10. A Steaming First - Richard Trevithick

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6 ай бұрын

Richard Trevithick, a Cornish inventor and mining engineer designed the world’s first steam loco in 1802, which was built by the Coalbrookdale Company of Telford, Shropshire. A working replica can be seen at Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge, Telford. Visited on 14th September 2011 and 16th February 2022.
The world's first iron bridge had been erected over the River Severn at Coalbrookdale in 1779, an area considered to be the birthplace of the industrial revolution.
Blists Hill Victorian Town - Video No.266: • 266. Blists Hill Victo...
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Пікірлер: 111

@Benedict.Calder 6 ай бұрын

Wow ! Trevithick is a hero . He started with an idea and then had to work out the gear ratio to make it work . Everything afterwards comes from his efforts . Wonderful .

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and commenting. We should hear more of Trevithick.

@v8pilot 6 ай бұрын

Years ago my GF lived in Merthyr Tydfil. We used to walk along the track of the Pen Y Darren (spelling?) tramway and there were still fragments of the cast iron plate rails. On of the streets in Merthyr was still called "The Tram Road".

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

That’s interesting, would have thought from that long ago, the rails would be long gone. Cheers

@kenn879 6 ай бұрын

We spent two weeks caravaning in Much Wenlock and spent every other day exploring the Iron Bridge Gorge. We covered the blast furnaces and foundry at Coalbrookdale, the gorge, Jackfield tile museum, Broseley Pipeworks, and Blist Hill Victorian town. The area is such a journeyinto the past and would recomend that a visit. I have seen the Penydaren replica many time when visiting the Swansea Waterfront museum. Thank you Alan, lovely vlog

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

Hi Kenn, I’ve visited all those places you mention in the past and was last in the area last year. I loved Broseley pipeworks and at some time it might appear here. Thanks for watching and commenting, all the best.

@normanwallace7658 6 ай бұрын

It had a sister in merthyr tidal in Wales called Pen Y Daren this one actually ran on rails the Coalbrookdale engine was de- wheeled & used as a static engine.

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

There is doubt as to how much the Coalbrookdale engine was used and even if it ran at all, as a workman was killed, whch rather put a dampener on things.

@vean2004 16 күн бұрын

Cap'n Dick, as he was known here in Cornwall was our hero. Not only was he famous for creating the first true railway locomotive, but was responsible for his 'Strong Steam' boiler, a type not seen before. It was the first boiler to contain the furnace flue through the middle, which heated the water all around, instead of just below, like the haycock design of former engineers. This enabled much higher steam pressure, making the Cornish pumping enigines of the time more efficient and economical, which was essential, as Cornwall had no Coal and had to be imported from South Wales. These boilers and the Cornish Beam Engines combined were the mainstay of Steam pumping and were built and sold all over the World. Richard Trevithick's original boiler design became the father of high pressure Steam!

@InterestInHeritage 15 күн бұрын

Thanks for your comment Michael, Cornwall is one of my favoured areas. I’ve abandoned this You Tube channel and merged the topics with my Narrowboating channel now called, My Narrowboat and Heritage Ventures. I couldn’t get any traction on the channel, so felt it best not to pursue it. Cheers, all the best.

@keithammleter3824 12 күн бұрын

Something to note: Trevithick's engine was referred to at the time as "strong steam" or high pressure because it operated the piston above atmospheric pressure, instead of by condensing vacuum as used previously. But it was certainly not high pressure in the modern sense. It operated at about twice atmospheric, whereas modern steam engines (going back about 170 years or so) operate at up to 200 atmospheres or more.

@richardstone3473 6 ай бұрын

There is a small book, The Penydarren Locomotive by Stuart Owen Jones. Still in print, and, because I have just watched this have purchased a copy off Amazon. Lost my copy many years ago.. Explains the history and route. Quite a lot of the southern part of the tramway route can still be walked (about 4 miles). Further north is a small tunnel that the tram line went through.. Cannot walk through it now as it is sealed but it has painted murals celebrating the journey. I was brought up 6 miles from Abercynon and walked it a few times. To my mind. While Napoleon was bloodily strutting his military forces destructively across Europe real history was being made in the valleys of South Wales.

@InterestInHeritage 5 ай бұрын

That was very interesting thank you for that.

@richardstone3473 5 ай бұрын

Even better is Merthyr tunnel. Used to walk through it regularly as a youngster. 1 1/3 miles long constructed by Brunel. On the hill slopes above western portal are the remains of navvies stone built huts. Do not know if the tunnel can be entered now as it is regularly sealed up until someone manages to batter a way through @@InterestInHeritage

@MARKLOCKWOOD2012 6 ай бұрын

if i’m not mistaken they also had steam powered first subway 🚇 built along this era.

