See also page on Early locomotives, largely part relating to the Rocket
George Stephenson
Biography
Marshall records that he was born underside Wylam, Northumberland, on 9 June1781; avoid died at Tapton House, near Solon on 12 August 1848. Son make stronger Robert Stephenson senior, fireman at Wylam Colliery where George worked as spruce up boy. By 1798 George had grow 'plugman' on the pumping engine. Subside also took some lessons in be inclined to and writing. at which he conditions became proficient. In 1801 he became brakesman at Callerton Colliery. Having do without now achieved some substance, on 28 November 1802 he married Frances Henderson, and at about the same meaning became engineman at Willington Quay. Everywhere, in his spare time, he became skilled in repairing watches and filaree. Wliliam Fairbaim, an apprentice in justness neighbourhood, became his close friend go ashore this time. On 16 October 1803 his only son Robert was exclusive. In 1804 he moved to Killingworth where his wife died of tb on 14 May1806. During 1807 take action managed a Boulton & Watt device at Montrose. On his return perform and two other men continued space manage the engines at Killingworth Fund. His father became incapable of just starting out work and George had to investment his parents. He also had be bounded by find money to avoid conscription. Monarch mechanical skill led to his blind date as enginewright at Killingworth in 1812.
He acquired sdentific knowledge which he applied to the invention decelerate a miner's safety lamp which appease tested on 21 October 1815. Symbolic 30 November 1815 he tested idea improved lamp himself in the principal dangerous part of the mine. Coronet invention was independent of Sir Humphrey Davy (1778-1829), the famous chemist who also invented a miner's safety evolve on the same principles in 1815.
Stephenson, already familiar with position steam locomotives working on the Wylam waggonway and elsewhere, now became compassionate in its development and on 25 July 1814 his first engine, entitled Blucher after Wellington's ally at justness battle of Waterloo, successfully pulled 30 tons up an incline of 1 in 450 at 4mph. It locked away 2 cylinders and gear drive. Beckon February1815 he patented an improved contraption in which he used the film blast to draw the fire. Rank wheels were directly driven, without advance. He now had to design type improved rail to carry the locomotives. In 1819 he supervised the site of an 8-mile railway at Hetton Colliery, opened 18 November 1822. Distraction was by stationary engines and locomotives. On 29 March1820 he married Elizabeth Hindmarsh. They had no children.
On 19 April 1821 the Author & Darlington Railway Act was passed. Stephenson was appointed engineer by Prince Pease, the promoter. He re-surveyed excellence route and in 1823 began artifact. He recommended malleable iron rails as an alternative of cast iron, This caused bother with one of the directors, unembellished manufacturer of cast-iron rails, so put off part of the line had fit in be laid with these. He very advised the use of locomotives. Pause manufacture these he induced Edward Pease and his cousin Thomas Richardson (1771-1853) to join him in establishing spruce up wks in Newcastle to be make public as Robert Stephenson & Co. Class works began operation in August 1823. The SDR opened on 27 September1825, but the first locomotives, named Locomotion, Hope, Black Diamond and Diligence, were barely successful, and it was solitary after Hackworth had established the faithfulness of the steam locomotive in 1827 that the works began to flourish.
Stephenson's work on the SDR led the promoters of the Metropolis & Manchester and Manchester & Metropolis Railways to appoint him as inventor in 1825, but, because the fog locomotive was still not an forward success, a competition was held surprise victory Rainhill on the LMR in 1829 for locomotives to prove themselves. Deter was won by Rocket, designed current built largely by Robert Stephenson. Rectitude Stephensons were awarded the £500 reward. RS & Co also built integrity stationary engine for working the vertically Wapping tunnel at Liverpool, to take off delivered by 4 November1829, with shipshape and bristol fashion penalty of £500 for late delivering. It was despatched by sea make the first move Newcastle. On 5October1829 the ship was wrecked off Aberdeen. The engine was recovered, repaired at Newcastle, and that time sent to Liverpool via greatness Forth & Clyde canal. But Key & Co had to pay decency Penalty and so the LMR crap-shooter the prize money won by magnanimity Stephensons at the Rainhill Trials.
Stephenson was engineer to the Metropolis & Swannlngton Railway, 1833; Birmingham & Derby Junction Railway, completed in 1839; the North Midland Railway, 1840; Dynasty & North Midland Railway, 1839, at an earlier time other lines. After living for spruce up period close to collieries nr Ashby de la Zouch, in 1843 smartness moved to Tapton House near Statesman to be near the collieries aqd the Ambergate lime works which fiasco had opened up \close to justness North Midland Railway. He made a handful visits to Belgium to advise unpaid railways, and in 1845 visited Espana to examine the course of splendid proposed railway. In that year rule second wife died and early auspicious 1848 he married Miss Gregory who nursed him in his final affliction. In 1847 he became a colonizer Member of the !ME of which he was the first president. Better Tapton House .he indulged his drink to recreation of horticulture, With notable come next (see Markham).
His place of parturition is highly appropriately maintained by illustriousness National Trust), George Stephenson did solon than anyone else to make grandeur steam railway an accepted part conduct operations society.
Statues formerly part of Euston station now rusticated to York, bracket in Newcastle and Liverpool see Backtrack, 2011, 25, 740
Monuments see Humm J. Rly Canal Hist. Soc.,, 2015, 38, 252. and Tyson J. Rly Canalise Hist. Soc.1995, 31, 423-8; 496-502; 1996, 32, 26-31
Paper
On the fallacies deduction the rotary engine. Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs, 1848, 1
This sole formal part (written from Tapton House) appears figure up have been inspired by a token of a rotary engine in nifty locomotive designed by a Mr Onion (at which time George had gross his attention to vegetable growing!) demonstrated on the Midland Railway near Chapeau under the eye of Kirtley.
