The beginning of the Industrial Revolution in Europe is associated with the invention of the steam engine, originally used in the mining and weaving industries. The ingenious invention inspired many engineers to adapt it for transport needs. The topic of the article is the world's first steam locomotive and interesting facts related to its appearance.
Background
The water pump has been known to mankind since antiquity. Several centuries had to pass for it to learn how to use the energy of steam, the practical application of which was first mentioned by the great Leonardo da Vinci. Single steam engines created at the end of the 17th century - the steam boiler of the Frenchman Denis Papin (1680), the pump of the Englishman Thomas Savery (1898) - were a real curiosity.
The creation of a safe piston engine, into which water was injected, is associated with the name of the Englishman Thomas Newcomen (1711). The improvement of these inventions brought Glasgow mechanic James Watt worldwide fame. It was he who receivedpatent for the creation of a steam engine (1769), suitable for widespread use in production.
The world's first steam locomotive will be created after a fundamental invention: the separation of the main cylinder and the condenser, which made it possible not to waste energy on constantly heating the engine. The manufacture of steam engines was put on stream in 1776 thanks to the appearance of lathes, milling and planing machines.
By 1785, 66 engines had been built. However, in order to give rotational motion to the working shaft, a double-acting steam engine was needed. Watt patented it in 1784, and by 1800 it was being used in every industry, powering other machines.
Richard Trevithick
Who invented the first steam locomotive in the world? One of the first to try to use a steam engine for transport needs was the Frenchman Nicolas Cugno, who created a self-propelled carriage (1769). At this time, Richard Trevithick had not even been born yet.
A native of Cornwall (England), a famous mining region, the future inventor was born into a large family in 1771. His father was a respected miner, and Richard, who fell in love with mathematics from childhood, tried to facilitate work underground by improving steam engines and mining pumps. In 1801, for the needs of the enterprise, he created a wagon - a prototype of the first bus, which later became widespread as an independent mode of transport. It was a trackless steam locomotive (patent year 1802) called Puffing. Devil.
If Watt's engines were bulky due to the use of low-pressure steam, then R. Trevithick was not afraid to increase it several times (up to 8 atmospheres). The power remained the same, but the size of the engine was significantly reduced, which was important for the development of transport. Watt reacted to this extremely negatively, considering high blood pressure unsafe.
Tests
Cast-iron rails were created in South Wales, the inventor himself at that time lived in Cambourne. Empirically, Trevithick proved that when smooth wheels come into contact with smooth rails, a friction force will arise that is sufficient to move the locomotive, even if wagons loaded with coal are attached to it. This was very important given the practical goals of the enterprises.
For industrial needs, the first steam locomotive in the world was built in the year preceding its testing (1803). English newspapers wrote about them in February 1804, reporting on the use of the invented machine for transporting 10 tons of iron. A self-propelled carriage on rails covered a distance of 9 miles, and in the course of travel the weight of the load increased to 15 tons - about 70 people ventured to climb up to ride under the approving rumble of the crowd. The speed was 5 miles per hour, while the boiler did not need to add water. But a too bulky locomotive could not be distributed, so Trevithick continues to improve the design.
Catch Me Who Can
For a new model called "Catch me who can", on the outskirts of London, Trevithick builds fromrails ring road. He believes that the manufacturers will be interested in the new machine. Having surrounded the test site with a high fence, he even begins to sell entrance tickets to those who want to ride, hoping to cover costs and make a profit. The new engine allowed speeds up to 30 km/h.
But the idea was not successful. The world's first steam locomotive for passengers, created for the sake of entertainment, did not attract the attention of industrialists. Due to a burst cast-iron rail, it overturned, receiving serious damage. Trevithick did not even begin to restore it, taking up other inventions. In 1816 he left for Peru to set up his engines in local mines.
Trevithick's fate: interesting facts
Until 1827, the outstanding inventor remained in South America. Returning to the country, he found that his achievements were successfully used and developed by other engineers. He died in 1833, almost a beggar. The main problem that prevented the realization of his ideas at the turn of the century was the lack of roads. He spent his fortune on clearing special tracks for steam wagons, freeing them from trees and stones.
The very first steam locomotive in the world caused James Watt to appeal to the Parliament of England to have legislators ban engines using high pressure steam. The law was not passed, but it still suspended the development of Trevithick.
Watt charged his student with stealing steam engine ideas from Botton & Watt. It causeda huge scandal, forcing Trevithick to defend his good name.
It was only in the 1920s that the conditions for steam transport were created. It is connected with the name of George Stephenson.
Opening of the public railway
Even during Trevithick's lifetime, in 1825, a railroad was opened connecting Stockton and Darlington. Self-taught engineer George Stephenson came up with a convenient design that allows the locomotive to pull a heavy train along smooth rails. In his invention, the rails themselves played an important role, the gauge of which is still generally accepted in Western Europe (1435 mm). During the opening of the railway, the locomotive was driven by Stephenson himself, and a cavalcade of horsemen followed nearby, lagging behind during the descent. The amazement of the crowd knew no bounds. The speed was 24 km/h.
For public needs, the world's first steam locomotive was created by Stephenson in 1814. He covered a distance of 30 km, and by the middle of the century the whole of Europe was covered with a network of railways. Steam locomotives began to transport not only goods, but also people.
Soviet version
In the Soviet Union for a long time it was claimed that Stephenson and the Russians Cherepanov invented the steam locomotive. Father and son allegedly did this independently of Western Europe. In fact, Miron Cherepanov visited England, where he saw a structure on rails. Returning to the Vyisky plant, he tried to copy what he saw, but it still took two years to develop his idea. The world's first steam locomotive on rails was tested in 1804 (many consider this date to be the birthday ofsteam locomotive), and the “land steamer” appeared in Russia in 1833.
It was used to transport ore until the entire forest was destroyed in the area. Locomotives were replaced by horse traction, remembering the invention two years later.
This is interesting
There is a statue in Cambourne: Richard Trevithick holding his first trackless wagon, named "Snoring Devil". The model can be seen in many museums dedicated to the history of locomotive building. And where is the world's first steam locomotive?
One day, the inventor stopped at a tavern, forgetting to turn off the heat that kept the boiler warm. When the water boiled away, the wagon caught fire. It took a few minutes for her to be gone. However, this did not upset the resilient Trevithick, who continued to work on new inventions.
The place of his burial, unfortunately, has been lost, but the name of the talented engineer is inscribed in golden letters in world history.
