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Blenkinsop steam locomotive at Middleton colliery near Leeds, West Yorkshire, 1814
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Blenkinsop steam locomotive at Middleton colliery near Leeds, West Yorkshire, 1814
Blenkinsop steam locomotive at Middleton colliery near Leeds, West Yorkshire, 1814. From Costume of Yorkshire by George Walker, 1814. Mining engineer and inventor John Blenkinsop (1783-1831) designed the first practicable steam locomotive, the Salamanca, in 1812. It operated by means of a rack and pinion system. Richard Trevithick had built a steam locomotive in 1805 for Wylam colliery, but it had been too heavy for the cast iron rails it was meant to run on. Middleton colliery laid iron edge rails, which were stronger than those used at Wylam. Blenkinsop went on to build three further locomotives for the colliery, which carried on operating on the railway into the 1830s. In the meantime, further improvements in rail design meant that heavier adhesion locomotives could be used, superseding Blenkinsops rack and pinion engines
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Media ID 15138156
© Historica Graphica Collection / Heritage-Images
19th Century Bc Coal Industry Coal Mine Coal Mining Coal Truck Colliery George Of Seacroft George Walker George Walker Of Seacroft Havell Industrial Revolution Innovation Invention Mechanism Robert Havell Robert The Elder Steam Steam Engine Steam Locomotive Steam Power Train Walker West Yorkshire Historica Graphica Collection Rack And Pinion
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the Blenkinsop steam locomotive at Middleton colliery near Leeds, West Yorkshire in 1814. Designed by mining engineer and inventor John Blenkinsop, this remarkable locomotive was the first practical steam locomotive of its kind. Operating on a unique rack and pinion system, it revolutionized transportation in the coal industry. The significance of this locomotive lies not only in its innovative design but also in the advancements made in rail technology. Unlike Richard Trevithick's earlier steam locomotive which proved too heavy for cast iron rails, Middleton colliery laid stronger iron edge rails that could withstand the weight of these powerful machines. Blenkinsop went on to build three more locomotives for Middleton colliery, ensuring efficient transport well into the 1830s. However, as rail design continued to improve over time, adhesion locomotives became more viable and eventually replaced Blenkinsop's rack and pinion engines. This image showcases not just a momentous invention but also provides a glimpse into life during Britain's industrial revolution. The men dressed in period costumes surrounding the steam engine highlight their role as pioneers of innovation and progress. Preserved through time by George Walker's "Costume of Yorkshire" this photograph serves as a testament to human ingenuity and technological advancement during an era that shaped our modern world.
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