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Origin
(Source 1) Secondary Title: (914 mm) gauge
Coalbrookdale Locomotive
Description: An illustration depicting the (914 mm)
gauge Coalbrookdale Locomotive.
The steam locomotive emerged in Britain in the early 19th century
along with the rapid industrialisation of Britain, a period marked by
innovation and large economic expansion of beam engines in factory
workhouses in England.
On the 21st of February 1804 in Merthyr Tydfil Wales, British mining
engineer, explorer and inventor Richard Trevithick released the firstever full-scale steam locomotive to run on rails marking a large change
in transportation history (source 1). Trevithick's invention was
inspired by the potential of steam power and the need for more
efficient modes of transport, to accommodate the demands of a
rapidly expanding nation.
xThe steam locomotive offered high speeds and efficiency, facilitating
the development of railway networks and connecting remote regions
in Britan. Trevithick'built his “Penydarren tram road engine” for a
mine in South Wales, where horses pulled wagons slowly and
inefficiently. These traditional methods of transport were no longer
able to meet the growing requirements of transporting people and
goods around the country.
TIMELINE
1712 - Invention of
the first steam
engine
1804 - Invention of
the steam
locomotive
Thomas Savery invented
Richard Trevithick
the first commercially
used steam engine
device, it used steam
pressure to pump water
from the mines.
1848: GWR Firefly
1930-1940 Dieselelectric locomotives
21st Century trains
Appointed by Isambard
Diesel and electric
Modern diesel and
invented the fist steam
locomotive named the
Brunel, “one of the most
ingenious and prolific
locomotives start to
replace steam
electric locomotives
feature advanced
coalbrook locomotive.
figures in engineering
historyDaniel Gooch designs
the Great Western Railway
locomotives due to their
lower operating costs and
greater efficiency.
technologies for
improved efficiency,
emissions reduction, and
(GWR) Firefly , an express
passenger locomotive with
improved efficiency and
speed.
performance, such as the
maglev and shinkansen.
Purpose
(Source 2) Primary
Title: Excerpt from Richard Trevithick's Journal
Description: An entry written by Trevithick detailing
his experiments and breakthroughs in developing
the first steam locomotive. Published in 1816
The invention of the steam engine was in part due to the need to overcome
transportation challenges of the time. During the Industrial Revolution, industry
expanded and populations grew, which significantly rendered the existing modes of
transport inadequate. Britain needed efficient movement of goods and people around
the country. The steam locomotive overcame the limitations and inefficiencies in
existing modes of transport available. Before the industrial revolution, large machines
had to be powered by animals, water wheels, or sometimes even humans. The
necessity of a water source was a signifiant limitation. All three of these power sources
were relatively expensive to run in Britain. Water wheels were also prone to
malfunctioning in cold conditions. This triggered the idea for the invention of the first
steam engines, for pumping water, and for other industrial activities. For a long time
the canal systems of Britain had been the best way to transport goods from one place
to another, although this system was also slow and inefficient. The industrial needs of
the time forced the invention of a more efficient and direct form of transport. In 1804
Richard Trevithick invented the first ever steam train to run on its own , purpose built
tracks as documented in source 2. Soon after in 1825, locomotive innovation had come
a long way, with George Stephensons Locomotion 1 train. It transported the first
passengers from Stockton to Darlington, in the northeast of England.
Infuence on the
Industrial Revolution
Source 3, Primary Source
Title: Liverpool Manchester Railway historical print 1830.
Description: An artists impression detailing the events of
the opening of the Liverpool Manchester railway.
Published in 1830 in Germany.
The steam locomotive revolutionized transportation by providing a faster, more
reliable, and efficient means of travel. Before the implementation of the steam
engine, transportation of goods and people almost completely relied on horsedrawn carts and wagons. These were very slow and were limited in their ability to
carry large weights. The idea of a railway track, was swiftly followed by the first
fully timetabled railway lines, with scheduled passenger and freight traffic. The
first example of this system was the Liverpool and Manchester Railway (Source 3).