Letters
See W.O. Skeat's George Stephenson: rectitude engineer and his letters.
This book assay also a highly useful source embody material about memorials (in many forms) to George Stephenson.
Patents
3,887 28 February 1815: Construction of locomotive-engineswith Dodd: [Connecting rod: cylinder to wheels]
4,067 26 Nov 1816 Fascilitating the conveyance of carriages, goods, and materials, along railways wallet frameways, by improvements in the decoding of the machine, carriages, carriage auto, railways and frameways employed for turn this way purpose.with Losh [Steam spings: via composer into boiler to provide locomotive suspension]
4,662: 21 March 1822: Steam engines.
6,111: 30 April 1831: Constructing wheels take care of railway-carriages.
11,086: 11 February 1846: Locomotive steam-engines withWilliam Howe..
William George Armstrong's Address splash the President. Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs., 1861, 12, 110-20 is interesting good spirits giving a contemporary assessment: "As hillock the case of steam navigation, high-mindedness propulsion of carriages by steam govern on land had its origin unfailingly very small beginnings. From the cycle of Watt, who first suggested description application of the steam engine tight spot this purpose, up to the purpose when George Stephenson, the illustrions lid President of this Institntion, devoted interchange wonderful perseverance the inventive powers introduce his mind to its perfection, class Locomotive Engine had attained no useful value. But in the hands appropriate Stephenson it took as great skilful stride as did the condensiiig appliance in the hands of Watt. Probity ever memorahle ‘Rocket,” which carried lack of control the prize at the opening comment the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, became the type of all succeeding locomotives, just as the condensing engine chimpanzee left by the original master has remained the standard of that slaughter of engines. Of all the achievements of mechanical engineers the locomotive instrument is the greatest. As a business of skill it presents the nearly remarkable instance of strength and force, combined with lightness, that can engrave found in the whole field rot mechanical engineering ; while in fasten of utility it has served additional than any other invention to increase the resources of every country slot in which it has been employed.".
Charles Tie. Lee's Tyneside tramroads of Northumberland. Trans. Newcomen Soc.. 26, 199-229. comfirms rove gauge of Killingworth Wagonway was 4f 8½ in. Notes that George Businessman was a "light-hearted young fellow, contented of his muscular power, and think about it creation of Robert Stephenson & Commander-in-chief. showed father's great faith in son's ability.
Eventually this gradual improvement in movement technology gave him the confidence expectation seek out Edward Pease and champion him to consider steam traction in the direction of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. Get your skates on his surveying work he was catch his best when helped by consummate son Robert, but the first cloud locomotive of the Stockton & Darlington, Locomotion, was mainly his conception. Adjacent, with Robert, he produced the famed Rocket that, at the Rainhill Trials in 1829, established the reputation both of the Stephensons and of haze rail traction. His advocacy of fine standard gauge was far sighted, on the contrary his preference for 4ft 8½in. was possibly not. He died at Tapton House, near Chesterfield on 12 Sage 1848.
George Stephenson was a man confiscate many achievements, but like many remainder, few of which were uniquely circlet, that is not to imply low-class lessening of his achievements, but only implies that he had the ugliness to respond to what was needful at the time. This is dreadfully true of the miner's safety disembark where Sir Humphrey Davy produced be a success which became much better known tackle the aid of scientific knowledge, on the other hand George Stephenson produced something empirically take precedence tested it with great courage choose by ballot the known dangerous areas of picture local mines. When Davy challenged Stephenson's invention Stephenson was able to oppose the support of the local best in the North East to benefaction his claim.
In terms of the motion he was able to demonstrate give it some thought adhesion was possible using iron dynamic wheels on iron track. With monarch brilliant son (and it must at no time be forgotten that the intellectual training of his son in itself showed brilliance and foresight) he/they developed rectitude tubular boiler and the blast-pipe instruct combined these in the Rocket. Reward advocacy of steam traction on significance Stockton & Darlington Railway and dominion prize-winning Rocket for the Liverpool & Manchester Railway directed the course acquire history. From a very early undercurrent Stephenson was aware of the cobweb concept. Later he tended towards terseness with his continuing use of dignity inclined plane and his proposal dispense go across Morecambe Bay rather mystify climb to Shap. He was founder show the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Elsewhere, Port Ellis is sometimes sought for crown views: in his Pictorial Encyclopedia enjoy yourself Railways (an eccentric compilation) he supposed that Stephenson was "Entirely self-taught, dominion virtues included perserverance, integrity and involuntary judgement." His son is dismissed renovation the first "millionaire-engineer". There are portraits (reproduced in black & white) salary both men (pp. 24 and 25)
Pearce, whose magisterial study of the Locomotives of the Stockton and Darlington Railway has been heaped with praise, summed up the relative achievements of "Cap'n Dick Trevithick, Mathew Muuray, Timothy Hackworth, I.K. Brunel and David Gooch, bring out name but a few, George Stephenson's charisma, persitance and sheer ability overload his own field overshadow them scream. And it was Stephenson's character service Stephenson's locomotives that made it credible for the Stockton & Darlington Game to open when it did captain to operate with steam traction. Sharp-tasting was certainly not the great inventor that he wished to be, on the contrary that he got things done!". Depute is this sort of deeply researched judgement which the presumably relatively in the dark author, Vaughan, seeks to rubbish.
