Railroad Pioneer. In 1795, at age fifteen, he began an apprenticeship at his father's engineering company. In 1802 he started work at Ketley ironworks, Shropshire, England. He then went into partnership with foundry owner John Hazeldine. Together they built Richard Trevethick's early steam locomotive "Catch Me Who Can", which was successfully demonstrated in London. In 1817 the partnership broke up and he began working with the iron master James Foster. Together they manufactured railroad track and steam engines for export to the West Indies. In 1824 he became involved with the Liverpool and Manchester Railway and was one of the judges of the Rainhill locomotive trials, which was won by Stephenson's "Rocket". In 1829 he built "The Stourbridge Lion", the first steam locomotive to run in the United States. He also built the locomotive "Agenoria" for the Shutt End Colliery Railway. He then split with Foster and built the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. The line featured several long tunnels and a 28 arch viaduct over the resort town of Brighton, Sussex. He retired to Chertsey, Surrey in 1847. The "Agenoria" locomotive can be seen in the National Railway Museum, York.
Railroad Pioneer. In 1795, at age fifteen, he began an apprenticeship at his father's engineering company. In 1802 he started work at Ketley ironworks, Shropshire, England. He then went into partnership with foundry owner John Hazeldine. Together they built Richard Trevethick's early steam locomotive "Catch Me Who Can", which was successfully demonstrated in London. In 1817 the partnership broke up and he began working with the iron master James Foster. Together they manufactured railroad track and steam engines for export to the West Indies. In 1824 he became involved with the Liverpool and Manchester Railway and was one of the judges of the Rainhill locomotive trials, which was won by Stephenson's "Rocket". In 1829 he built "The Stourbridge Lion", the first steam locomotive to run in the United States. He also built the locomotive "Agenoria" for the Shutt End Colliery Railway. He then split with Foster and built the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. The line featured several long tunnels and a 28 arch viaduct over the resort town of Brighton, Sussex. He retired to Chertsey, Surrey in 1847. The "Agenoria" locomotive can be seen in the National Railway Museum, York.
Bio by: js
Advertisement
