DARTFORD: Town set to remember 'saint of steam engines'

WITH the invention of the first railway locomotive, Richard Trevithick helped pave the way for the Industrial Revolution.

Born in Cornwall in 1771, Trevithick was fascinated by machinery used in the Cornish tin mines and despite having no education, he became ‘captain’ of the mines in his early 20s.

A few years later in 1801 Trevithick wrote himself into the history books when he successfully tested the Camborne road locomotive, the first full-size locomotive to be built in Britain.

Trevithick arrived in Dartford in 1832 after he was invited by John Hall, the founder of manufacturing company Messrs J & E Hall Ltd, to carry out experiments associated with “the engine of a vessel lately built”.

It is believed he was working on the development of a reaction turbine, experimental work which cost Mr Hall £1,200 - the equivalent of £1.2m today.

During his stay in the town, Trevithick lived at the then Bull Hotel, now the Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel in Dartford High Street, where a plaque is displayed on the wall recording his residence.

He died in 1833 aged 62 without a penny to his name or a relative by his side.

Mechanics from Hall’s Works acted as pallbearers at his funeral and paid for his burial at St Edmund’s Pleasance in East Hill, Dartford.

Former engineer and steam engine enthusiast Colin Wheeler said: “John Hall wanted him for his ideas, they were looking at river dredging machines and compressors.

“Because Trevithick had updated the steam engine so much, they realised the technology could be used in reverse.

“A steam engine in reverse is a compressor, which creates cold air and can be used to create refrigerators.”

Mr Wheeler organises the annual Trevithick’s Industrial Dartford event to remember the halcyon days of the steam age.

Also called Steam 2010, this year’s event takes place next month with a display of steam engines, vintage vehicles and motorbikes in Dartford’s Central Park on May 1.

On the following day the engines will move out of the park and into the town centre before heading to Trevithick’s burial place.

Mr Wheeler, who owns a five-tonne 1917 Foden steam wagon, said: “We’re trying to highlight Dartford’s industrial history which is massive and much forgotten.

“We use Trevithick as the central character. He’s my saint of steam engines.

“He was the pivotal character in the development of steam.

“In terms of what he did for Dartford he wasn’t here long enough to make an impact but his inventions were the cradle of the Industrial Revolution.”

Trevithick found fame with the creation of a locomotive powered by high-pressure steam.

Before Trevithick came along, engines were run on low pressure steam requiring massive machines which were costly to run and could only operate in a large space such as a factory or mine.

Mr Wheeler, aged 64, of Birchwood Road, Dartford, said: “Steam engines could only work in big factories with big boilers, creating a huge amount of low pressure steam.

“He saw he could do better and made the move from low pressure to high pressure. That was a huge leap.

“He then made the first railway locomotive ever, based on the idea of high pressure steam.

“High pressure engines could go on rails, power ships and be moved around.”

TREVITHICK - A HISTORY IN STEAM

1771 - Born in Cornwall

1797 - Appointed engineer at Cornish tin mines

1801 - Invents Camborne road locomotive known as the Puffing Devil

1803 - Constructs second locomotive which is sent to London where it ran daily through the streets at speeds of eight or nine mph

1805 - Drives a barge using steam

1808 - Builds another locomotive called Catch-me-who-can and a circular railway track at Euston Square, London

1817-22 - Takes his expertise to Peru where he helps build pumping engines at gold and silver mines

1822 - All his work is destroyed in the Peruvian Civil War

1832 - Arrives in Dartford

1833 - Dies on April 26 aged 62

Information taken from the Trevithick Society website at trevithick-society.org.uk