In
1824 Edward Pease joined with
Michael
Longdridge,
George Stephenson and his son Robert
Stephenson, to form a company to make the locomotives. The Robert
Stephenson & Company, at Forth Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, became
the world's first locomotive builder. Stephenson recruited Timothy
Hackworth, one of the engineers who had helped William
Hedley to produce Puffing Billy,
to work for the company.
The first railway locomotive was finished in
September 1825. Initially called Active, it was later given
the name Locomotion. The locomotive was similar to those that
Stephenson had produced at the collieries at Killingworth and Heaton.
The boiler of the Locomotion had a single fire tube and two
vertical cylinders let into the barrel and the four wheels were coupled
by rods rather than a chain.
The Stockton & Darlington Railroad
was opened on 27th September, 1825. Large crowds saw George
Stephenson at the controls of the Locomotion as it pulled
36 wagons filled with sacks of coal and flour. The initial journey
of just under 9 miles took two hours. However, during the final descent
into the Stockton terminus, speeds of 15 mph (24 kph) were reached.
These increased speed surprised one man and he fell from one of the
wagons and was badly injured.
In 1828 the boiler of the Locomotion exploded, killing the
driver. She was rebuilt but did not perform well. The main problem
was its inability to produce enough steam for a twenty-mile run. Timothy
Hackworth enlarged the boiler and installed a return fire tube.
This improved the performance of the locomotive but in 1827 was replaced
by the Royal George. Hackworth's locomotive was mounted on
six wheels, the cylinders were vertical, inverted and outside the
boiler, and pistons and connecting rods drove the rear wheels.
The Locomotion on its first journey in 1825.
(1)
Durham County Advertiser (1st October, 1825)
The
hour of ten arrived before all was ready to start. About this time
the locomotive engine, or steam horse, as it was more generally termed,
gave note of preparation. The scene, on the moving of the engine,
sets description at defiance. Astonishment was not confined to the
human species, for the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air
seemed to view with wonder and awe the machine, which now moved onward
at a rate of 10 or 12 mph with a weight of not less than 80 tons attached
to it.
(2)
John Sykes was one of those who witnessed the opening of the Stockton
to Darlington Railroad.
The
train of carriages was then attached to a locomotive engine, built
by George Stephenson, in the following order: (1) Locomotive engine,
with the engineer (Mr. George Stephenson) and assistants. (2) Tender,
with coals and water; next, six wagons, laden with coals and flour;
then an elegant covered coach, with the committee and other proprietors
of the railway; then 21 wagons, fitted up for passengers; and last
of all, six wagons laden with coal, making altogether, a train of
38 carriages.
Drawing
of Royal George in 1827
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