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CHAPTER III.
ROBERT STEPHENSON, THE SCHOOLBOY.
(ETAT. 9-15.)
-
1
Robert and the Pitman's Picks — Mind the Buiks' - George Stephenson's
pecuniary Position whilst his Son attended Rutter's School — George
appointed Engineer to the Collieries of 'The Grand Allies' - The
Locomotive on the Wylam Line George Stephenson's first Locomo-
tive-His Appointment to the 'Walker Iron-works'-'Bruce's Academy'
-The Cost of Robert's Tuition at the School - Robert Stephenson's
Reception by his new Schoolfellows The Boy's delicate Health - The
Purchase of his Donkey-John Tate - Rival Safety Lamps-Testi-
monial and Public Dinner to George Stephenson for his Lamp - Home
Gossip-Throwing the Hammer'-George Stephenson's Views with
regard to the Education of his Son - Robert Stephenson's Plan of a Sun-
Dial
.
Page 29
CHAPTER IV.
ROBERT STEPHENSON, THE APPRENTICE.
(ÆTAT. 15-20.)
Robert Stephenson leaves School-He is apprenticed to Mr. Nicholas Wood
-George Stephenson lays down the Hetton Colliery Railway-Father and
Son-Robert's Economy in his personal Expenses-The 'Three Tuns'
The Circumferentor-George Stephenson's increasing Prosperity - His
Second Marriage - He builds the 'Friar's Goose Pumping Engine' —
He embarks in a small Colliery Speculation-The Locomotive Boiler
Tubes of the Messrs. James-Explosion in the Killingworth Mine-George
Stephenson's First Visit to Mr. Edward Pease - Robert Stephenson and
his Father survey the Stockton and Darlington Line Robert Stephen-
son's First Visit to London-His delicate State of Health-Survey for
the Second Stockton and Darlington Act-Robert Stephenson goes to
Edinburgh - Professor Leslie's Testimonial - Letters written at Edin-
burgh by Robert Stephenson to Mr. Longridge-Robert Stephenson
accompanies Professor Jamieson on a Geological Excursion-George
Stephenson's Letter to his friend Locke - Robert Stephenson and his
Father visit Ireland-Robert Stephenson's Letters from that Country
46
CHAPTER V.
PREPARATIONS FOR AMERICA.
(ÆTAT. 20-21.)
George Stephenson's Rupture with Mr. Losh - The Establishment of the
Firm of R. Stephenson and Co. of Newcastle
The Colombian Mining
THE FIRST VOLUME.
xi
Association-George Stephenson a Chief Agent for the Project-Robert
Stephenson visited with renewed and aggravated Symptoms of Pul-
monary Disease—Robert Stephenson proposed as Engineer to the 'Co-
lombian Mining Association'- His Visits to Cornwall and other Places
Newcastle- The London Coffee House, Ludgate Hill-Robert Ste-
phenson accepts the Post of Engineer-in-Chief to the Colombian Mining
Association-In London - Preparations and Hard Work-Home, sweet
Home'-Letter to the North'- Conduct of 'the Association'- Liver-
pool -Sails for South America
Page 64
CHAPTER VI.
SOUTH AMERICA.
(ÆTAT. 20-24.)
La Guayra-Caraccas - Proposed Breakwater and Pier at La Guayra
- Survey for Railroad between La Guayra and Caraccas Santa Fé de
Bogota-Mariquita-Life on the Magdalena - Explores the Country -
Road between the Magdalena and the Mines - Santa Ana - Descriptions
of Scenery Arrival of the Cornish Miners - Insubordination of Miners
-Friends, Pursuits, and Studies- Inclination and Duty-Disappointment
of the Directors - Their Secretary
78
CHAPTER VII.
FROM SOUTH AMERICA TO NEWCASTLE.
(ÆTAT. 23-24.)
Encounters Trevithick
Leaves Santa Ana Goes up to Carthagena.
