Historic England - Stephenson

This father and son team were great engineers.  George was born at Wylam, near Newcastle upon Tyne and worked as an enginewright at Killingworth Colliery before making his first locomotive in 1814 to haul coal from mines.  He and Robert built the Locomotion in 1825 for the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the first public railway locomotive, while Robert then continued his father’s work, co-operating with him on the construction of The Rocket, which you can visit today at the Science Museum.

Places to visit

George Stephenson's Birthplace
Picture the whole family living in this tiny stone tenement built around 1760 to accommodate mining families.

Darlington Railway Centre and Museum
Enjoy the atmosphere of the early steam age in the restored railway station where exhibits include Stephenson's Locomotion No.1; one of the oldest surviving steam engines in the world.

National Railway Museum, York
Discover the history of the railways in this amazing museum where you can even see a lock of Robert Stephenson's hair!