class="c1">Engineman at Willington Quay and Killingworth.

Sobriety and studiousness—Inventiveness—Removes to Willington Quay—Marries Fanny Henderson—Their cottage at Willington—Attempts at perpetual motion—William Fairbairn and George Stephenson—Ballast-heaving—Chimney on fire, and clock-cleaning—Birth of Robert Stephenson—George removes to West Moor, Killingworth—Death of his wife—Engineman at Montrose, Scotland—His pump-boot—Saves money—His return to Killingworth—Brakesman at West Moor—Is drawn for the Militia—Thinks of emigrating to America—Takes a contract for brakeing engines—Improves the winding-engine—Cures a pumping-engine—Becomes famous as an engine-doctor—Appointed engine-wright of a colliery

31–46

CHAPTER IV.

The Stephensons at Killingworth—Education and Self-Education of Father and Son.

George Stephenson’s self-improvement—John Wigham—Studies in Natural Philosophy—Sobriety—Education of Robert Stephenson—Sent to Rutter’s school, Benton—Bruce’s school, Newcastle—Literary and Philosophical Institute—George educates his son in Mechanics—Ride to Killingworth—Robert’s boyish tricks—Repeats the Franklin kite-experiment—Stephenson’s cottage, West Moor—Odd mechanical expedients—Competition in last-making—Father and son make a sun-dial—Colliery improvements—Stephenson’s mechanical expertness

47–62

CHAPTER V.

Early History of the Locomotive—George Stephenson begins its Improvement.

Various expedients for coal-haulage—Sailing-waggons—Mr. Edgworth’s experiments—Cugnot’s first locomotive steam-carriage—Murdock’s model locomotive—Trevithick’s steam-carriage and tram-engine—Blenkinsop’s engine—Chapman and Brunton’s locomotives—The Wylam waggon-way—Mr. Blackett’s experiments—Jonathan

Foster—William Hedley—The Wylam engine—Stephenson determines to build a locomotive—Lord Ravensworth—The first Killingworth engine described—The steam-blast invented—Stephenson’s second locomotive

63–88

CHAPTER VI.

Invention of the “Geordy” Safety-Lamp.

Frequency of colliery explosions—Accident in the Killingworth Pit—Stephenson’s heroic conduct—A safety-lamp described—Dr. Clanny’s lamp—Stephenson’s experiments on fire-damp—Designs a lamp, and tests it in the pit—Cottage experiments with coal-gas—Stephenson’s second and third lamps—The Stephenson and Davy controversy—Scene at the Newcastle Institute—The Davy testimonial—The Stephenson testimonial—Merits of the “Geordy” lamp

89–108

CHAPTER VII.

George Stephenson’s further Improvements in the Locomotive—The Hetton Railway—Robert Stephenson as Viewer’s Apprentice and Student.

The Killingworth mine machinery—Stephenson improves his locomotive—Strengthens the road—His patent—His steam-springs—Experiments on friction—Steam-locomotion on common roads—Early neglect of the locomotive—Stephenson again thinks of emigration—Constructs the Hetton Railway—The working power employed—Robert Stephenson viewer’s apprentice—His pursuits at Killingworth—His father sends him to Edinburgh University—His application to the studies of Chemistry, Natural History, and Natural Philosophy—His MS. volumes of Lectures—Geological tour with Professor Jameson in the Highlands

109–122

CHAPTER VIII.

George Stephenson Engineer of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

The Bishop Auckland Coal-field—Edward Pease projects a railway from Witton to Stockton—The Bill rejected—The line re-surveyed,

and the Act obtained—George Stephenson’s visit to Edward Pease—Appointed engineer of the railway—Again surveys the line—Mr. Pease visits Killingworth—The Newcastle locomotive works projected—The railway constructed—Locomotives ordered—Stephenson’s anticipations as to railways—Public opening of the line—The coal traffic—The first railway passenger-coach—The coaching traffic described—The “Locomotion” engine—Race with stage-coach—Commercial results of the Stockton and Darlington Railway—The town of Middlesborough created

123–145

CHAPTER IX.

The Liverpool and Manchester Railway projected.

Insufficient communications between Manchester and Liverpool—The canal monopoly—A tramroad projected—Joseph Sanders—Sir R. Phillip’s speculations as to railways—Thomas Gray—William James surveys a line between Liverpool and Manchester—Opposition to the survey—Mr. James’s visits to Killingworth—Robert Stephenson assists in the survey—George Stephenson appointed engineer—The first prospectus—Stephenson’s survey opposed—The canal companies—Speculations as to railway speed—Stephenson’s notions thought extravagant—Article in the ‘Quarterly’—The Bill before Parliament—The Evidence—George Stephenson in the witness box—Examined as to speed—His cross-examination—The survey found defective—Mr. Harrison’s speech—Evidence of opposing engineers—Mr. Alderson’s speech—The Bill withdrawn—Stephenson’s vexation—The scheme prosecuted—The line re-surveyed—Sir Isaac Coffin’s speech—The Act passed

146–172

CHAPTER X.

Chat Moss—Construction of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.

George Stephenson appointed engineer—Chat Moss