- Trevithick's Peculiarities- Sails for New York- Becalmed amongst
the Islands - Terrible Gales in the open Sea - Two Wrecks — Can-
nibalism-Shipwrecked off New York-Strange Conduct of a Mate — Is
made a Master Mason - Pedestrian Excursion to Montreal - Remarkable
Conversation on the Banks of the St. Lawrence-Returns to New York
-Arrives at Liverpool-Meeting with his Father-Goes up to London
and sees the Directors of the Colombian Mining Association
Brussels Return to Newcastle - Liverpool
--
Trip to
100
CHAPTER VIII.
RESIDENCE IN NEWCASTLE.
(ATAT. 24-25.)
State of the Locomotive in 1828-Efforts to improve the Locomotive
-The Reports of Messrs. Walker and Rastrick-A Premium of £500
offered by the Directors of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway for
the best Locomotive — Mr. Henry Booth's Invention of the Multitubular
Boiler-Commencement of the 'Rocket' Steam Engine-A Tunnel across
the Mersey-Survey for a Junction Line between the Bolton and Leigh
and Liverpool and Manchester Railways - Survey for Branch Line from
the Liverpool and Manchester Railway to Warrington-Robert Stephen-
son's Love Affairs-His Access to Society in Liverpool and London
Miss Fanny Sanderson - Proposal that Robert Stephenson should live
at Bedlington-Mr. Richardson's Expostulations-No. 5 Greenfield Place
The Sofa à la mode - Marriage
Page 116
CHAPTER IX.
RESIDENCE IN NEWCASTLE-CONTINUED.
(ETAT. 25-28.)
Wedding Trip- Battle of the 'Locomotive'-'The Oracle'-Construc-
tion of the 'Rocket' Steam Engine - The Rainhill Contest-Particulars
concerning the 'Rocket'- History of the Blast-Pipe' - Triumphant
return from Liverpool to Newcastle - Answer to Mr. Walker's Report
-Letters to Mr. Richardson-Numerous Engagements-More Loco-
motives Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway-Robert
Stephenson appointed Engineer to the 'Warrington' and 'Leicester and
Swannington' Lines-Discovery of Coal Strata, and Purchase of Snib-
stone-London and Birmingham Railway-Robert Stephenson employed
to carry the Line through Parliament-Opposition to the Line-Inves-
tigator's' Pamphlet Robert Stephenson's Evidence before the Lords'
Committee-Rejection of the Bill in 1832-Calumnies - Public Meeting
at Thatched House Tavern in support of the London and Birmingham
Railway-Bill passes Parliament in 1833-Robert Stephenson appointed
sole Engineer-in-Chief to the London and Birmingham Railway-
Leaves Newcastle-on-Tyne - Pupils
138
CHAPTER X.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY.
(ÆTAT. 29-34.)
Appointment as Engineer-in-Chief to the London and Birmingham Line
Contract Plans - Drawing-Office in the Cottage on the Edgeware
Road, and subsequently at the Eyre Arms, St. John's Wood - Health
and Habits of Life - Staff of Assistant and Sub-Assistant Engineers —
The principal Contractors - Primrose Hill Tunnel - Blisworth Cutting
Wolverton Embankment and Viaduct - Kilsby Tunnel - Interview
with Dr. Arnold at Rugby- Conduct and Character of Navvies - Anec-
xiii
dotes Robert Stephenson proposes the Extension of the Line from
Camden Town to Euston Square-Proposition first rejected and then
adopted by Directors-Act of Parliament obtained for Extension of the
Line-The Incline from Camden Town to Euston Square originally
worked by Stationary Engines and Ropes Lieut. Lecount's Comparison
of Labour expended on the London and Birmingham Railway, and Labour
expended on the Great Pyramid - Conduct of a certain Section of the
Directors to Robert Stephenson --Opening of the Line - Dinner at Dee's
Royal Hotel, Manchester-Robert Stephenson's Anger with a Director-
Dinner and Testimonial given to Robert Stephenson at Dunchurch
Brunel uses Robert Stephenson's System of Drawing on the Great Western
-Robert Stephenson's Appointment as Consulting Engineer
Page 184
CHAPTER XI.
AFFAIRS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, DURING THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE
LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY.
(ÆTAT, 29-35.)
