt in our mind exists that whichever line obtains the Parliamentary sanction will command traffic to insure an ample return for the outlay. - Railway Magazine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Didn't they both get built in the end? Petra