Chapter IV: Part II: Chapter I

THE NEWCASTLE COAL-FIELD--GEORGE STEPHENSON'S EARLY YEARS.

Newcastle in ancient Times.--The Coal-trade.--Modern Newcastle.--The
Colliery Workmen.--The Pumping-engines.--The Pitmen.--The
Keelmen.--Wylam Colliery and Village.--George Stephenson's
Birthplace.--The Stephenson Family.--Old Robert Stephenson.--George's
Boyhood.--Employed as a Herd-boy.--Makes Clay Engines.--Employed as
Corf-bitter.--Drives the Gin-horse.--Appointed assistant Fireman. 97

CHAPTER II.

NEWBURN AND CALLERTON--GEORGE STEPHENSON LEARNS TO BE AN ENGINE-MAN.

Stephenson's Life at Newburn.--Appointed Engine-man.--Duties
of Plugman.--Study of the Steam-engine.--Experiments in
Bird-hatching.--Learns to Read.--His Schoolmasters.--Progress in
Arithmetic.--His Dog.--Learns to Brake.--Duties of Brakesman.--Begins
Shoe-mending.--Fight with a Pitman. 111

CHAPTER III.

ENGINE-MAN AT WILLINGTON QUAY AND KILLINGWORTH.

Sobriety and Studiousness.--Removal to Willington Quay, and
Marriage.--Attempts a Perpetual-motion Machine.--William Fairbairn,
C.E., and George Stephenson.--Ballast-heaving.--Cottage Chimney
takes fire--Birth of his son Robert.--Removal to West Moor,
Killingworth.--Death of his Wife.--Appointed Engine-man at
Montrose.--Return to Killingworth.--Appointed Brakesman at West
Moor.--Is drawn for the Militia.--Thinks of Emigrating.--Takes
a contract for Brakeing.--Improves the Winding-engine.--Cures a
Pumping-engine.--Is appointed Engine-wright of the Colliery. 121

CHAPTER IV.

THE STEPHENSONS AT KILLINGWORTH--EDUCATION AND SELF-EDUCATION.

Efforts at Self-improvement.--John Wigham.--Studies in Natural
Philosophy.--Education of Robert Stephenson.--Sent to Bruce's
School, Newcastle.--His boyish Tricks.--Stephenson's Cottage,
West Moor.--Mechanical Contrivances.--The Sun-dial at West
Moor.--Stephenson's various Duties as Colliery Engineer. 137

CHAPTER V.

THE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE--GEORGE STEPHENSON BEGINS ITS IMPROVEMENT.

Slow Progress heretofore made in the Improvement of the
Locomotive.--The Wylam Wagon-way.--Mr. Blackett orders a
Locomotive.--Mr. Blenkinsop's Leeds Locomotive.--Mr. Blackett's second
Engine a Failure.--The improved Wylam Engine.--George Stephenson's
Study of the Subject.--His first Locomotive constructed.--His
Improvement of the Engine, as described by his Son.--Invention of the
Steam-blast. 152

CHAPTER VI.

INVENTION OF THE "GEORDY" SAFETY-LAMP.

Frequency of Colliery Explosions.--Accidents in the Killingworth
Pit.--Stephenson's heroic Conduct.--Proposes to invent a
Safety-lamp.--His first Lamp and its Trial.--Cottage Experiments
with Coal-gas.--His second and third Lamps.--Scene at the Newcastle
Institute.--The Stephenson and Davy Controversy.--The Davy and
Stephenson Testimonials.--Merits of the "Geordy" Lamp. 175

CHAPTER VII.

GEORGE STEPHENSON'S FARTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LOCOMOTIVE--ROBERT
STEPHENSON AS VIEWER'S APPRENTICE AND STUDENT.

Stephenson's Improvements in the Mine-machinery.--Farther Improvements
in the Locomotive and in the Road.--Experiments on Friction.--Early
Neglect of the Locomotive.--Stephenson again meditates emigrating
to America.--Employed as Engineer of the Hetton Railway.--Robert
Stephenson put Apprentice to a Coal-viewer.--His Father sends him
to Edinburg University.--His Studies there.--Geological Tour in the
Highlands. 198

CHAPTER VIII.

GEORGE STEPHENSON ENGINEER OF THE STOCKTON AND DARLINGTON RAILWAY.

