Like Father, Like Son
Robert Stephenson
Robert, son of George Stephenson, played an important part in his father's success and was famous in his own right as a structural engineer.
Robert was raised in Killingworth and privately educated at the Bruce Academy in Newcastle. In 1819 he became an apprentice to the manager of the Killingworth colliery, Nicholas Wood, and 3 years later he helped his father survey the Stockton and Darlington railway line.
After a brief period at Edinburgh University, Robert returned to work for his father and together they founded Robert Stephenson and Company, the worlds first locomotive builder.Robert soon left the company to spend 3 years working for the Columbian Mining Association and even paid for the engineer Richard Trevithick??s journey home.
On his return to England, Robert continued his work with his father and together they worked on the Rocket, which triumphed at the Rainhill Trials in 1829 by reaching a speed of 30 mph and winning father and son ??500.
After the success of the Rocket, Robert was appointed engineer for the London-Birmingham Railway which became the first rail line to run into London. 
In his own right Robert was also renowned for his work as a structural engineer and his most famous designs are of tubular bridges such as the Britannia Bridge over the Menai Strait and the High-Level Bridge at Newcastle.
Submitted by: Sarah McLeod, 01 April 2005
