_2.jpg)
photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public domain/Opening of the Stockton Darlington Railway 1825
Childhood in the harsh England of the 19th century, hard work, and relentless innovation—meet Robert Stephenson, the man who, together with his father George, laid the foundations of modern railways and forever changed the face of the Industrial Revolution.
The year is 1803, and we are in Willington Quay near Newcastle, England. Here, a boy named Robert is born into the family of George Stephenson, a man who, though not yet well-known, would go on to become a genius engineer and change the world.
Read more
It's 1839, and in the town of Sherman, Ohio, Ephraim Shay is born. His life and work had a profound impact on the development of railway transportation,…
The Britain into which Robert is born is unforgiving to ordinary workers. The Industrial Revolution, which would open the door for the British Empire to become one of the world's greatest powers, is still in its infancy. Along with this comes a lack of social legislation to improve workers' conditions. Non-existent holidays, no sick leave, seven-day workweeks, and 16-hour workdays are the norm that workers must endure, with no means to change them. If you don't like the working conditions, have an accident at work, or fall ill, you're out of a job, and the employer simply hires someone else. After all, there is much more labor than available jobs in the burgeoning industrial towns. These conditions will gradually improve due to state intervention, but initially, they will be almost unbearable.
.jpg)
Great Britain itself is thriving on the world stage. It is at the beginning of its golden era, which will peak with London being considered the capital of over a quarter of the world's population, and Britain being the leading global power. However, this dominance will not last long, as the United States, with its economic boom, will surpass Britain at the beginning of the 20th century.
Read more
The Gotthard Tunnel is an iconic structure known to almost everyone. However, not many people know the name Alfred Escher, the man who saved Switzerland…
Now, let's return to the Stephenson family in northeastern England. At the beginning of the 19th century, the family of George Stephenson—soon to be hailed as the "father of the railway"—is not doing well. Nevertheless, George works tirelessly to support his family. His creativity and genius start to make him increasingly prominent, and with this recognition, the family's wealth grows.
_Head_of_Steam,_Darlington_30.06.2009_P6300119_(10192855826)-(1).jpg)
George, aware of the opportunities that the Industrial Revolution will offer young, intelligent, and creative boys, decides to invest a significant amount of money and his own time into Robert's education. As George hoped, Robert values the education he receives and is eager to make the most of it. He enjoys discussing the latest developments in railway technology with his father, who, as the most respected railway expert of his time, has first-hand access to this information.
After leaving Bruce's Academy in Newcastle in 1819, where he was educated, the ambitious young Robert begins his apprenticeship as a mining engineer at Killingworth Colliery. With his growing knowledge of engineering, he increasingly assists his father in surveying the Stockton & Darlington Railway, which leads him to help with the initial surveys of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway—lines that will bring George Stephenson eternal fame.
Read more
George England was a brilliant businessman who rose from the bottom. His story includes not only genius inventions but also shocking court cases,…
These two railways will not only enhance George Stephenson's reputation as a leading railway engineer but will also catapult Robert into the ranks of the most respected and sought-after railway engineers. During the "railway mania" of the 1830s and 1840s, Robert, thanks not only to his name but also to his tremendous expertise, reliability, and skill, is appointed as the engineer for many railways in the Midlands, northern England, and northern Wales. His first significant independent project is the 180 km railway line connecting the capital London with the equally important city of Birmingham. Opened in 1838, this line is the first railway to reach London and connects to the industrial cities of Manchester and Liverpool.
In addition to designing and constructing railway lines, Robert and his father also focus on building locomotives. The company Robert Stephenson & Co, Newcastle, founded with his father in 1823, becomes one of the most significant locomotive manufacturers. This move proves to be a stroke of genius, as the Stephensons correctly predict the demand for steam engines for the new railways, allowing them to supply their own locomotives for the lines they design. The company completes its first steam engine, Locomotion, just in time for the grand opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in September 1825.
Robert's company reaches its pinnacle in October 1829 when Robert Stephenson & Co enters the Rainhill Trials with their latest creation, the Rocket locomotive. Not only does their engine win, but it utterly demolishes the competition, convincing the watching world that steam locomotives are the future of rail transport and that horse-drawn power is a thing of the past. Recognizing the potential of this design, Robert continues to refine it. The multi-tubular boiler of the Rocket becomes the standard for steam locomotives worldwide throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
With his growing reputation in railway engineering, Robert travels abroad in the 1840s and 1850s, providing consultations that influence the development of railways in Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Italy, and India. A significant result of Robert's consultations is the adoption of the 1435 mm gauge, which spreads across Europe and becomes known as the standard gauge. Besides consultations, Robert focuses on constructing tubular railway bridges. Some of his most notable works include the Victoria Bridge over the Saint Lawrence River in Montreal and bridges over the Nile for the Egyptian railway.
Robert works tirelessly, advancing his railway interests until he died in 1859, when he succumbs to illness. He is buried in Westminster Abbey in London.
Read more
It is 1830, and in Glasgow, a boy is born who will change the world of railways. Robert Francis Fairlie, son of engineer T. Archibald Fairlie, began…
Source: etworkrail.co.uk; britannica.com