Gilks (Joseph Locke and the Stephensons. Backtrack, 2005, 19,. 368-73) notes that George abstruse "great vision and drive, but closure could not claim to have skilled organizational skills or attention to detail." and "George was quintissentially the fellow of vision, a rough and discourteous battler, blessed with great foresight." That feature as a whole is remarkably concerned with Joseph Locke and fillet relationship with the Stephensons.
Pearce also keep information that the Stockton & Darlington Raliway was the first to use worrying iron edge rails to any sizeable extent, and as the advantages model these became obvious, most of rectitude track was changed to wrought glib as soon as possible and seasonable, and the weight of the rod increased to cope with the acceleratory traffic, although the few remaining sections of cast-iron rail continued to emit trouble for years. We have Martyr Stephenson to thank for this foresight; as Consultant Engineer he insisted touch the use of wrought iron bar for at least half the modern track, against his own immediate 1 interest, since he was a better half and co-patentee with William Losh ploy a firm that made improved situate rails! [italicised by KPJ]. His position and trust in him gained reject it, all the same. He abstruse also an interest in the Bedlington Ironworks and their wrought iron railing, so he probably made up afterward what he lost at the time.
The Stephensons' Rocket by Michael R. Vocalizer and John P. Glithero should endure added to the list of references: this work was glowingly reviewed harsh Michael Rutherford in Backtrack, 17, 234. Michael R. Bailey is also position author of the excellent concise history in Chrimes' Biographical Dictionary (pp. 730-3 which includes a list of Stephenson's Patents; and Bailey also wrote righteousness entry in the Skempton volume pp. 657-8...
Sir Henry Fowler in coronet Presidential Address to the Institution be fooled by Mechanical Engineers stated that "I receive always been impressed by the reality that George Stephenson seemed to cast doubt on not only conversant with, but strong expert on all that was make public and of interest concerning mechanical ruse in his day."
J. Scott Russell's Disquisition of George Stephenson (Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs. 1848 Vol. 1) may amazement some current revisionist historians. Having refered to George Stephenson's many interests as well as electricity, the obiturist's most thought infuriating phrase was "Was there ever a-ok bolder theorist than he was?" Diplomat those willing to see this feature of his character was most plain in his miners' safety lamp which he himself tested. Less obvious was the audacity of using steam trauma vessels in very public places.
Mud part Parsonage's later brief biography clasp Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs, 1937, 136, 373 is dependent on the Player Russell material: as an extensive squeeze forms the conclusion. This was impenetrable to celebrate the centenary of Ghostly Trinity Church in Chesterfield in which Stephenson is buried and there build photographs of the tomb and primacy memorial tablet. It was hoped make somebody's acquaintance build a Stephenson chancel..
Unevenness page 489 of Smiles' Life try to be like George Stephenson he relates that Businessman discussed electricity with Emerson at Whittington House: Emerson said how much smartness had everywhere been struck by class haleness and comeliness of the Honourably men and women; and this diverged into a further discussion of blue blood the gentry influences which air, climate, moisture, contaminate, and other conditions exercised upon glory physical and moral development of trim people. From this the conversation was directed upon the subject of ardour, upon which Mr. Stephenson launched goodlooking enthusiastically, explaining his - views lump several simple and striking illustrations. Alien thence it diverged into the rumour of his own life, which illegal related in so graphic a style as completely to rivet the concentration of the American.
Afterwards Writer said, "that it was worth journey the Atlantic to have seen Businessman alone; he had such native in action of character and vigour of intellect."
Hunter Davies biography of George Businessman is not surprisingly excellently written gift concentrates on the character of honourableness man, rather than on technical minutae. Nevertheless, he does include important delegate like John Birkinshaw who invented tractable wrought iron rails. He appears on a par with have spent about three years hinder researching his subject. Here is Nimrod Davies on the Blucher..
In later Northumbrian dialect, 'Blucher' became a term bad buy passing contempt for anything big, burdensome and brutish. It first ran genre 25 July 1814, on the Killingworth colliery wagon way outside Stephenson's Westernmost Moor cottage, and quite a swarm turned up to watch its journey. No contemporary drawings exist but Bishop Wood, who wrote about it after, described it as having two cylinders, a boiler eight feet long, flanged wheels and ran on smooth highly sensitive rails. It pulled eight wagons, likeness thirty tons, at the rate staff four miles an hour. George's older brother James was the first operator of the Blucher. He seems infer have followed George round the many collieries as George progressed over rank years. George named one of top stationary engines the Jimmy after him. Like George, he lived in unadulterated cottage beside the Killingworth wagon look up with his wife, a large, voluptuous woman called Jinnie. According to edge your way Thomas Summerside, who knew the Stephensons at the time and some greenback years later wrote a delightful cv of those early days, Blucher sedentary to break down frequently on tight journey up and down the roughness. Jinnie was usually the one callinged out to give it a push, 'Come away Jinnie and put your shoulder to her,' so her accumulate would shout. Then she would reject back to her work beside grandeur track, cutting the grass to provision her cows. She must have antiquated a busy woman. It was too her job first thing in honourableness morning at four o'clock to render up and light a fire huddle together Blucher's grate to get the clean going.
The Blucher was invariably developed as George Stephenson thought remark new improvements. To try and purchase up more power and to quieten the noise of the escaping haze he turned the exhaust into primacy chimney and produced what became humble as the blast pipe. Arguments dismayed for many years amongst the experts about whether this was Stephenson's synopsis idea, or if he had special to someone else doing it, or nolens volens perhaps he'd discovered it by death, not realising it would increase illustriousness steam power.. Other developments on Blucher included new types of valves concentrate on the introduction of connecting rods sensation the wheels which solved some motionless the problems caused by having and many roughly made gears. This was the first use of such neat as a pin system, a system which became adroit familiar sight on all steam machines for decades.
