Who invented the Steam Locomotive? There are two names that are generally given in answer to the question "Who invented the Steam Locomotive?", their names are Richard Trevithick and George Stephenson. Both of these brilliant men can lay claim to the invention of the steam locomotive - a powered railway vehicle used for pulling trains.
Richard Trevithick: In 1803 Richard Trevithick (1771 – 1833) constructed the world's first railway steam locomotive but it was so heavy that it broke many iron rails and ended up being used as a 'Stationary steam engine'.
George Stephenson: In 1814 George Stephenson (1781 - 1848) invented his Steam Locomotive, called the 'Blutcher'. His later, improved steam locomotive, called the 'Rocket', won success and fame at the 'Rainhill Trials' competition. The Rocket proved the practicability of using steam locomotives on railways and George Stephenson went on to be referred to as the "Father of the Railways".
Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Whether it should be Richard Trevithick or George Stephenson who should be credited as the inventor of the steam locomotive is a matter of opinion. This article provides details of both these men and their stories. For addition info refer to Railroad History.
Definition of a Steam Locomotive: A Steam Locomotive is defined as a powered railway vehicle used for pulling trains that produces its pulling power through a steam engine. The Steam Locomotive was designed to move across rails and fuelled by burning combustible material, such as coal/coke, wood, or oil, to produce steam in a boiler.
Definition of a Steam Engine: A Steam Locomotive is powered by a steam engine. A steam engine is powered by a coal fire that heats a boiler full of water to make the steam. Steam is then piped from the boiler into the cylinder in which a piston moves up and down due to steam pressure. The piston is connected to a drive wheel that drives the locomotive forward and wasted steam billows out of the locomotive's chimney.
Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Prior to the invention of the Steam Locomotive, a vehicle propelled by steam, the Steam Engine was invented in 1769 by James Watt (1736 - 1819). The facts in this article provide the history and biography of Richard Trevithick followed by the bio of George Stephenson.
Fact 1: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Richard Trevithick was born on April 13, 1771, Illogan, Cornwall, England and died on April 22, 1833 in Dartford, Kent.
Fact 2: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? The early years of Richard Trevithick were spent in the mining community of Camborne, Illogan in Cornwall where he was raised by his family. His father was a miner called Richard Trevithick and his mother's name was Ann Teague who was the daughter of a mining engineer. Richard Trevithick was their only son but he had five older sisters.
Fact 3: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Richard Trevithick was educated at a small, local school in Camborne where he was good at math but preferred playing sports. His passion for engines was fuelled by his next door neighbour, William Murdoch who had invented an oscillating cylinder steam engine.
Fact 4: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Following his education Richard Trevithick's first job was at the East Stray Park Mine. He did well at the mine and earned enough to get married and start a family. He married a girl called Jane Harvey in 1797 and the couple went on to have six children.
Fact 5: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? His wife's father, John Harvey, owned an engineering works that made beam engines, run by steam, for pumping water from mines. The engineering works provided Richard Trevithick a good understanding of steam engines and in 1797 he acquired a position as an engineer in the Ding Dong Mines in Penwith, Cornwall.
Fact 6: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Whilst working at the Ding Dong Mines Richard Trevithick became friendly with an other engineer called Edward Bull and together they developed the use of high pressure steam.
Fact 7: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Richard Trevithick earned an excellent reputation as an engineer and became interested in building a road locomotive powered by steam.
Fact 8: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? In 1801 Richard Trevithick built a steam road locomotive he called the 'Puffing Devil' and gave the first demonstration of steam-powered by driving his road locomotive through the streets of Camborne in Cornwall.
Fact 9: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? The following year he built another steam-powered road vehicle that he called the London Steam Carriage which he demonstrated in the streets of London to Paddington and back via Islington.
Fact 10: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? In 1803 Richard Trevithick harnessed high-pressure steam and constructed the world's first railway steam locomotive.
Fact 11: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Richard Trevithick used the Penydarren Tramroad for the trial of his steam locomotive. Richard Trevithick's locomotive successfully hauled wagons, but it was so heavy that it broke many iron rails. Richard Trevithick's steam engine was then used as a 'Stationary steam engine' used for driving a forge hammer at the Penydarren works.
Fact 12: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Despite the failure of Richard Trevithick at the Penydarren works he was employed by Christopher Blackett, owner of the Wylam Colliery in Northumberland to build a steam locomotive to replace the horse drawn transport of coal wagons and the wooden wagonway with an iron track.