@MyNarrowboatVenture 6 ай бұрын

That’s right. The London Underground was steam powered but that came 60 years later.

@solentbum 6 ай бұрын

Blist Hill is a great place to visit, I must time my next visit with a 'steam day' for this wonderful exhibit.

@MyNarrowboatVenture 6 ай бұрын

It certainly is. My visit was over 10 years ago, so I'm not sure if or when it steams now. I didn't look into that aspect.

@StevesRepairs 6 ай бұрын

Thanks Alan for this brilliant vlog with all the historic engineering information, it is extremely interesting. Take care and all the best. Stevie

@MyNarrowboatVenture 6 ай бұрын

I'm so glad you liked it Stevie, thanks for watching and commenting, sorry for the delayed response. Take care, cheers.

@bobt3374 6 ай бұрын

Hi Alan What an amazing engine excellent review. Take care.

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much Bob, very kind of you, all the best.

@elvisciotoi5389 5 ай бұрын

Respect.

@InterestInHeritage 5 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@PeterfromQld 6 ай бұрын

I love everything to do with steam engines. Thank you Alan for this very entertaining video.

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

That’s very kind of you to say Peter, cheers.

@amazingdecks1 6 ай бұрын

A great video, added now to my collection of Trevithick knowledge - thanks! I find it fascinating that it wasn't just the idea of the engine which is great - that was the easy part! Now you had to get the parts made and assembled and you didn't just go to your local CNC shop with your CAD files.

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

I’m glad you enjoyed it. Trevithick is a lesser known character but he was well ahead of Stephenson. I’m amazed by all moving machinery and how it’s designed.

@andycap6786 4 ай бұрын

By the early 1800's nearly every town in England had at least one very proficient clock maker, so the calculating of gear ratios etc was probably not a problem. Getting a foundry making them on this scale was perhaps the difficult part!

@stevehoare6378 6 ай бұрын

Hi Alan, sorry to be slow in watching this. Fascinating, absolutely fascinating. What kind of brain has the foresight and ability to conceive and construct something like that, beyond my capabilities, that's for sure. Thanks for sharing...🍷🍷

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

Hi Steve. You must watch when it suits you, no need to apologise. I don’t think Trevithick has ever had the recognition he deserved. I’m always amazed by anything of a complex engineering nature. All the best 🥂

@lindyc.2552 6 ай бұрын

Beautiful!!! Thank you for posting this! I absolutely love history and I love the old steam powered trains! I was born in the wrong century. I would give anything to have lived somewhere between 1750 through 1850. So, thanks for sharing this video and a warm hello from North Carolina USA. I just subscribed! 😊

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

Greetings across the pond Lindy, thank you so much for watching, commenting and subscribing. I’ve often felt the same, it would have been interesting to have been around during the Industrial Revolution. All the best, take care.

@lindyc.2552 6 ай бұрын

@@InterestInHeritage I wholeheartedly agree! 🙋

@hughcarson6837 6 ай бұрын

Good stuff Alan, very interesting

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it Hugh.

@Kat69nh 5 ай бұрын

Subscribed. But never go any notifications. Was black bell (all) Glad your merger is coming

@MyNarrowboatVenture 5 ай бұрын

It will be easier with the one channel going forward.

@debbiecopening3407 6 ай бұрын

Amazing!!!

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

Sure is!! Hope you're keeping well.

@stephenjacobs4692 6 ай бұрын

At school I gained a GCE O Level in British Economic History and remember learning about the part Richard Trevithick played in the Industrial Revolution. Very interesting, Alan.

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

Hi Stephen, thanks for your comment. I don’t recall British Economic History being an O level subject but as I’ve got older I have a better appreciation of social and economic history as a subject for study.

@HighFell 6 ай бұрын

I took O level Social and Economic History (got a B) absolutely fascinating subject and gave me a lifetime interest in relevant history. RT was such an important part in shaping the world, sadly often overlooked.

@stephenjacobs4692 6 ай бұрын

@@HighFell Quotation from an old text book I have "Already in 1803 the Cornish engineer Richard Trevithick had constructed a locomotive which he ran about the streets of London. In the next year, on the inducement of Samuel Homfray, he ran a locomotive along rails for a distance of ten miles from Penydarren to Quaker's Yard, and drew a load of twenty-five tons as well as a number of passengers. The was the first "railway" in the world, and the work of George Stephenson was merely an improvement upon it."

