Anniversaries

Anniversaries

Mr P J Knowles     14 January 2013

Mr Knowles began by mentioning notable centenaries in 2012 and then went on to describe the development of the pumping engine in 1713 by Thomas Newcomen which allowed mines to be worked at a greater depth than before. This engine was modified and improved by James Watt who later collaborated with Matthew Boulton – a Birmingham manufacturer of buttons, buckles and coins. He used this engine to power machinery in his vast factory.

 The next development of the steam engine was to power a moving vehicle on rails. This was developed by George Stephenson for moving coal in the Tyne Tees coalfield and he eventually opened the Stockton Darlington railway. Entrepreneurs from Liverpool and Manchester asked him to oversee the construction of a railway from Manchester to Liverpool and after some delay in getting the necessary bill through Parliament the line was opened. George’s son Robert designed the locomotive “Rocket” which was the basic design for future locomotives. Travel by rail became popular and enabled people to travel faster and in greater comfort than the stage coach.