Memoirs of the Distinguished Men of Science of Great Britain Living in the Years 1807-8Walker, William
History
Memoirs of the Distinguished Men of Science of Great Britain Living in the Years 1807-8
Walker, William
Scientists -- Great Britain -- Biography
Vivian supplied the pecuniary means and joined him in the project, for
which, on its completion, a patent was taken out in 1802, and in the
same year a small one was erected at Marazion, which was worked by
steam of at least thirty pounds on the square inch above atmospheric
pressure.[40] Their steam-carriage presented the appearance of an
ordinary stage-coach on four wheels, having one horizontal cylinder,
which, together with the boiler and fire-box, were placed at the back
of the hind axle. Mr. Michael Williams, late M.P. for Cornwall, in a
letter to Mr. E. Watkins, dated the 5th of January, 1853, mentions
having been present at the first trial of Trevithick's locomotive,
and says "the experiments made on the public road close by Camborne
were perfectly successful, and although many improvements in the
details of such description of engines have been since effected, the
leading principles of construction and arrangement are continued, I
believe, with little alteration in the magnificent railroad engines
of the present day." After making several satisfactory trials in the
neighbourhood of Plymouth, Trevithick and Vivian exhibited their
invention publicly in London, first at Lord's Cricket-ground, and
afterwards on the spot of ground now occupied by Euston Square.[41]
At this latter place, however, Trevithick, influenced by some curious
whim, suddenly closed the exhibition on the second day, leaving
hundreds waiting outside in a state of great wrath. Mrs. Humblestone,
an old inhabitant of London, who at that period used to keep a shop
near to the present Pantheon, Oxford Street, relates that she well
remembers witnessing a public trial of Trevithick's steam-carriage. On
this occasion the shops were shut, no horses or carriages were allowed
in the streets, and the roofs of the houses in the neighbourhood were
crowded with people, who hurraed and waived their handkerchiefs as the
'steam monster' was seen coming along Oxford Street at a rapid pace.[42]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account