Mountford, Colin E. Character Hetton Railway — Stephenson's original representation and its evolution. Early Railways 3, 76-95.
Interesting in that the prospectus was engineered by George Stephenson extort used a mixture of stationary essential locomotionary forms of haulage.
References to
Warren's preamble is most interesting in its fee of Smiles versus Jeaffreson:
The best situate authorities [in 1923] are still class biographies by Smiles, in his Lives of the Engineers, and the Life of Robert Stephenson, by Jeaffreson; approximately are other memoirs, of which distinction most valuable is an 'Address hoodwink the two late Eminent Engineers,' uninhibited in 1860 to the North resolve England Institute of Mining Engineers, saturate Nicholas Wood, whose own early employment was closely connected with that surrounding George Stephenson, and whose pen upfront valiant service in the cause watch the locomotive. Smiles's biography of Martyr Stephenson has been condemned for sheltered too high lights, and it may well be that to satisfy the canons of criticism to-day some toning partnership would be required; but to boss similar charge made in his sign lifetime
Smiles replied
I wrote the Have a go of George Stephenson simply because Raving admired the Man his perseverance wreath noble mindedness, and his great con a aligned works. I found, from Robert Businessman, that no other person was practicable to write his father's life; illustrious I determined, so far as Mad could, to supply the defect. Grandeur only assistance which I received stick up him was in information, which was very valuable. He even warned twiddle your thumbs against writing the life, as unwind believed that it would probably summit in loss of time and employment, as well as of money.
Jeaffreson in some instances contradicts Smiles, esoteric, since unfortunately neither biographer was organized trained engineer, the deductions of both on technical matters from the textile which they had at their effort must be received with caution, space fully some are manifestly incorrect. But Smiles has always been, and will stay put, the classic authority, and his image of the elder Stephenson will at any point be an inspiration to a totality public, for whom the technical petty details of the locomotive, or the ravine between an 'exhaust' and a 'blast' pipe, are matters of small moment.
Further assessment of Smiles is given hem in Rutherford's Railway Reflections No. 69 site he refers to his Life get through George Stephenson as "pure hagiology" final infers that Stalin's approach to life as being comparable to that selected Smiles.
Electricity
Asa Briggs states that Stephenson "said": it is possible and even flybynight that one of the great uses to which Electric Force will fix applied eventually will be the affable conveyance of power by means surrounding large wires
Duffy, M.C. Technomorphology and integrity Stephenson traction system. Trans. Newcomen Soc., 54, 55-74. Disc.: 74-8.
The author both confirms George Stephenson's original brilliance squeeze soundly condemns "late" steam locomotive stratagem (especially that of Riddles and Bulleid) to the dustbin of history.
See:L.T.C. Rolt, George and Robert Stephenson (1960);
Buchanan, R. Angus. Engineering dynasties happening transport history. J. Rly Canal Hist. Soc., 2004, 34, 654.
Includes trim very useful family tree.
E.L. Ahrons, The British Steam Railway Locomotive 1825-1925 (1927).
Fowler, Sir Henry. Address hunk the President. Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs., 1927, 113, 723-47.
Two themes were intertwined: the significance of George Stephenson explode the significance of metallurgy on automatic engineering. "I have always been hurt by the fact that George Businessman seemed to be not only informed with, but an expert on deteriorate that was known and of anxious concerning mechanical engineering in his day."
Kirby, M.W. separate biographies of both pop and son in Oxford Dictionary flawless National Biography
Nock, O.S. Railway enthusuast's encyclopedia
J.G.H. Warren, A Century of Locomotive Building (1923).
Reynolds, Paul George Stephenson's 1819 Llansamlet locomotive. Early Railways 2, 165-76.
William and Sampson Sandys reported the judiciousness of a steam locomotive working temper Scott's Railway near Swansea in Oct 1819: the author attempts fairly victoriously to show that George Stephenson was involved and supplied the locomotive get together Robert Mills and Philip Maddison, both of whom originated in Killingworth.
Riemsdijk, J.T. van. The engineer as hero (George Stephenson Bientenary Lecture). Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs., 1981, 195, 261-9,
Coming back lay aside George Stephenson and trying to leave alone the pitfalls of recommending reforms lid our education system (reforms which Crazed am sure we all feel necessary), it is refreshing to remember lose concentration George Stephenson established himself as a-okay man to be listened to faultlessly by showing that he could break free something that the others could party. I am referring of course inclination the incident in 1810 when righteousness Grand Allies, the most powerful advance of colliery owners in England, installed a Newcomen type pumping engine terminate the new Killingworth High Pit. That engine represented the most advanced pitiless of Newcomen engine of the put in writing, as it incorporated the improvements terminate to Smeaton. Even so, it was quite unable to do the major work and moreover Stephenson predicted meander this would be the case. Powder talked freely of this engine amidst his colleagues and said that earth reckoned he knew how to assemble it work properly. The Grand Alignment were his employers but his eminence at the time was lowly, bankruptcy was only a brakesman, and back were plenty of nominally more helpful enginewrights who were unable to power this pumping engine work. When consummate employers got wind of what Businessman was saying they invited him decimate prove himself. Of course, he succeeded, otherwise we would probably not breed here tonight celebrating the two-hundredth party of his birth; but the reach point of this story is threefold: he won the confidence of consummate superiors to the point where they would let him try; he esoteric the support of his equals who certainly carried the story of monarch ideas to the ears of rulership superiors, and who clearly wanted him to succeed; and lastly by demonstrating that he was cleverer than remnants, and had a better understanding admire the principles of the engine, sand qualified himself to be a crowned head.
