The Life of George Stephenson, Railway Engineer

CONTENTS.

Newburn. Experiments in Artificial Bird-hatching. — Puts himself to

School and learns to Read and Write. — Learns Arithmetic. - Love

of tame Birds and Animals. His Dog Messenger. Learns Engine-

Brakesman at Black Callerton.-Duties of the Brakesman. - Wages.

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- Ekes out his Earnings by Shoe-mending. — Falls in Love.—

Saves his First Guinea. -Sobriety.-Quarrel and Fight with Ned

Nelson

Removal to Willington.

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CHAP. V.

Marriage. Attempts to invent Perpetual

Motion. Makes Shoes and Shoe Lasts.— Clock-cleaning. — Birth of

his Son.-Removal to Killingworth

Killingworth Colliery.-Death of his Wife. -Journey into Scotland.—

Appointed Brakesman at Killingworth.-Intends emigrating to the

United States. Takes a Contract for Engine-brakeing. Makes

Improvements in Pumping Engines, and acquires Celebrity as a

Self-improvement. His Studies with John Wigham, the Farmer's Son.

Sends his Son to School.-The Cottage at West Moor. - Ingenuity

of his Contrivances. Is appointed Engine-wright of the Colliery.-

Erects his First Engine. - Evening Studies. His Obligations to the

Newcastle Literary Institute -

The Beginnings of Railways and Locomotives. — Early Tramroads. -

Speculations as to mechanical Methods of Traction. Cugnot's Model

Locomotive. - Symington's Model. Murdoch's Model. Treve-

thick's Steam-carriage and Locomotive. - Blenkinsop's Engine.—Mr.

Blackett's Experiments at Wylam

58-80

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Mr. Stephenson contemplates building a Locomotive. Is encouraged

by Lord Ravensworth. Want of competent Mechanics. - Mr. Ste-

phenson's First Locomotive described. Successful Application of the

Steam Blast. His Second Locomotive.

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Fatal Accidents from Explosions in Coal Mines.- Blasts in the Killing-

worth Pit. Mr. Stephenson's Experiments with Fire-damp.

trives the First practicable Miners' Safety Lamp.-Its Trial in the

Killingworth Pit. Further Experiments and Improvements on the

Lamp.- Exhibited at Newcastle

- 95-110

CHAP. XI.

The Invention of the Tube Lamp. - Mr. Stephenson charged with

Pirating Sir H. Davy's Idea.-His Reply.-Dates of the respective

Inventions.-Controversy on the Subject. - Testimonials presented to

both the Inventors.-Summary of Evidence as to the Invention of

the Lamp

Pp. 111-132

CHAP. XII.

Further Improvements in the Locomotive.-Invents an improved Rail

and Chair. Invents Steam Springs. - Experiments on Friction and

Gravity.-Views on Flat Gradients. Superiority of Iron Roads over

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His Self-education continued.—Views on Education.- The Sun-dial at

Killingworth.-Apprentices his Son as Underviewer at the Colliery.—

Sends him to Edinburgh University

145-153

CHAP. XIV.

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Slow Progress of Opinion as to Railway Locomotion. - Sir Richard

Phillips's Prophetic Anticipations. — William James.- Edward Pease,

Projector of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.-Thomas Gray.—

Mr. Stephenson constructs the Hetton Railway

154-172

CHAP. XV.

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Defective Communication between Liverpool and Manchester. — A

Tramroad projected. Mr. James surveys a Line. — Visits Mr. Ste-

phenson at Killingworth. — Is admitted to an Interest in the Patent

Locomotive. Fails in introducing it. Fails to produce his Plans of

the Liverpool Tramroad

Mr. Stephenson's Introduction to Mr. Pease.-Is appointed Engineer to

the Stockton and Darlington Railway. — Makes a new Survey. —

Proposed Employment of Locomotives.- Fixed Engines advocated.—

Mr. Pease visits Killingworth

182-189

CHAP. XVII.

Working Survey of the Stockton and Darlington Line. - Locomotive

Factory at Newcastle commenced.— Wrought-iron Rails adopted.

The Gauge of the Railway settled. The Tractive Power to be

employed. Anticipations of Railway Results.-Public Opening of

the Line. The "Experiment."-Rival Coach Companies. — Race

between Locomotive and Coach. Results of the Traffic. - Creation

of Middlesborough-on-Tees

Project of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway revived. The Canal

Companies' Opposition. - Provisional Committee formed.-Their Visits

to Killingworth. Mr. Stephenson appointed to Survey a Line. -

Difficulties encountered. Articles in the "Scotsman" and "Quar-

The Liverpool and Manchester Bill in Committee of the House of Com-

- Mr. Stephenson in the Witness-box. Mr. Giles proves the

Impossibility of forming a Railway over Chat Moss.- Mr. Stephenson's

Ignorance denounced by the Counsel for the Opposition. - Mr.

Adam's Appeal.-Defeat of essential Clauses, and Withdrawal of the

Bill

- 224-243

CHAP. XX.

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Renewed Application to Parliament for the Liverpool and Manchester
Bill. Messrs. Rennie selected as Parliamentary Engineers. -- Passing
of the Act. Mr. Stephenson appointed Chief Engineer. The
Drainage of Chat Moss. The Directors contemplate the Abandon-
ment of the Work. - Mr. Stephenson's Perseverance.-His Organisa-
tion of Labour.-The Railway Navvy. - Progress of the Works. —
Private Life and Habits at Liverpool
244-264

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CHAP. XXI.

General Opposition to the Locomotive.-Mr. Telford's Report-Variety
of Schemes suggested for the working of the Liverpool and Man-
chester Railway. — Messrs. Walker and Rastrick's Report in favour of
fixed Engines and against the Locomotive.-The Directors offer a
Prize of 500l. for the best Engine -
265-276

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CHAP. XXII.

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The Newcastle Locomotive Foundry. Robert Stephenson's Return

from America. - Rencontre with Trevethick. The Building of the

"Rocket." — Contrivance of the Multi-tubular Boiler. — Modifica-

tion of the Blast-pipe. - The "Rocket" finished and sent to

Liverpool

Pp. 277-289