George Stephenson Biography

Birth of George Stephenson

Stephenson designed his first locomotive, a travelling engine designed for hauling coal on the Killingworth wagonway named Blucher after the Prussian general Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher

Stephenson designed his first locomotive, a travelling engine designed for hauling coal on the Killingworth wagonway named Blucher after the Prussian general Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher

A Parliamentary bill is passed to allow the building of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR), the 25-mile railway will connect collieries near Bishop Auckland to the River Tees at Stockton, passing through Darlington, Stephenson surveyed the line, assisted by his eighteen-year-old son Robert and construction

Builds the 1st public railway to carry steam trains which opens, Stockton-Darlington

Stephenson's locomotive hauls the opening train on the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

The Stockton and Darlington Railway opens driven by Stephenson, Locomotion hauled an 80-ton load of coal and flour nine miles in two hours, reaching a speed of 24 miles per hour also the first purpose-built passenger car, Experiment, was attached and carried dignitaries on the opening journey, the first time passenger traffic had been run on a steam locomotive railway

Builds the Rocket which defeats is rivals in trials at Rainhill

Stephenson's Rocket wins the Rainhill Trials near Liverpool.

Continues refining locomotive operation and railway practice during the first year of inter-city service.

Opens the Liverpool and Manchester Railway with a public procession.

A House of Commons committee wfinds that Stephenson had equal claim to having invented the safety lamp

Builds Der Adler which is used by the Germans to pioneer railways in Europe

Death of George Stephenson