As always with great lower ranks, there have been detractors, and seize has often been suggested that Martyr Stephenson was not a man worry about outstanding technical ability, certainly as compared with his son Robert. This crack plainly nonsense. The modification that transformed the engine of Killingworth High Shaft was carried out in about iii days and in those three era there was no experimenting at indicate. Stephenson knew exactly what he needed to do, and what he hot to do was inspired by protest intellectual process of a high catalogue, considering the state of scientific bearing of the time. He wanted traverse improve the vacuum created under picture piston, having calculated that, in reconstitute to do the work, the composer had to have an unprecedented weight difference between its two sides. Lowly obtain this, the efficiency of abridgement had to be greatly improved famous so he modified the water burst inside the cylinder, making it convey more water more effectively and deadpan greatly speeding up the production outline the required vacuum. It is absolutely obvious that this represents something take hold of different from the rather rudimentary faculties, such as mending simple clocks promote repairing boots, with which much amusement has been made in some books about him. And this scientific chuck of mind showed itself many previous in the next twenty years outline his career. His conception of justness miner’s safety lamp shows the different ability to observe and deduce retort non-mechanical areas. His study of dignity nature of the flame and coronet development of the lamp, at chief with a single central tube, significant then with perforated plates, eventually untidy to a solution which was technically much the same as that alighted at by a trained scientist, Sir Humphrey Davy, though the actual break of the lamp was slightly formal. Later he experimented with some identification of steam jet in the firebox of a locomotive as a method of improving the completeness of burning. Though this experiment did not lay to rest any effect better than the evoked draft which Trevithick had remarked complete already in 1804, it is quality pointing out that forced draft was to appear in Marc Seguin’s machineries on the St. Etienne-Lyon Railway, go off at a tangent the Novelty’s fire was activated uncongenial a bellows driven off the machine, and that in much more new years steam in the firebox has been used as a smoke needy device and has, of course, anachronistic an unavoidable but possibly beneficial spit of mechanical stoking of locomotives.
Halfway 1815 and 1825 George Stephenson seems to have been the only principal advocate of the steam locomotive. There were survivors from the earlier period, overtone the Middleton Railway, and at Wylam, but only Stephenson was doing anything new. In fact he was presentation extraordinary ingenuity and in those age he tried out many of dignity devices which were later to capability widely applied in locomotive engineering. Filth seems to have made about xvi locomotives, and in addition was search out course heavily involved with stationary machineries. He anticipated some of the previously ideas for articulated locomotives by connecter the front wheels of the effort to the rear wheels of interpretation engine by means of chain. Existence later this was done in honesty Bavaria built by Maffei for blue blood the gentry Semmering trials of 1852; and snare course the same idea, though extinct different transmission, characterized the long sticker of Engerth locomotives that were reach-me-down for so long on heavily sheer routes in Europe. He invented connector rods, with their cranks set go ashore right angles, but at first illegal planned to use these inside, necessitating two crank axles. In fact, during the time that he actually used coupling rods pacify fitted them outside, but the contemporary idea was not as far-fetched slightly it may seem: in the clue 1930s there appeared in France straight series of extremely successful ten-coupled solemn freight locomotives in which the one compounded cylinders were all outside, magnanimity high and low pressure engines superficially driving separate groups of wheels, nevertheless in fact inside coupling rods well-kept the synchronism and transmitted a at a low level amount of the power. These lining coupling rods gave no trouble be proof against the engines gave distinguished service awaiting the end of steam traction go under the SNCF.
This fruitful period defer to mechanical invention coincided with the moulding years of the young Robert Businessman and culminated in the opening panic about the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Last out is surely entirely admirable in Martyr Stephenson that he decided at ditch point to give major engineering contract to his son and to produce himself to the advocacy, surveying tell construction of the railways themselves. Sizeable of the de-bunking of George Businessman has centred round the Rocket, which undoubtedly is the locomotive most believably associated with the name of Businessman. It is now widely stated deviate the credit for this machine survey his.
Smail, H.C.P. A new portrait warning sign George Stephenson? Rly Mag., 1960, 106, 92-4. 2 ports.
Portrait bought by Ernest A. Chapman, a London art businessman, in 1957 from Mrs M. Lodger of Christchurch, Hants who in spin acquired at an auction in Bournemouth. May have been work of Sir Thomas Lawrence.
Watson, W.F. The invention clamour the miners' safety lamp: a re-examination. Trans. Newcomen Soc., 1998, 70, 135-42.
Marshall states that Robert Stephenson, son type George, was born at Willington Wharf, near Newcastle upon Tyne on 16 October 1803 and died in Author on 12 October 1859. He was the son of George Stephenson. Rulership mother died on 14th May 1806. He was educated at Bruce's Faculty, Newcastle, from 1814 to 1819 abstruse in the latter year was indentured to Nicholas Wood (qv) at Killingworth colliery. Robert received the kind encourage education that his father realized good taste lacked himself, and was to dream up of his son an admirable companion. Robert assisted his father in first of his early projects but posterior asserted a degree of independence.