@HighFell 6 ай бұрын

@@stephenjacobs4692 I am from deepest Stephenson country and Live not far from his cottage outside Wylam, he and Robert were incredible engineers but Trevithick was the spark of genius that started it all 👍

@darreno9874 6 ай бұрын

No mention of Murdoch who produced the first self propelled vehicle in 1784 or Cugnot who did the same in 1770. Everyone talks about Trevithick but Murdoch was a much better and more prolific engineer.

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

It was simply a short video about Trevithick’s steam loco utilising footage taken more than 10 years ago not a study of early steam engineers.

@darreno9874 6 ай бұрын

@@InterestInHeritage sorry I have had trevithick thrown at me so many times with no mention of the other probably better engineers. I did enjoy your video. God bless

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

@@darreno9874 Not to worry, it's good of you to reply. A somewhat different topic coming tomorrow. Cheers

@animaltvi9515 5 ай бұрын

Probably because they invented different vehicles. The 2 you mentioned invented basic steam engines that powered road vehicles . Trevithick invented the first steam locomotive. Powered by a high pressure steam engine. .

@markshrimpton3138 13 күн бұрын

With reference to Cugnot, people in Britain don’t like to admit that a Frenchman got there first! Even though his Fardier à vapeur wasn’t very successful it was the first thing ever to move without the muscles of humans or animals as the motive power.

@rattywoof5259 6 ай бұрын

0:32 - Hi Alan - just found this thread for the first time - good to see WZLET! (Harold)

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

Hi Harold, good to hear from you, hope all well.

@WAL_DC-6B 6 ай бұрын

Jeez, with all that exposed rod and gear work on Trevithick's locomotive, if that engine dared operate in the United States it'd be shut down by OSHA (Occupational Safety Health Administration) in a heartbeat! All kidding aside, nice to be able to hear what the world's first railway steam locomotive sounded like. Thanks for sharing!

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

I’m glad you enjoyed watching, if we’d had all that health and safety then, we’d still be walking everywhere and wearing loin cloths, there would have been no progression. Cheers

@ramseybarber8312 6 ай бұрын

Hi Alan another interesting look into History, Trouble is it's not long enough !!!!!

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

Thanks Ramsey, much appreciated. All I can do is give a taster for others to do their own research. I only had these few clips of the action.

@whatsocc55 6 ай бұрын

Richard Trevithick built his first steam locomotive at Samuel Homfreys ironworks penydarren in 1804 it ran the ten miles from the ironworks to the Glamorgan canal hauling Ten tons of iron and 70 men , it was the first steam locomotive in the world

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

I mentioned this in the video, technically it was the second, as the first was built at Coalbrookdale, though there is doubt whether that actually ran.

@whatsocc55 6 ай бұрын

@@InterestInHeritage Hi I’m deaf so didn’t hear the video as there was no subtitles , I’ve heard of coalbrookdale , but have never associated it with Trevithick , thanks for the update 👍

@MyNarrowboatVenture 6 ай бұрын

⁠⁠@@whatsocc55Hi John, thanks for watching. There are subtitles, it’s a matter of knowing how to switch them on and I believe that depends on what media you watch. On a phone, click the three dots in the top right corner and go to playback settings. There is a drop down list and they can be switched on from there. On a TV you need to look for the CC symbol in the right corner. This is normally found when you pause and the settings option comes up. I hope that helps.

@schwadevivre4158 6 ай бұрын

Not lesser known in Cornwall! He also made "Catch Me Who Can" a demonstration passenger loco which he showed in London in 1808

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

Lesser known by the general public who have Stevenson in mind as creator of the first steam loco. Sadly, this was the last of his 4 locos.

@donotwantahandle1111 6 ай бұрын

Having the cylinder and firebox next to each other would have been a challenge!

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

Very much so, as very dangerous for the fireman.

@kjm-ch7jc 5 ай бұрын

The worlds first working replica.

@InterestInHeritage 5 ай бұрын

It’s the only working replica of this loco, though there is another very similar of the one built a few years later.

@RustyInventions-wz6ir 6 ай бұрын

Just found your channel and Subscribed. Very nice engine.

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

That's very good of you, thank you.

@jurgenlohndorf5364 6 ай бұрын

Hi again, Very interesting! Been there before several times! On KZfaq ofcourse. I spend that much time in GB, bet you I know the place better than the locals! 🚂🚜

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

I think that’s very true, locals tend to go abroad to find the sun. Glad you enjoyed watching, cheers.

@renefrijhoff2484 5 ай бұрын

Nice coincidence, I happen to have a plastic model kit of it (1/38 scale).