Failure of the first public Railways near London.--Want of improved
communications in the Bishop Auckland Coal-district.--Various Projects
devised.--A Railway projected at Darlington.--Edward Pease.--George
Stephenson employed as Engineer.--Mr. Pease's Visit to Killingworth.--A
Locomotive Factory begun at Newcastle.--The Stockton and Darlington
Line constructed.--The public Opening.--The Coal-traffic.--The first
Passenger-traffic by Railway.--The Town of Middlesborough-on-Tees
created by the Railway. 216

CHAPTER IX.

THE LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY PROJECTED.

Insufficiency of the Communication between Liverpool and Manchester.--A
Tram-road projected by Mr. Sandars.--The Line surveyed by William
James.--The Survey a failure.--George Stephenson appointed Engineer.--A
Company formed and a Railroad projected.--The first Prospectus
issued.--Opposition to the Survey.--Speculations as to Railway
Speed.--George Stephenson's Views thought extravagant.--Article in the
"Quarterly". 247

CHAPTER X.

PARLIAMENTARY CONTEST ON THE LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER BILL.

The Bill before Parliament.--The Evidence.--George Stephenson in the
Witness-box.--Examined as to Speed.--His Cross-examination.--Examined
as to the possibility of constructing a Line on Chat Moss.--Mr.
Harrison's Speech.--Mr. Giles's Evidence as to Chat Moss.--Mr.
Alderson's Speech.--The Bill lost.--Stephenson's Vexation.--The Bill
revived, with the Messrs. Rennie as Engineers.--Sir Isaac Coffin's
prophecies of Disaster.--The Act passed. 265

CHAPTER XI.

CHAT MOSS--CONSTRUCTION OF THE LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY.

George Stephenson again appointed Engineer of the Railway.--Chat Moss
described.--The resident Engineers of the Line.--George Stephenson's
Theory of a Floating Road on the Moss.--Operations begun.--The
Tar-barrel Drains.--The Embankment sinks in the Moss.--Proposed
Abandonment of the Works.--Stephenson's Perseverance.--The Obstacles
conquered.--The Tunnel at Liverpool.--The Olive Mount Cutting.--The
Sankey Viaduct.--Stephenson's great Labors.--His daily Life.--Evenings
at Home. 281

CHAPTER XII.

ROBERT STEPHENSON'S RESIDENCE IN COLOMBIA AND RETURN--THE "BATTLE OF
THE LOCOMOTIVE."

Robert Stephenson appointed Mining Engineer in Colombia.--Mule
Journey to Bogotá.--Mariquita.--Silver Mining.--Difficulties
with the Cornishmen.--His Cottage at Santa Anna.--Resigns his
Appointment.--Meeting with Trevithick.--Voyage to New York, and
Shipwreck.--Returns to Newcastle, and takes Charge of the Locomotive
Factory.--Discussion as to the Working Power of the Liverpool and
Manchester Railway.--Walker and Rastrick's Report.--A Prize offered
for the best Locomotive.--Invention of the Multitubular Boiler.--Henry
Booth.--Construction of the "Rocket."--The Locomotive Competition at
Rainhill.--Triumph of the "Rocket". 301

CHAPTER XIII.

OPENING OF THE LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY, AND EXTENSION OF THE
RAILWAY SYSTEM.

The Railway finished.--Organization of the Working.--The
public Opening.--Fatal Accident to Mr. Huskisson.--The
Traffic begun.--Improvements in the Road, Rolling Stock, and
Locomotive.--Steam-carriages tried on common Roads.--New Railway
Projects.--Opposition to Railways in the South of England.--Robert
Stephenson appointed Engineer of Leicester and Swannington
Railway.--George removes to Snibston and sinks for Coal.--His character
as a Master. 329

CHAPTER XIV.

ROBERT STEPHENSON CONSTRUCTS THE LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY.

The London and Birmingham Railway projected.--George and Robert
Stephenson appointed Engineers.--An Opposition organized.--Public
Meetings against the Scheme.--Robert Stephenson's Interview with Sir
A. Cooper.--The Survey obstructed.--The Line resurveyed.--The Bill
in Parliament.--Thrown out in the Lords.--The Project revived.--The
Act obtained.--The Works let in Contracts.--Difficulties of the
Undertaking.--The Line described.--Blisworth Cutting.--Primrose Hill
Tunnel.--Kilsby Tunnel.--Its Construction described.--Failures of
Contractors.--Magnitude of the Works.--The Railway navvies. 349

CHAPTER XV.

