Robert Stephenson (1803–1859)
Civil and mechanical engineer
Robert Stephenson built on the great achievements of his father, George. His innovative thinking allowed for the significant expansion of railways during the mid-19th century’s ‘railway mania.’ His skills in both civil and mechanical engineering helped establish the railway system in this country, which was then adopted worldwide.
Robert Stephenson, the only son of George Stephenson, was born on October 16, 1803. The Stephenson family faced hard times, often living in one-room homes while George worked on various machines at different collieries and mills. Despite this, George ensured Robert received a good education, which improved as the family’s fortunes grew.
After leaving the Bruce Academy in Newcastle in 1819, Robert became an apprentice mining engineer at Killingworth Colliery. As he learned more about engineering, he helped his father survey the Stockton & Darlington Railway line. This experience led him to assist in the first surveys of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway.
Railway Mania
After the successful openings of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and the Liverpool & Manchester Railway, Robert Stephenson became a sought-after railway engineer. During the ‘railway mania’ of the 1830s and 1840s, he was appointed engineer for many railways in the Midlands, North of England, and North Wales.
His first major project was the London & Birmingham Railway, which opened in 1838 as the first railway into London. It connected Euston in London to Birmingham Curzon Street, linking with the Grand Junction Railway to connect to Liverpool and Manchester. Major engineering works included the Kilsby Tunnel near Rugby and the cuttings at Tring and Roade.
For the Chester & Holyhead Railway and the Newcastle & Berwick Railway, he designed four notable bridges, all still in use today. The Conway (1848) and Britannia (1850) bridges in North Wales used box section wrought iron tubes. The High Level Bridge (1849) between Newcastle and Gateshead carried both a railway and a roadway on cast iron spans. The Royal Border Bridge (1850) was a simple masonry structure.
Locomotives and the Rainhill Trials
Robert Stephenson & Co, Newcastle was founded by George Stephenson in 1823, with Robert as the managing partner. It was the world’s first locomotive works, anticipating the demand for steam engines for new railways. The firm completed its first steam engine, Locomotion, just in time for the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in September 1825.
In 1822, while working on the Liverpool & Manchester Railway, Robert Stephenson supported using ‘travelling’ engines instead of fixed ones, even though the company directors and his father George preferred fixed engines. After returning from South America in 1827, Robert found the debate ongoing. The directors proposed a competition to decide the best mode of traction for their new railway. Robert Stephenson & Co entered their locomotive, Rocket, into the Rainhill Trials in October 1829. Rocket won, proving to the world that locomotives were the future of railways. Robert Stephenson continued to improve Rocket’s design, and its multi-tubular boiler became the model for steam locomotives built worldwide in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Railways for the world
With his growing reputation in railway engineering, both civil and mechanical, Robert Stephenson traveled abroad for various railway projects during the 1840s and 1850s. His most notable structures were tubular bridges, including the Victoria Bridge over the St. Lawrence River in Montreal and bridges over the Nile for the Egyptian Railway between Alexandria and Suez via Cairo.
As chief engineer or consultant, his work influenced railways in Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Italy, and India. These railways used the Stephenson ‘standard’ gauge and had locomotives designed and built by Robert Stephenson & Co, Newcastle. By the time of his death, Robert Stephenson had received honors from many countries that benefited from his engineering skills, spreading his vision of the railway worldwide.
Did you know?
60% of the world’s railways use the Stephensons’ preferred ‘standard’ gauge of 4ft81/4in