Stanhope and Tyne Railway Company - Robert Stephenson appointed
their Engineer-Opening of the Line and its rapidly increasing Em-
barrassments-Robert Stephenson visits Belgium with his Father-
Offices in Duke Street, and George Street, Westminster-The Session of
1836- Various proposed Lines between London and Brighton: Sir John
Rennie's, Robert Stephenson's, Gibbs's, Cundy's-London and Blackwall
Railway, and the Commercial Road Railway-Robert Stephenson strongly
opposes the Use of Locomotives in Towns - Life at Haverstock Hill-
Reading, Friends, Horses, Sunday Dinners - Newcastle Correspondence-
Mrs. Stephenson's Accident to Knee-Cap-Professor Wheatstone's and
Robert Stephenson's Adoption of the Electric Telegraph - Robert Ste-
phenson assumes Arms That 'Silly Picture'
. 214
CHAPTER XII.
FROM THE COMPLETION OF THE LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY TO
THE OPENING OF THE NEWCASTLE AND DARLINGTON LINE.
(ÆTAT. 35-41.)
Railways undertaken in various Directions. Brunel, Giles, Braithwaite
-Robert Stephenson's Trip to Italy - On his Return again immersed
in Projects-The Contractors' Dinner at The Albion '-Letters to New-
castle-Cigars for the Continent-Stanhope and Tyne Crisis-Robert
Stephenson threatened with Insolvency-Acts for the Pontop and South
Shields and the Newcastle and Darlington Junction Railways - Robert
Stephenson appointed to execute the Newcastle and Darlington Lines
Robert Stephenson created a Knight of the Order of Leopold -
Mrs. Stephenson's Death - Opening of Newcastle and Darlington Line
- Public Dinner and Speeches - Continental Engagements - Leaves
Haverstock Hill and moves to Cambridge Square - Fire in Cambridge
Square-George Hudson and Robert Stephenson-A Contrast Page 238
CHAPTER XIII.
RAILWAY PROGRESS AND RAILWAY LEGISLATION.
First Act of Parliament authorising the Construction of a Railway Rail-
way Developement from the year 1801 to 1846 inclusive - The Railway
Mania of 1825-26- The Railway Mania of 1836-37-The Railway
Mania of 1845-46-Difference between the Crises of 1825-26 and 1836
-37 and of 1845-46- Report from Committees, 1837 - Bubble Com-
panies-Parliamentary Influence - Parliamentary Corruption-Compen-
sation; Stories of―The Parliamentary Committee as a Tribunal-Robert
Stephenson's Views on Parliamentary Legislation - Observations on his
Project for a Preliminary Board of Inquiry'- Causes of Parliamentary
Inconsistency - Stories of the Parliamentary Bar - Professional Wit-
nesses in the House of Commons: Robert Stephenson, Brunel, Locke,
Lardner, Bidder
Great Britain compared with other Countries in
respect of Railway Developement - Results - Proposal for Railway
Farmers-Proposal for a Railway Bank
263
CHAPTER XIV.
THE ATMOSPHERIC SYSTEM OF RAILWAY PROPULSION.
Remarkable Episode in the History of Railways- -Correction of Nomen-
clature-Objects of this Chapter-General Modes of Locomotion
Constant rivalry between Locomotive and Stationary Steam-power-Liver-
pool and Manchester Railway- Walker and Rastrick's Report-Ste-
phenson and Locke's Reply-Triumph of the Locomotive-Renewal of
the Stationary Plan in the Atmospheric form-Early Inventors - Papin
Medhurst-Features of his Schemes-Vallance - Pinkus- Clegg-
Jacob and Joseph Samuda-Private Experiments-Trial of their Plan
on the Thames Junction Railway-Description of the Apparatus - Pro-
posal to apply it in Ireland-Smith and Barlow's Report- Application
on the Kingstown and Dalkey Line- Arguments in favour of the Plan
-Robert Stephenson's attention called to it in reference to the Chester
and Holyhead Railway-His Report-Public Interest excited-Croydon
Railway Parliamentary Committee-The Railway Mania-Appointment
of a Committee of the House of Commons to enquire into the Merits of