Sobriety and Studiousness.--Removal to Willington Quay, and Marriage.--Attempts a Perpetual-motion Machine.--William Fairbairn, C.E., and George Stephenson.--Ballast-heaving.--Cottage Chimney takes fire--Birth of his son Robert.--Removal to West Moor, Killingworth.--Death of his Wife.--Appointed Engine-man at Montrose.--Return to Killingworth.--Appointed Brakesman at West Moor.--Is drawn for the Militia.--Thinks of Emigrating.--Takes a contract for Brakeing.--Improves the Winding-engine.--Cures a Pumping-engine.--Is appointed Engine-wright of the Colliery. 121 CHAPTER IV. THE STEPHENSONS AT KILLINGWORTH--EDUCATION AND SELF-EDUCATION. Efforts at Self-improvement.--John Wigham.--Studies in Natural Philosophy.--Education of Robert Stephenson.--Sent to Bruce's School, Newcastle.--His boyish Tricks.--Stephenson's Cottage, West Moor.--Mechanical Contrivances.--The Sun-dial at West Moor.--Stephenson's various Duties as Colliery Engineer. 137 CHAPTER V. THE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE--GEORGE STEPHENSON BEGINS ITS IMPROVEMENT. Slow Progress heretofore made in the Improvement of the Locomotive.--The Wylam Wagon-way.--Mr. Blackett orders a Locomotive.--Mr. Blenkinsop's Leeds Locomotive.--Mr. Blackett's second Engine a Failure.--The improved Wylam Engine.--George Stephenson's Study of the Subject.--His first Locomotive constructed.--His Improvement of the Engine, as described by his Son.--Invention of the Steam-blast. 152 CHAPTER VI. INVENTION OF THE "GEORDY" SAFETY-LAMP. Frequency of Colliery Explosions.--Accidents in the Killingworth Pit.--Stephenson's heroic Conduct.--Proposes to invent a Safety-lamp.--His first Lamp and its Trial.--Cottage Experiments with Coal-gas.--His second and third Lamps.--Scene at the Newcastle Institute.--The Stephenson and Davy Controversy.--The Davy and Stephenson Testimonials.--Merits of the "Geordy" Lamp. 175 CHAPTER VII. GEORGE STEPHENSON'S FARTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LOCOMOTIVE--ROBERT STEPHENSON AS VIEWER'S APPRENTICE AND STUDENT. Stephenson's Improvements in the Mine-machinery.--Farther Improvements in the Locomotive and in the Road.--Experiments on Friction.--Early Neglect of the Locomotive.--Stephenson again meditates emigrating to America.--Employed as Engineer of the Hetton Railway.--Robert Stephenson put Apprentice to a Coal-viewer.--His Father sends him to Edinburg University.--His Studies there.--Geological Tour in the Highlands. 198 CHAPTER VIII. GEORGE STEPHENSON ENGINEER OF THE STOCKTON AND DARLINGTON RAILWAY.