George Stephenson

George Stephenson ( born June 9, 1781 Wylam near Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland; † August 12, 1848 in Tapton House in Chesterfield ) was an English engineer and principal founder of the railways. He was self-taught and acquired extensive technical knowledge.

Life

George Stephenson was born as the son of poor parents. At 14, he had been working in a coal mine. His first activity was the operation of a steam engine. In an accident with a steam engine, his father went blind. This accident prompted Stephenson to deal intensively with the steam engines. Soon he was called in North East England Machinery doctor. He distinguished himself by the expedient means of a pump station. He was overseer and later headed the coal works of Lord Ravensworth in Darlington.

1803 his son Robert was born. Two years later his wife died. Despite its relatively good position in coal mining Stephenson had to repair shoes to allow his son the good education that had been denied to himself. Together with his son, he improved his own skills in reading and writing.

In 1814 he built there for scale railroad steam locomotive that was considered for a long time as the first practical locomotive. This has been recognized that the first steam locomotive, built by Richard Trevithick in 1802, not at the locomotive technology, but to the cast iron rails of the original horse tram failed, for the locomotive was just too heavy. 1813 William Hedley already built his " Puffing Billy " for the Wylam Colliery, which is so well established that several locomotives of this type were built. George Stephenson was thus not the inventor of the steam engine, but probably the most successful railway pioneer of the early 19th century. In parallel with Humphry Davy ( Davysche safety lamp ) Stephenson invented a safety lamp for miners.

Under the direction of Stephenson 's first public railway in the world was inaugurated on September 27, 1825 between Stockton and Darlington. His " Locomotion " was harnessed to 38 cars which were partially loaded with coal and wheat. Most cars, however, were provided with seats for about 600 fixed subscriber. The day after the regular operation began with the passenger car "experiment", but this was pulled for years to come by a horse. On this route, drove three constructed by Stephenson locomotives.

The construction of the Liverpool - Manchester Railway in 1829 established his reputation forever. During the famous race of Rainhill for the best and fastest locomotive of this train which should take you three times its weight of 10 English miles speed per hour, without producing smoke, won The Rocket by George Stephenson and his son Robert Price by their moved five times its weight and 14 to 20 English miles lay back in an hour, so far surpassed the conditions imposed. This success was mainly the introduction of better combustion blower tube generating an idea Booths, the Secretary General of the Company attributable to a larger steam development enabled tube boiler.

From then on, Stephenson directed the construction of the major railroads in England and built machines for the same and was appointed for the same purpose to Belgium, Holland, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The first German locomotive eagle came from the built in Darlington Maschinenbauanstalt. From 1847 to 1848 George Stephenson was president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

He was most recently also the owner of several coal mines and iron works of the great Claycross and died on 12 August 1848 in Tapton House in Chesterfield. His statue was erected in Newcastle on the Stephenson bridge.

His only son Robert Stephenson was also an engineer. This was sponsored by Robert Baden -Powell, the founder of the Scout Movement.

Others

Due to its importance for rail transport, the street was named to the corporate offices of the passenger traffic of the Deutsche Bahn AG in Frankfurt am Main to Stephenson.