History of Train

Pen-y-darren locomotive, 1804
Top speed approx. 5 mph (8 km/h)

Richard Trevithick’s high-pressure steam locomotive hauled the world’s first train on the Pen-y-darren Ironworks tramway in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales on 13 February 1804. The train was carrying 10 ton (10.2 tonnes) of coal and 70 men.

Catch Me Who Can, 1808
Top speed approx. 12 mph (19 km/h)

Richard Trevithick’s Catch Me Who Can was demonstrated to the public on a circular track at a steam circus in Bloomsbury, London, in 1808. Unfortunately the train overturned when a rail broke, so the public was not convinced.

Puffing Billy, 1813
Top speed approx. 5 mph (8 km/h)

Weighing 7.25 tons (7.4 tonnes) and built by William Hedley for the Wylam Colliery in Northumberland, Puffing Billy was the world’s first commercial adhesion steam engine. Now preserved at London’s Science Museum, it is considered the oldest surviving locomotive.

Locomotion No. 1, 1825

Top speed approx. 15 mph (24 km/h)

Built by George and Robert Stephenson, Locomotion No. 1 hauled the first train on the Stockton & Darlington Railway, the world’s first public railway, in 1825. This locomotive has been preserved and can be seen at the Darlington Railway Museum, County Durham.

Rocket, 1829

Top speed approx. 30 mph (48 km/h)

Robert Stephenson & Co.’s advanced and innovative Rocket was the clear winner of the Rainhill Trials held on the Liverpool & Manchester Railway in 1829. The Rocket is shown pulling a first-class passenger carriage; luggage was carried on the roof

Agenoria, 1829

Top speed approx. 8 mph (13 km/h)

One of only four steam locomotives built by Foster, Rastrick & Co. of Stourbridge, Agenoria worked on the Earl of Dudley’s Shutt End Colliery Railway, Staffordshire, for 35 years. The same company built the Stourbridge Lion, the first locomotive to be exported to the US.

Sans Pareil, 1829

Top speed approx. 18 mph (29 km/h)

Built by Timothy Hackworth, Sans Pareil (meaning “without equal“) performed well in the Rainhill Trials on the Liverpool & Manchester Railway in 1829 but exceeded the permitted weight, so was not considered for the prize.

Novelty, 1829

Top speed approx. 28 mph (45 km/h)

Although it was one of the fastest locomotives at the 1829 Rainhill Trials, John Ericsson and John Braithwaite’s lightweight Novelty proved unreliable and was withdrawn. It was the first locomotive to have its cylinders within the frames.

Rocket, 1829

Top speed approx. 30 mph (48 km/h)

Revolutionary engine This Rocket replica includes many of the features that facilitated the speeds the original achieved at the trials. Rocket was the first locomotive to have a fully functional blastpipe, which forced exhaust steam up the chimney. The engine had no brakes. Stopping was achieved via a foot pedal that puts the engine into reverse gear.

 

References:

The Train Book by DK