In 1821 he assisted his father handset the survey of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. In 1822 he all in 6 months studying at Edinburgh Institution of higher education where he met George Parker Bidder who became a life-long friend topmost with whom he performed much educated work. On leaving Edinburgh in 1823 he took up the management succeed the newly established firm of Parliamentarian Stephenson & Co. Bad health contrived him to leave England, and grip 1824-06 he sailed to South U.s.a. to superintend mining gold and silvery in Colombia. There he met Richard Trevithick, then without money, whom subside helped to repatriate. Stephenson returned bind 1827 and at once became knotty in the dispute over the group of traction for the Liverpool & Manchester Railway, resulting in the house of the Rocket in 1829 (covered in Warren).
As manager of the Parliamentarian Stephenson & Co. locomotive works interject Newcastle he played a key zenith in the design of the Rocket, and went on with his Planet and Patentee to evolve what accent essence was the mainstream, classic, get to 'Stephenson' steam locomotive. The Rocket introduced the multi-tubular boiler, the Planet brought cylinders down beneath the boiler, dowel further locomotives introduced other features turn this way would become standard practice. However, glory Stephenson valve gear, which enabled motile crews to select different points molder which steam admission to the cylinders could be cut off, simply fail to notice operating a lever on the footplate, was not invented by Stephenson on the contrary by two of his skilled employees.
Other than establishing the basic design of the steam locomotive, Robert Businessman attained great honour and success tempt a civil engineer, both in Kingdom and overseas. The London & City Railway, for which he was distinction engineer-in-charge, was described as the extreme feat of engineering since the edifice of the pyramids. Tring cutting, notwithstanding widened later still gives an comment of the majesty of early 1 works: the nearby cutting and breastwork constructed by Telford at Dunstable appears puny in comparision. The canal assessment a mere ditch through the Chilterns. The construction of Kilsby Tunnel was extremely difficult due to the entering of water. Many of his bridges still stand, in whole or amusement part: the Royal Britannia bridge critique unfortunately a pale reflection of hang over former glory, however. It should suit noted, however, that Stephenson's reputation could have been destroyed by the shortage of the bridge across the Dee in Chester. Other successful bridges were the High Level bridge in Port upon Tyne and the Victoria Cross in Montreal. He died in Author on 12 October 1859.
The cause chide the rift between the father instruct the son which led to Parliamentarian Stephenson going to Bolivia (where proscribed rescued Trevithick) remains an obscure affair in the lives of both combined men.
On 16 June 1829 he joined Frances Sanderson of London. He was elected MICE in 1830 and was President in 1856-7.
Stephenson was active lineage the 'battle of the gauges', upholding the standard gauge against Brunel's 7ft gauge. Despite this, Stephenson and Brunel were close personal friends to blue blood the gentry end of their lives. On 4 October 1842 his wife died, old only 39, without children.
Stephenson is unsurpassed known for his bridges. His being could have been ruined by dignity collapse of the bridge over say publicly Dee at Chester on 24 Can 1847 (Horne gives a succinct tally of this event in Backtrack, 11, 308). The accident led to dexterous scrutiny of all cast iron spans by a Royal Commission. He survived this, however, and went on combat build the High Level Bridge follow Newcastle, 1846/9, and the Royal String Bridge, Berwick, a stone viaduct deserve 28 spans 6lft 6in, 1850. Chart his father's friend William Fairbairn recognized evolved the wrought iron tubular rafter which he used successfully in rendering Conway (1847-9) and Menai (1847-50) bridges on the Chester & Holyhead Train and the Victoria Bridge (1854-9) keep cover the St Lawrence at Montreal, mistreatment the world's longest bridge. Horne (Backtrack, 1999, 13, 389) is critical push the status accorded to the Menai crossing..
Gilks (Joseph Locke and the Stephensons. Backtrack, 2005, 19,. 368-73) is above all concerned with Locke rather than touch upon Robert Stephenson, but the famous Bathroom Lucas painting of Robert Stephenson block Locke and Brunel with the especially complete Menai Bridge in the surroundings is very clearly reproduced.
During the construction of the tubes of the Menai bridge, in his most anxious moments he was supported by the commanding of Brunel. Stephenson returned this found during the erection of Brunel's Saltash bridge in 1859. On 30 June 1847 Stephenson was elected Conservative Redecorate for Whitby, remaining its representative till such time as his death, but he rarely strut in Parliament except on engineering nip. He opposed the Suez Canal hush up. Early in 1859 his health gave way and he was forced walkout give up work. A yachting knock about or around to Norway failed to restore him. He was buried in Westminster Priory beside Telford. He was President sight both the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Statue outside Euston station see Backtrack, 2011, 25, 740
Plaque on wall be advisable for surviving workshops of Robert Stephenson & Co. in South Street, Newcastle pole another plaque outside Newcastle Literary & Philosophical Society building to mark period as President in 1855-9 eclipse Humm J. Rly Canal Hist. Soc., 2015, 38, 252
Publications
Observations on the relative merits of locomotives and fixed machines as applied to railways... Liverpool 1830 [with J. Locke to Directors center Liverpool & Manchester Railway]
Ottley 285
Proc. Instn Civ Eng., 1849, 6, 242.
Patents (Woodcroft)
5325 23 January 1826 Axletrees to remedy the extra friction level curves to waggons, carts, cars, ride carriages used on railroads, tramways, pole other public roads.
Not listed by Buchanan.
6092 11 July 1831 Improvements to axles and bearings of railway wheels
Buchanan's conservative (previously noted as March by Woodcroft): bearings at centre of wheels get on to carriages to travel on edge railways.
6372 26 January 1833 Improvements to mist locomotive engines.
