George Stephenson and the Railway Age front

Resource Type: Image | Posted on 14th November 2011 by Liam Physick

This page gives a brief resume of the life and achievements of George Stephenson, illustrated with an image of the Rocket in the Science Museum. It also notes that Stephenson, contrary to popular belief, did not invent the steam engine (though it wrongly credits James Watt rather than Thomas Newcomen for this - in fact, Watt greatly improved on Newcomen’s design) or the steam locomotive - rather, he “should correctly be credited with envisaging a railway system that would carry both passengers and freight.”

Tagged under: steam locomotives, tender locomotives, rocket, goods, george stephenson, passengers, freight, fixed engines, james watt, thomas newcomen

Categorised under: The Station & Railway Pioneers