The Life of George Stephenson, Railway EngineerThis biography discusses the life of George Stephenson. He improved on the earlier steam-powered locomotive designs by using flanged-wheel adhesion on his locomotive, the Bl?cher. He also built the Locomotion, the train of choice on the Stockton and Darlington Railway. That railway was the first public steam railway in the world and had considerable influence on the wide-spread use of trains. His train Rocket won the Rainhill Trials, a competition for locomotions of the time. He continued to make larger, better-running trains throughout his life. |
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The Life of George Stephenson, Railway Engineer Samuel Smiles,Robert Stephenson No preview available - 2016 |
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adopted afterwards amongst atmospheric railway bill Birmingham Black Callerton boiler brakesman Callerton canal carriages carried Chat Moss chimney Clay Cross coach coal colliery Committee common roads Company considerable constructed cottage Darlington Railway difficulty directors district Edward Pease employed England expense experience favour formed friends gauge Geordy lamp George Stephenson gradients horses improvements increased invention inventor journey Killingworth labour Leeds length Liverpool and Manchester loco locomotive engine London Lord Manchester Railway means mechanical miles an hour neighbourhood never Newcastle Nicholas Wood North Midland observed occasion opening Parliament parliamentary passed passengers patent Pease persons phenson practical principle proceeded proposed proved purpose rail railroad railway system Robert Stephenson Rocket safety lamp Sir Humphry Davy speed steam steam-carriage steam-engine Stockton and Darlington success survey Tapton Thomas Gray tion took town traffic train tramroad travelling Trevithick tubes tunnel waggons West Moor wheels workmen Wylam
Popular passages
Page 61 - The manner of the carriage is by laying rails of timber, from the colliery, down to the river, exactly streight and parallel ; and bulky carts are made with four rowlets fitting these rails ; whereby the carriage is so easy that one horse will draw down four or five chaldron of coals, and is an immense benefit to the coal merchants.
Page 198 - I have said will come to pass as sure as we live. I only wish I may live to see the day, though that I can scarcely hope for, as I know how slow all human progress is, and with what difficulty I have been able to get the locomotive adopted, notwithstanding my more than ten years...
Page 299 - ... five miles beyond the rate specified in the conditions published by the Company. The entire performance excited the greatest astonishment amongst the assembled spectators ; the directors felt confident that their enterprise was now on the eve of success ; and George Stephenson rejoiced to think that in spite of all false prophets and fickle counsellors, his locomotive system was now safe. When the
Page 224 - We should as soon expect the people of Woolwich to suffer themselves to be fired off upon one of Congreve's ricochet rockets, as trust themselves to the mercy of such a machine going at such a rate. We will back old Father Thames against the Woolwich Railway for any sum. We trust that Parliament will, in all railways it may sanction, limit the speed to eight or nine miles an hour, which we entirely agree with Mr. Sylvester is as great as can be ventured on with safety.
Page 220 - It is possible that roads paved with iron may hereafter be employed for the purpose of expeditious travelling, since there is scarcely any resistance to be overcome, except that of the air; and such roads will allow the velocity to be increased almost without limit.
Page 167 - It was set forth in the preamble that these different lines " will be of great public utility, by facilitating the conveyance of coal, iron, lime, corn, and other commodities, from the interior of the county of Durham...
Page 278 - The engine, with water, must not weigh more than six tons ; but an engine of less weight would be preferred on its drawing a proportionate load behind it ; if of only four and a half tons, then it might be put on only four wheels.
Page 198 - ... will go by railway, and railroads will become the Great Highway for the king and all his subjects. The time is coming when it will be cheaper for a working man to travel on a railway than to walk on foot.
Page 60 - Another thing that is remarkable is their wayleaves, for when men have pieces of ground between the colliery and the river they sell leave to lead coals over their ground, and so dear that the owner of a rood of ground will expect £20 per annum for this leave.
Page 221 - It is far from my wish to promulgate to the world that the ridiculous expectations, or rather professions, of the enthusiastic speculist will be realised, and that we shall see engines travelling at the rate of twelve, sixteen, eighteen, or twenty miles an hour. Nothing could do more harm towards their general adoption and improvement than the promulgation of such nonsense.