A heritage lecture on the locomotives and the works of Robert Stephenson and Company, from its inception in 1823 until its final days in 1964.
2025 is the bicentenary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR), the first public railway authorised to use locomotives. In 1823 George Stephenson was building that railway. He and Edward Pease, the principal promoter of the S&DR, were so convinced about the future of locomotives that with Edward’s cousin Thomas Richardson, a London financier; Michael Longridge, the manager of the Bedlington Iron Company, and George’s son Robert Stephenson, they founded the world’s first locomotive factory, at Newcastle upon Tyne. Robert aged only 19 was made the Managing Partner charged with setting up the factory, winning orders and improving locomotive design. The firm was named Robert Stephenson & Co. Under his direction the company transformed the cumbersome colliery locomotive of the early 1820’s to produce the celebrated Rocket that won the Liverpool & Manchester Railway’s Rainhill Trials in 1829. The company’s further developments established the fundamental principles for future steam locomotive design.
This presentation summarises the activities of Robert Stephenson & Co. and its successors. It portrays the great variety of locomotives built by them for railways throughout the world, starting with Locomotion in 1825 for the opening of the S&DR and ending with their last locomotive, a Class 37 diesel-electric locomotive for British Rail, that left the Darlington factory in 1964.
Speaker:
Hugh Fenwick, a career railway civil engineer. An active member of The Robert Stephenson Trust, whose principal aim is to make today’s and future generations aware of their achievements, and their contribution to modern society.