It was designed by George Stephenson in 1830 with his son, who also invented the
line’s locomotive the Rocket. The Liverpool-Manchester line is regarded as the
inauguration of the railway era, (1880s-1920s). During this time railways
expanded and were built all across Great Britain and continents of the world. This
opened up vast areas for new markets of industrial society. This played a crucial
role in the expansion of industrialisation and urbanisation. Factories could now
be located away from water sources, leading to the growth of industrial towns and
cities along railway lines, (as seen in source 3). The lines took raw materials and
exported products to consumers which enabled large-scale industrial operations.
Infuence on 21st
Century
(Source 4) Title: Japanese magalev train 2013
Description: a Photo from NBC news featuring an SMT
Japanese Maglev at a station, levitating on magnetic
tracks, the train was manufactured in 2013
The influence of the steam locomotive remains present in the 21st century,
even though it has evolved into many forms. Although modern
transportation systems rely predominantly on advanced technologies such,
as electric trains and automobiles, the foundational principles of the steam
locomotives are still predominant in our society today. One of the most
notable influences of the steam locomotive in the 21st century is its part in
paving the way for the development of modern railways. A large sum of the
world’s modern railway networks have origins dating back to the Industrial
Revolution when steam locomotives ran on the same routes. Global
railways remain vital routes for global trade and transportation of people,
moving goods over vast distances with reliable efficiency and speed.
Modern trains such as the Magalev (source 4), and the Japanese and Chinese
high-speed trains allow for stunningly fast transportation for people at
extremely low costs, making it easy for the majority of the population to
commute faster and get to places they need with higher efficiency.
Moreover, the steam locomotive has paved the way for advancements in
engineering and technology for the railway networks of the planet.
Railways are now as fast and as competitive as aeroplanes, frequently
matching the departure and arrival times of planes.
OPVL
This drawing of George Stephenson’s Rocket engine was produced in 1894, 65
years after he designed it in 1829. It depicts a scene, presumably inspired by the
historical context of the Rocket’s operation. It was created by an unknown artist,
possibly commissioned to commemorate Stephenson’s locomotive design. This
drawing originates from the United Kingdom, where George Stephenson created
his revolutionary design.
This source aims to portray an idealized yet historical depiction of the Rocket
steam engine, set in a picturesque rural setting. The inclusion of societal classes
such as a father showing it to his son, a railway worker shovelling coal, and
couples admiring the engine, suggests an attempt to showcase the social impact
and technological significance of the Rocket. The choice of an ink print allows for
wide distribution and an artistic interpretation. The innovative locomotive is
highlighted in the foreground, taking centre stage in front of the old stagecoach.
This source offers valuable insights into the societal perceptions of modernity
and uses of the Rocket during the 19th century. The presence of people in attire
of the period adds context to the scene, giving us an impression of what life
might have been like, almost a pastoral impression of the Rocket’s operation.
Despite the drawing’s ability to give us insight into the significance of the rocket in the Industrial Revolution, the drawing appears
to oversimplify and romanticize the reality of locomotive travel, possibly showing a biased view of the perspective of the time,
obscuring the challenges and setbacks of early steam engines development. Additionally, the idealised portrayal of the Rocket
may overlook the experiences and perspectives of people involved in railway development and operation.
OPVL
Bibliography
https://www.up.com/customers/track-record/tr041823-steam-to-green-evolution-of-thelocomotive.htm#:~:text=On%20February%2021%2C%201804%2C%20British,including%20wood
%2C%20coal%20and%20oil.
https://www.britannica.com/technology/history-oftechnology/Steam-locomotive
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2166/the-steam-engine-in-thebritish-industrial-revolut/
https://www.trains.com/trn/train-basics/abcs-of-railroading/how-asteam-locomotive-works/