Pioneering with steam
Richard Trevithick
A famous Cornish engineer who pioneered steam locomotion but had little success when he brought his inventions to London. This memorial is a tribute to his demonstration of his Catch Me Who Can locomotive.
Better steam engines for mines
Richard Trevithick was born in Cornwall in 1771. He began his working life in the tin mines where he worked as an engineer on the steam engines used to pump water and raise ore. He invented a compact, high pressure engine.
The London Steam Carriage
Trevithick came to London to show off his ideas for a road locomotive. In 1803 his London Steam Carriage took a group of passengers through the streets of London on the first ever trip of a self powered passenger carrying vehicle in the world.
Steam locomotives on track
In 1804 Trevithick showed that he could develop a steam locomotive to run successfully on rails. Unfortunately the 7 ton locomotive was so heavy that it broke the rails on every journey.
In the Summer of 1808 he ran his Catch Me Who Can steam locomotive on a circular track in Euston Square. The plaque in Gower Street records this the experiment.
Final days in Dartford
In 1832 Trevithick moved to Dartford to oversee developments in an Engineering Works. He died a year later and was buried in Holy Trinity Church which also has a plaque to commemorate his life and work.
Submitted by: Andrew Hunt, 16 January 2007
