The Story Of The Life Of George Stephenson, Including A Memoir Of His Son Robert Stephenson. 1864 Smiles, Samuel

190mm x 130mm (7" x 5"). xvi, 388pp, 32pp. Frontis; Numerous woodcuts in text. George Stephenson, the son of a colliery fireman, was born at Wylam, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, (b1781-d1848). First employed herding cows, he eventually began attending evening classes where he learnt to read and write and in 1802 he became a colliery engineman. He married Frances Henderson, and his only son, Robert was born in 1803. Frances died of consumption in 1806. By 1814 he had built a locomotive that could pull thirty tons up a hill at 4 mph. Stephenson called his locomotive, the Blutcher. The owners of the colliery were impressed with Stephenson's achievements and in 1819 he was given the task of building a eight mile railroad from Hetton to the River Wear at Sunderland. He produced the first ever railway that was completely independent of animal power. In 1823 Edward Pease joined with Michael Longdridge, George Stephenson and his son Robert Stephenson, to form a company 'The Robert Stephenson & Company', at Forth Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which was the world's first locomotive builder. The first railway locomotive, Locomotion, was finished in September 1825. The directors of the Liverpool & Manchester Line company decided to hold a competition, the idea being that if the locomotive was good enough, it would be the one used on their new railway. The competition was held at Rainhill during October 1829. It was the Rocket, produced by George and his son, Robert Stephenson, that won. The Liverpool & Manchester railway was opened on 15th September, 1830. After his success with the Liverpool & Manchester railway, Stephenson became the chief engineer of the Manchester & Leeds, Birmingham & Derby, Normanton & York and Sheffied & Rotherham railways. G : in good condition. Cover rubbed with edgewear