@InterestInHeritage 5 ай бұрын

I didn’t know a model was available.

@renefrijhoff2484 5 ай бұрын

@@InterestInHeritage It's from Minicraft. I just checked some more and the model was 1st released somewhere in the 70's by Gakken, my version is from 1996 by Minicraft.

@MyNarrowboatVenture 5 ай бұрын

@@renefrijhoff2484 Thanks for letting me know.

@user-yd9bj3bs8g 6 ай бұрын

Saw a working replica at Waterside museum in Swansea on several occasions. I was advised the Coalbrookdale replica is 7/8 scale.

@MyNarrowboatVenture 6 ай бұрын

Hi John, the working museum engine is a replica of Trevithick's second loco. I hadn't heard about the Coalbrookdale engine not being full size.

@BJHolloway1 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely agree with your statement that it all started with Trevithick. Here is yet another instance of the first in the field not prospering form it ultimately. Died a pauper apparently.

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

I think some early inventors didn’t realise or appreciate the effect their achievements would have on the world. Trevithick was a sad example.

@jamesjenner8159 6 ай бұрын

About time Trevithck and Kernow were recognised as the true birth the steam locomotive, road or rail. Also the beam engines, two of which are in the Chiswick steam museum still in good working order. Strange that the 200th anniversary of his invention, not to mention Cornish stean engineering, should pass by unnoticed while Stevenson's 150th was heralded as the wonder and birth of steam power. By the way, Telford is an artificial 'fown' that did not exixt until the late 1960's or early 1970's. "Going up Camborne Hill coming down, the steam was building up, the wheels going round, going up Camborne Hill coming down-------."

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

There is no doubt many people regard Stevenson’s Rocket as the first steam loco, more than 25 years after Trevithick. Cugnot had designed a steam powered ‘road vehicle’ before Trevithick but it was the latter that coupled a steam engine to wheels on a track, albeit to a rather dangerous design. Telford is a New Town, one of many that were developed at that time.

@steffenrosmus9177 5 ай бұрын

Not really the first one but the first one who operated.

@richardstone3473 6 ай бұрын

Minor error. The book is not in print but I ordered a second hand copy.

@Plexcom60 6 ай бұрын

He was an ancestor of mine. He attempted other projects too. Whatever happened to people like that, and the innovation they bring?

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

That’s interesting to know. Inventors are still around, I suppose Dyson might be a good example.

@womble321 6 ай бұрын

Was the original the first land vehicle to move under it's own power?

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

No, Trevithick had designed and built a steam powered road carriage previously and before that Cugnot in France had built a road going vehicle.

@SiqueScarface 6 ай бұрын

My impression is that Richard Trevithick did too many things at the same time, steam powered cranes and carriages and trains, thus none of his constructions were fully developed and kept stuck in some kind of demonstration piece state.

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

That seems a good way of putting it, hence why he's less well known.

@rolandbevan7088 22 күн бұрын

Penny-darren no Pen er darren The y is a definate article Head or ""Top of the Darren" valley

@jappedut9009 6 ай бұрын

His engines looks like they are build by the three Stooges ❤️😂

@MyNarrowboatVenture 6 ай бұрын

Had to look them up, quite possibly I would say, cheers.

@ericemmons3040 6 ай бұрын

Maybe, but unlike the 3 Stooges, whose plots and plans usually failed, this one worked, and, I think, was actually brilliant for its day. Clumsy, yes, but the first of anything is usually primitive and clumsy. . .

@ironcladranchandforge7292 6 ай бұрын

You haven't a clue how revolutionary this was and hard it would have been to design and build in 1802. So instead you come on here and make an ignorant comment.

@jp-um2fr 6 ай бұрын

Stevenson was no better than Marconi and most other so-called American inventors. All they were good at was sorting out the best ideas and putting them together. I have a very soft spot for Trevithick it was he and he alone that invented the steam locomotive. It has also been suggested the there was skulduggery abroad during the Rainhill Trials and that's how he won. He would have probably won anyway, but it's odd that his competitors' cylinder burst, Stevenson owned the foundry. Tut tut.

@InterestInHeritage 6 ай бұрын

I’m glad you’re a Trevithick supporter, I’ve always felt he’s lesser known than he should be. Thanks for commenting.

@DickFrancis-dt3tl 6 ай бұрын

Technological progress is a relay race not a sprint. New practical inventions are always always the result of more than one mind. Trevithick could not have created the world's first steam locomotive if stationary steam engines did not already exist. This isn't to minimise Trevithick's genius or his pivotal role. But if steam locomotive development had ended with him fast passenger railways could never have existed.