Steam Trains and Engines

With the end of James Watt’s patent on the steam engine in 1800, there arose a wave of inventions that were based on Watt’s design. The overriding goal was to improve on Watt’s work, but in truth very few of them progressed past the design stage into an actual useable form. One notable exception was Richard Trevithick’s invention, which is now considered to be the first steam powered locomotive in the world.

This invention was actually the result of a bet that Trevithick had with a South Wales mine owner who was skeptical, as were many other people of that time, of the effectiveness of steam powered engines for practical use. Trevithick claimed that he could build a steam engine that would be capable of pulling a 10-ton load for a distance of 10 miles. He was successful and his invention will forever be remembered as the first steam locomotive.

In spite of this success, Trevithick’s invention did not take the rest of the world by storm, and neither did his subsequent efforts to endear his steam locomotives to the general public.

George Stephenson enjoyed considerably more success with his inventions, although his early attempts at steam locomotives encountered as much resistance as Trevithick’s inventions did. The mine owners, who Trevithick–and now Stephenson–hoped to sell the idea of the steam locomotives to, were just not convinced of their advantage compared to horse driven transport. Even Stephenson’s development of a few steam locomotives that could be used in shorter coal courses did little to convince the stubborn mine owners of their value.

Nevertheless, efforts were underway to build a railway line that would connect two main centers of trade in England. In 1829, the railway was finally completed, although the means of transport to be used on it was as yet undecided. This was George Stephenson’s chance. He along with three other steam locomotive inventors engaged in a competition to determine which design would work best. One competitor’s steam locomotive was damaged in transport and did not even manage to compete. Two other entrants experienced mechanical trouble and did not finish the course. In the end, only Stephenson’s invention, now named the “Stephenson Rocket”, was left standing. George Stephenson went on to build and secure the patents for many more steam locomotives, but the “Stephenson Rocket” was undoubtedly the one that paved the way for the golden age of the steam locomotives.