MANCHESTER AND LEEDS, MIDLAND, AND OTHER RAILWAYS--GENERAL EXTENSION OF
RAILWAYS AND THEIR RESULTS.

Projection of new Lines.--Dutton Viaduct on the Grand Junction.--The
Manchester and Leeds.--Incident in Committee.--Summit Tunnel,
Littleborough.--The Midland Railway.--The Works compared with the
Simplon Road.--Slip near Ambergate.--Bull Bridge.--The York and
North Midland.--The Scarborough Branch.--George Stephenson on
Estimates.--Stephenson on his Surveys.--His quick Observation.--His
extensive Labors.--Traveling and Correspondence.--Life at Alton
Grange.--Stephenson's London Office.--Journeys to Belgium.--Interviews
with the King.--Public Openings of English Railways.--Stephenson's
Assistants.--Results of Railroads. 365

CHAPTER XVI.

GEORGE STEPHENSON'S COAL-MINES--OPINIONS ON RAILWAY SPEEDS--RAILWAY
MANIA.

George Stephenson on Railways and Coal Traffic.--Leases the
Claycross Estate.--His Residence at Tapton.--His Appearance at
Mechanics' Institutes.--His Views on Railway Speed.--Undulating Lines
favored.--Stephenson on Railway Speculation.--Atmospheric Railways
projected.--Opposed by Stephenson.--The Railway Mania.--Action
of Parliament.--Rage for direct Lines.--Stephenson's Letter to
Peel.--George Hudson, the "Railway King."--His Fall.--Stephenson again
visits Belgium.--Interview with King Leopold.--Journey into Spain. 392

CHAPTER XVII.

ROBERT STEPHENSON'S CAREER--EAST COAST ROUTE TO SCOTLAND--HIGH-LEVEL
BRIDGE, NEWCASTLE.

Robert Stephenson's Career.--His extensive Employment as Parliamentary
Engineer.--His rival, Brunel.--The Great Western Railway.--Width
of Gauge.--Robert Stephenson's caution as to Investments.--The
Newcastle and Berwick Railway.--Contest in Parliament.--George
Stephenson's Interview with Lord Howick.--The Royal Border Bridge,
Berwick.--Progress of Iron Bridge-building.--Robert Stephenson
constructs the High-Level Bridge, Newcastle.--Pile-driving by
Steam.--Merits of the Structure.--The through Railway to Scotland
completed. 421

CHAPTER XVIII.

CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY--MENAI AND CONWAY BRIDGES.

George Stephenson Surveys a line from Chester to Holyhead.--Robert
Stephenson afterward appointed Engineer.--The Railway Works under
Penmaen Mawr.--The Crossing of the Menai Strait.--Various Plans
proposed.--A Tubular Beam determined on.--Strength of wrought-iron
Tubes.--Mr. William Fairbairn consulted.--His Experiments.--Professor
Hodgkinson.--Chains proposed, and eventually discarded.--The Bridge
Works.--The Conway Bridge.--Britannia Bridge described.--Floating
of the Tubes.--Robert Stephenson's great Anxiety.--Raising of the
Tubes.--The Hydraulic Press bursts.--The Works completed.--Merits of
the Britannia Bridge. 438

CHAPTER XIX.

CLOSING YEARS OF GEORGE STEPHENSON'S LIFE--ILLNESS AND DEATH.

George Stephenson's Life at Tapton.--Experiments in Horticulture.--His
Farming Operations.--Affection for Animals.--Bee-keeping.--Reading
and Conversation.--Rencounter with Lord Denman.--Hospitality at
Tapton.--His Microscope.--A "Crowdie Night."--Visits to London.--Visits
Sir Robert Peel at Drayton Manor.--His Conversation.--Encounter with
Dr. Buckland.--Coal formed by the Sun's Light.--Opening of the Trent
Valley Line and its Celebration.--Meeting with Emerson.--Illness,
Death, and Funeral.--Statues of George Stephenson.--Personal
Characteristics. 460