Fact 13: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Richard Trevithick returned to Cornwall and built the locomotive known as the 'Catch Me Who Can'. In 1808 Richard Trevithick took his new steam locomotive to London. He built a a circular railway in Euston Square, London and charged passengers to ride on his railway - it was the first fare paying railway in the world.
Fact 14: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Richard Trevithick's endeavour at Euston Square with his 'Catch Me Who Can' failed. Once again his steam locomotive also proved too heavy for the rails and the experiment was abandoned. It would be several years before steam locomotion became commercially viable.
Fact 15: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Richard Trevithick was broke and failed to attract any sponsors due to his apparent lack of success. He had no other alternative but to watch as other engineers and inventors began to build improved steam-driven locomotives.
Fact 16: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? In 1816 Richard Trevithick ended up working as an engineer in the silver mines of Peru where he developed more steam locomotives. Here he was successful and the profits made from a successful series of steam engines enabled him to purchase his own silver mines.
Fact 17: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? His success was short lived. War erupted in Peru and Richard Trevithick was forced to flee the country without a penny. Richard Trevithick made his way to Columbia where he met Robert Stephenson, the son of George Stephenson, who gave him the fare to return to England.
Fact 18: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? The penniless Richard Trevithick arrived back in England in 1827 in time to witness the success of George Stephenson's locomotive called the 'Rocket'.
Fact 19: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Richard Trevithick's achievements and abilities were scarcely acknowledged and he gained practically no financial rewards for his efforts. He was denied a pension by the government.
Fact 20: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Richard Trevithick died in extreme poverty on April 22, 1833 at The Bull Inn at Dartford, London.
Fact 21: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? George Stephenson, was born on June 9, 1781 in Wylam, Newcastle, UK and died on August 12, 1848. George Stephenson was married twice. His first wife was Frances Henderson from 1802–1806 who died of tuberculosis in 1806. The couple had and his only child, Robert Stephenson. His second wife was Elizabeth Hindmarsh from 1820–1845.
Fact 22: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? The early years of George Stephenson were spent in Wylam, Newcastle, UK where he was raised by his family who were all illiterate. His father's name was Robert Stephenson, a fireman for the local colliery pumping engine and his mother was called Mabel Stephenson. George Stephenson received a poor education and his first job was as a an engineman at Water Row Pit coal mine in Newburn, to the west of Newcastle.
Fact 23: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Realizing his lack of education would hold him back he enrolled at night school and became interested in the new inventions of the Industrial Revolution and in engineering.
Fact 24: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? George Stephenson acquired various jobs in different coal pits around the area of Newcastle and gained a reputation as an excellent engineer expert in steam-driven engineering.
Fact 25: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? In 1814 George Stephenson constructed a steam locomotive he called the Blutcher that replaced the horse and could pull 30 tons of freight up a hill at 4 mph. He built his Blutcher steam locomotive to run on a track laid with cast iron rails, which were essential because the powerful steam engine was too heavy for roads or wooden tracks. The cast iron rails reduced friction and increased the efficiency of the steam locomotive.
Fact 26: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? In 1820, George Stephenson built a railway from Hetton colliery to Sunderland that replaced the existing horses with a steam locomotive.
Fact 27: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? In 1825, George Stephenson became the leading engineer in the project to construct the 25 mile Stockton to Darlington railway. George Stephenson's Locomotive, called the 'Locomotion', reached a speed of 24mph and could carry 8 tons of coal. The 'Locomotion' was the first steam locomotive to have a passenger car.
Fact 28: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? In 1829 George Stephenson, together with his son Robert, designed and built an advanced locomotive that he called "The Rocket" specifically for a competition called the 'Rainhill Trials'.
Fact 29: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? The Rainhill Trials competition was run by the directors of the nearly completed Liverpool and Manchester Railway to to determine the best locomotive engine for the new section of their railway line.
Fact 30: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? Five locomotive engines entered the Rainhill Trials contest: the Cycloped, Novelty, Perseverance, Sans Pareil and the Rocket. The Rainhill Trials competition proved the practicability of using steam locomotives on railways - the railroad was here to stay.
Fact 31: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? George Stephenson died of pleurisy on August 12, 1848 and was buried at the Holy Trinity church, Newbold Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
Fact 32: Who invented the Steam Locomotive? The success of the Stockton to Darlington railway and George Stephenson's 'Rocket' locomotive, which reached the speed of 30mph, stimulated the laying of iron railroad lines and the construction of locomotives across the world. It also earned George Stephenson the title of the "Father of the Railways".