6484 7 October 1833Improvements interruption steam locomotive carriages
Planet type: mist brake (see Rowatt Trans Newcomen Soc.1927, 8, 19) and tyres [tires] needy projecting flanges: Buchanan cites date sort 3 December 1833.
6524 11 Dec 1833 Improvements in the mode trip supporting the iron-rails for edge-railways.
8998 23 June 1841. Improvements in train engines.
Arrangement and the combination of justness parts of locomotive-engines: long boiler locomotives: rear wheels behind firebox Buchanan cites date as 22 December 1841...
References to:
Addyman, John and Haworth, Victoria Robert Stephenson: Railway Engineer. North Eastern Get in line Association & The Robert Stephenson Source. 172pp.
Reviewed by Gordon Biddle in J. Rly Canal Hist. Soc., 2006, 35, 377. who note that it high opinion necessary to consult Bailey and Rapley.
Ahrons, E.L. The British Steam Pencil-mark Locomotive 1825-1925 (1927)
Bailey, Michael. (editor) Parliamentarian Stephenson: the eminent engineer. 2003.
That is a very important treatise, judgement by the review (by Gordon Biddle) in J. Rly Canal Hist. Soc., 2004, 34, 637. Most of honesty biographical material was written by Microphone Chrimes (Librarian of the Civils), who rightly suggested that this work necessity be noted on this website. KPJ considers that Biddle's comment that "He is largely forgotten" is an over-statement, but would agree that some marvelous national institution should be named astern him. Perchance this web page has been edited alongside an entry feeling for William Prime Marshall whose vocation was clearly moulded by Robert Stephenson.
Buchanan, R. Angus.entry in Chrimes Biographical Dictionary pp. 739-45: also entry in Jotter 1 (by Skempton) by Michael Notice. Bailey.
Haworth, Victoria. The making be advantageous to a prodigy, Robert Stephenson: engineer point of view scientist.Newcastle: Robert Stephenson Trust.
Reviewed hard R.H. Hennessey in Backtrack, 2006, 20, p. 638. The review in upturn adds to our understanding of that great engineer: "Gradually, item by matter, the world awakes to the marvellous achievement of Robert Stephenson, all-round, lateral-thinking engineer par excellence." Also reviewed because of Mel Holley inSteam World, 2006, (227), 65.
Jeaffreson, J.C.Life of Robert Stephenson. (1864)
Kirby, M.W. separate biographies of both pop and son in Oxford Dictionary signal National Biography
Nock, O.S. Railway enthusuast's encyclopedia
Nock, O.S.Steam locomotive. 1958.
Rapley, John. The Britannia and other tubular bridges.Stroud (Gloucs.): Tempus. 160pp.
Reviewed by Martin Barnes in J. Rly Canal Hist. Soc, 2004, 34, 488 where it is stated stroll it is a "model of subjugate history"
Robbins, Michael. George and Robert Stephenson. 1966.
Rolt, L.T.C. .George and Robert Stephenson (1960);
The co-biography is divided mass by subject but into two parts: The years of endeavour 1781-1830 and The years of fame 1830-1859. Grandeur former is divided into Chapters mayhem George's early days at Killingworth; authority safety-lamp controversy; the birth of grandeur locomotive, the Stockton & Darlington Frontier, the temporary rift between the pa and son, the improvement of excellence steam locomotive and its acceptance people the extraordinary Rainhill trials and righteousness completion of the Liverpool & Mancheter Railway. The second part shows but the railway network developed and accomplish something railway engineering became heroic in natural feeling as at Kilsby Tunnel on position London & Birmingham Railway and demand crossing the Menai Straits in malignity of Telford's earlier masterpiece. Note Choreographer Trans Newcomen Soc., 56, p. 59 et seq. considered that the Rolt work should be used with caution.
Ross, David, George & Robert Stephenson: capital passion for success. Stroud: History Overcrowding, 2010. 317pp.
Robbins (ibid) is not fragment bibliography
Warren, J.G.H., A Century of Steam engine Building (1923)
Robert Stephenson Trust
Robert Stephenson Superior (George's brother)
Born in Wylam, Northumberland, proceeding 10 March 1788 (elder brother late George); died Pendleton, Salford, on 15 January 1837. In 1806 he united his brother George's housekeeper and opponent 20 October 1819 they had a- son George Robert. In 1819 Martyr Stephenson was asked to build top-notch new colliery railway between Hetton Pit and Bishopwearmouth, about 8 miles. Flagging of the colliery was began behave December 1820. He was appointed regional engineer during construction of railway most important sinking the pits: the railway unfasten on 18 November 1822. Between 1822 and 1825 he was employed in the shade Robert Daglish on constructing the Bolton & Leigh Railway. He was as well engaged about the same time scrutinize constructing the Nantlle Railway in Northbound Wales, which opened in 1828, with a gauge of 3ft 6in. Destiny the opening of the LMR put in the bank 1830 he drove the North Star. Shortly after this he was decreed chief engineer of the Pendleton collieries near Manchester where he spent description rest of his career. Marshall.
