CHAPTER VII
GEORGE STEPHENSON
WHILE Mr. Blackett was building locomotives and experimenting
with them, George Stephenson, then enjoying a high reputation
for his ingenuity and skill as a machinist, was deliberating in
his mind on the possibility of locomotives being made and improved
so as eventually to supersede the use of horse-power upon tram-roads;
but the want of means, and the difficulty of obtaining skillful
mechanics at that early day to do the requisite work, retarded
him in his long cherished idea of making a machine that would
answer effectually the purpose for which the locomotive was intended.
True it was that Blankensop's engine, built in 1813, had been
in use upon the tram-way at Wylam, and improvements were subsequently
made so that a machine had been constructed and run upon the tramway
between Kenton and Cox Lodge, which was enabled to draw after
it sixteen loaded cars, of about seventy tons, at the rate of
three miles an hour. Yet this engine and others like it, were
far from being perfect, or adapted to the purpose for which they
were intended, being clumsy, cumbrous, and awkward, in all their
movements. Mr. Stephenson saw one of these at work, and when asked
by one of his companions what he thought of it, he replied that
he "could make a better one than that;" and, to accomplish
this, he devoted his whole mind and energies, the result of which
we will show hereafter.
It will not, we trust, be deemed out of place to devote a small
space in our pages to give, as briefly as possible, some of the
early history of this afterward most distinguished engineer and
machinist, who may be justly looked upon as the father of the
locomotive system in England, now so successful and essential
to its commerce and manufactures. His history may tend to impress
upon the mind of any youthful reader and mechanic who may be now,
as he once was, a poor boy, how a young man, by industry and perseverance
in a good cause, may ultimately build up for himself a position
which would lead eventually to eminence and fame
GEORGE STEPHENSON
was born on June 9, 1781, in a small colliery village called Wylam,
on the north bank of the river Tyne. The tram road between Newcastle
and Carlisle runs along the opposite bank of the river from the
coal-pits to the shipping-point. Robert Stephenson, the father
of George, was a poor, hard working man, and supported his family
entirely from his own wages of less at first than, but afterward
raised to, twelve shillings a week.
The wagons loaded with coal passed by Wylam several times a
day. These wagons were drawn by horses; for locomotives had not
been dreamed of by the most visionary of that early period. George's
first wages were two pence per day, to herd some cows owned by
a neighbor which were allowed to feed along the road; to watch
and keep them off the tram-road, and out of the way of the coal-wagons;
also, to close the gates after the day's work of the wagons was
over.
The old mine being worked out, the Stephenson family removed
to the new opening at Dudley Burn, where Robert, the father, worked
as fireman. George's first work about these mines was at what
is known as a picker. His duty was to clean the coal of stone,
slate, and other impurities, at wages advanced to sixpence per
day, and, after promotion, raised to eighteen-pence per day.
After several removals to new openings, as the coal would be
worked out in the old, George, who had always lived at home, and
was now about fifteen years of age, found himself at the new opening,
at Folly's Close, where he was promoted to the position of fireman,
at the opening called "Mid Mill Winnin." There he remained
two years, and was then again removed to a new pit near Throckly
Bridge, where he worked, and his wages were raised to twelve shillings
per week. He next worked at a new opening called Water Row, where
a pumping machine was erected, and George, who was then seventeen
years of age, was placed in charge as plugman and engineer, while
his father worked under him as the fireman. At that time he never
suffered an opportunity to pass without improving himself in the
knowledge of his engine. When not at work, and while others, employed
in and about the mines, would be spending their time and earnings
in drinking and idle sports, George employed himself in taking
to pieces his engine, to possess himself of knowledge and of every
peculiarity about it. By these means he became thoroughly acquainted
with his engine, and, if at any time it got wrong, he was able
to adjust and even repair it, without calling in the aid of the
chief engineer of the colliery. At this time (for want of an opportunity),
George Stephenson, now entering upon the very threshold of manhood,
could not read, nor did he even know his letters. The first rudiments
of his education were derived from one Robert Cowen, who had a
night school in the village of Wallbottle; with him he took lessons
in spelling and reading, three nights in the week, paying three
pence per week for his tuition. Notwithstanding these obstacles
in his way, George labored, studied, and persevered, and at eighteen
he was able to write his own name.
In 1799 he attended another night school, at Newburn. His teacher
was one Andrew Robinson, from whom he learned his arithmetic.
During his leisure hours he employed himself in working out the
sums set him by Robinson, and in the evening handed in his slate
to the master for examination and a fresh supply of sums for his
study. To this he added his earnings for shoe-mending and shoe-making,
which he had taken up.
In 1804 he walked on foot to Scotland, to take charge of one
of Bolton & Watt's engines. He returned, after a year's absence,
to Killingworth, on foot, as he had gone, and was soon at work
as brakeman at the lifting engine on the West Moore pit.
In 1807 George Stephenson meditated upon emigrating to America;
but found himself too poor to pay his passage, and was compelled
to abandon the project. To his earnings then he added the repairing
of clocks and watches, and the cutting out of clothes for the
wives of the workmen to make up. Thus did this energetic and untiring
man persevere and labor for advancement in knowledge, until he
was promoted as head engineer or plugman, as the engineer was
called, at the colliery.
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