GEORGE STEPHENSON
Why is he famous. George Stephenson was an engineer Why is he famous? George Stephenson was an engineer. He built steam locomotives for the first railways. Sometimes people call him 'the Father of the Railway'. George Stephenson's Rocket train, the first steam powered locomotive
Early life The Stephenson’s were not rich. George lived in a small cottage. The cottage is now looked after by the National Trust. Visitors come from all over the world to see it. Where did George live? George Stephenson was born on 9 June 1781. His home was at Wylam, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Near where he lived there were coal mines. George's father worked at a coal mine. He looked after steam engines, used to pump water out of the mine.
First railways George was very clever. He invented a lamp for miners to use underground. But his real interest was in steam engines. Some steam engines drove machines in factories. One or two were made to run on wheels, along roads. Steam powered road engines were slow and could not go up hills. George worked out that a steam engine needed to run along rails.
Stephenson’s rocket Stephenson's rocket The Rainhill trials Only 3 locomotives took part in the trials in October 1829. They ran backwards and forwards along a track. 'Novelty' was a favourite with the crowd. Another locomotive was called 'Sans Pareil', which means 'without equal'. But both engines kept breaking down. George and his son Robert had built the 'Rocket'. It puffed along faster than the others. It did not break down. Everyone agreed, the Rocket had won!
Locomotive No. 1 Locomotion No. 1 In 1825 a new railway was opened between the towns of Stockton and Darlington. George and his men built the track and the locomotive. It was the first passenger steam railway in the world. George drove the first train. The engine was called 'Locomotion No. 1'. It pulled a train with 450 passengers at a speed of 15 miles an hour.
Liverpool to Manchester In 1829, another railway was planned, between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester. Not everyone was pleased. Some farmers did not want the railway to cross their fields. George Stephenson built the railway. He built track across a bog called Chat Moss. The owners of the railway wanted to find the best locomotive. They offered a prize of £500. Trials were held at Rainhill, near Liverpool. Crowds came to watch.