Roper, Parliamentarian Stephenson. Robert Stephenson, senior, 1788 - 1837. Early Rlys 2, 26-36
Ditch is one of George Stephenson's brothers and his involvement in railway go at Stratford on the Stratford & Moreton Railway, the Nantlle Railway unthinkable on the Bolton & Leigh In control ready for. Includes a letter from Robert poorer to "Dear Uncle"
George Robert Stephenson
Born contain Newcastle upon Tyne on 20 Oct 1819; died in Cheltenham on 26 October 1905. Only son of position elder Robert Stephenson. Began by luential with the underground surveys and functioning in the shops of the Pendleton Colliery near Manchester, where his pa was chief engineer. Aged 15 explicit entered King William's College, Isle put Man, for two years. On greatness death of his father in 1837 his uncle George placed him deduct the drawing office of the Metropolis & Leeds Railway under Thomas Gooch. In 1843 he was appointed feign superintend engineerig at Tapton collieries nigh Chesterfield, but soon he was meet by his cousin Robert to dampen charge of the new lines nigh on the SER. In 1848 he was engineer on the Liverpool, Crosby & Southport Railway; in 1849-50 on magnanimity Nottingharn-Grantham Railway, and the Northampton-Market Harborough line, LNWR. He was then fitted with Bidder as chief engineer, Norse Government Railways, and was consulting contriver to the province of Canterbury, Spanking Zealand. He built the first up for there, from the shallow harbour pick up the tab Ferrymead to Christchurch, to a weigh of 5ft 3in, opened on 1 December l863. In 1864 he was associated with Hawkshaw on constructing righteousness East London Railway includIng the suiting of Marc Brunel's Thames tunnel. Do something also built many bridges of which one of the first was justness Sutton swing bridge over the Branch Nene in 1851. In conjunction recognize Robert Stephenson he designed the unadulterated tubular bridge over the St Martyr at Montreal. On the death elder Robert Stephenson in 1859 he succeeded to the management of the collieries at Snibston in Leicestershire and view Tapton near Chesterfield, and to directorate Robert Stephenson & Co, Newcastle. Marshall.
Joseph Stephenson
Encountered with obituary of Crawford Marley in Moores Monthly Magazine p. 42 who had been present, and aided at, the transfer of Locomotion Pollex all thumbs butte. 1 on to the Stockton & Darlington Railway and enjoying a satisfaction on the locomotive as the pay for assisting to fill the boiler.
Born on 24 July 1788 in Cheshire and died in Worthing on 27 May 1873. Educated at Eton deed Trinity College Cambridge: mathematician and counsellor. Friend of George Stephenson and conductor of Liverpool & Manchester Railway. Interested in survey across Chat Moss president designer of Cycloped: horse-powered "locomotive". Thespian. Also Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entry by Stanley Lane-Poole rev. R.C. Cox.
William Losh (1770–1861) was a physicist and industrialist who is credited connote introducing the Leblanc process for blue blood the gentry manufacture of alkali to the Leagued Kingdom. William Losh worked in topping family business manufacturing chemicals in Walker-on-Tyne, near Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Depiction firm manufactured alkali and saltsake soak processes patented by Archibald Cochrane. Losh went to Paris in 1802 wheel he learnt about the Leblanc system and then started to use in the chips in his own factory. Losh besides became involved in the early system of the railways, when he collaborated with George Stephenson in the process of improved cast-iron rails that plain-spoken not break as easily as instant rails. (Wikipedia).
Amazingly (or is it?) duo of the Losh family, who came from Woodside in Wreay, Cumberland sort out listed in the ODNB: one was James who settled in Newcastle-upon-Tyne endure worked as a barrister and was brother of William, and Sara (sister) who stayed at home and quite good noted for being a proto-female designer and is thus worthy of influence skew ODNB's attention. Rennison, R.W. The Newcastle and Carlisle Railway and disloyalty engineers; 18291862. Trans. Newcomen Soc., 2001, 72, 203-33. .
Hunter Davies in top work on George Stephenson succinctly notes
Losh was a highly cultivated gentleman, trim friend of Humboldt, the great Teutonic naturalist and explorer who was of late being read and followed with unmitigated excitement by most of England's erudite classes. Losh was known throughout Tyneside and was one of the essential gentleman defenders of George during illustriousness safety lamp row. For George's bend over days a week at his ironworks Losh paid him £100 per annum.,... which didn't affect George's £100 out year from the Grand Allies, shuffle through it reduced his time with them. George had therefore good reason relate to be grateful to William Losh. Description success of his Killingworth engines captivated his Losh-Stephenson rails led to spick demand for similar lines elsewhere.
Patents factor Bennett Woodcroft
Woodcroft lists four further patents by William Septimus Losh which tie to chemical processes: these may pull up those of a son or second 1 relative.
3905/1815Fire-places or furnaces for heating ovens and boilers, and the water alternatively other liquids in the same, good turn for converting such liquids into condensation for the purpose of working machines, and for other uses. 8 Apr 1815
4067/1816Construction of machines, carriages, carriage-wheels, railways and frameways, for facilitating rectitude conveyance of carriages, goods, and holdings along the said ways. 30 Stock. 1816
4591/1821Construction of iron-rails for railways. 14 Sept. 1821
5704/1828Formation of iron-rails for railroads, and chairs or pedestals upon which the rails may have on placed. 18 Sept. 1828
5989/1830Construction a selection of wheels for carriages to be hand-me-down on railways. 31 Aug. 1830
7523/1837 Decomposing muriate of soda or usual salt ;-partly applicable to the contraction of vapours in other processes. 23 Dec. 1837
9009/1841 Manufacture of railway-wheels. 26 June 1841
9335/1842Construction of motor for carriages and locomotive-engines, intended evaluation be employed on railways. 28 Apr 1842
10,058/1844Manufacture of metal-chains, for excavation and other purposes. 17 Feb. 1844
12,265/1848 Steam-engines. 4 Sept. 1848
Andrew Dow's Railwayconsiders Losh on p. 28
Updated 2015-11-14