The man who invented the steam train - Richard Trevithick 

I'm glad people do credit Trevithick's work now and again. Everyone calls Stevenson the "father of railways", well Trevithick is the grandfarther, and people like Thomas Newcomen need credit for designing the first steam pump. Thanks to a few things, I was aware of this man's name throughout my childhood, mainly the iconic image in The Titfiled Thunderbolt's titles and the train in Cars Lightning McQueen rraces ahead of being called Trev, though that last one being a reference is more of an afterthought.

I like how it took a boiler explosion for someone to realize that a safety valve and a plug to prevent the boiler from exploding are important to have.

Makes you think, if the train just wasn't invented then how would the world today be different

"Never before have the lives of so many changed so quickly as when the Engines came came to life for the very first time with a roar that echoed over continents."

He's so underrated honestly. Invented the steam locomotive yet he isn't very well known compared to Stephenson and other engineers of the early 19th century. If it wasn't for him, trains wouldn't have been the same Also, I think an interesting idea for a video topic would be discussing the craft of model engineering, since model steam engines and trains are one of the most popular branches of the craft

Bro Literally worked at a mine called Ding Dong.

The photo shown at 4:45 was taken inside Blist's Hill Living Museum near Ironbridge, where a replica of Trevithick's Penydarren locomotive resides. The nearby Coalbrookdale iron works is now a museum, with a few lovely old factory buildings, a sweeping railway bridge, a vehicle museum containing one of the company's shunting engines (Coalbrookdale No.5), and a big grass hill leading down to a glass cover over the original forge, one of the first ever where iron was smelted. Reportedly, the Penydarren replica ran on a loop of track at Coalbrookdale for a couple of years after it was built. I saw Blist's Hill and Coalbrookdale in June when I went up for SVR's Jubilee gala, can confirm they're both worth a visit 😁 Lovely video as always 👍

Trevithick is definitely a true genius for inventing the first locomotives in the world. Kudos to him and his hard work for it.

so, not sure how true this is, but at my high school (and former middle school) is this substitute teacher. his name is trevithick. one time, i actually had a conversation with the guy, and im not sure how it came up, but he had said that one of his relatives, pretty sure it was his great, great, great, etc grandfather invented the first locomotive. now i know that paintings aren't very accurate to how people actually look, but the substitute teacher actually looks a little bit like richard trevithick. im sort of on the fence about them actually being related, mostly because i live in new hampshire (usa) and this guy does too. but it is possible that this could be a relative of richard trevithick

Very nice brief and effective summary of Trevithick's career. He was a true pioneer, highly versatile and invented many other things related to high pressure steam. There is an excellent biography by Anthony Burton. It was 15-20 years before anyone else produced as simple and elegant a locomotive as Catch-me-who-can. His three earlier engines were dual-purpose as stationary engines and had a huge heavy flywheel, hence the damage to tracks.

And now I finally realise where the opening title image for "The Titfield Thunderbolt" comes from. The railway circus... huh.

Richard deserves more recognition for today’s standards

In a way, we do give credit to Richard Trevithick. Apparently, there's a day called "Trevithick Day" celebrated every last Saturday of April.

"If ever you think youre not going anywhere with an idea, keep at it. You might be laying the ground works for something greater."

you should talk about the history of the diesel engine, I like sequels, I also like you to talk about the history of Rudolf Diesel, and how they overtime overthrown the steam engine.

Another interesting thing about Travithic. When he was in school he managed to solve every problem the class was given differently then how the teacher said and he always got the same answer as everyone else.

Wonderfully put together account. Richard Trevithick is celebrated, in Camborne, every year with Trevithick Day.

As an Engineer from Cornwall who was a steam apprentice growing up, Richard Trevithick is a legend imo 👍

I'm late to the party but would ask "did he design and build a steam "engine" hauled train or a steam "train""? I don't understand what a "steam train" is unless it is a lazy way of saying steam hauled train. Trevithick designed and had built a steam "locomotive" which could draw a train of wagons or carriages. It was not the train which was steam, it was the locomotive! By the way: we have railway stations in the UK not "train stations" The use of this Atlantic expression drives me to despair. Thanks for the upload.

This was really informative! For the longest time, I was confused what the difference was between the Coalbrookdale locomotive and the Penydarren, and which one came first.

finally, you make this video! now make a playlist that has the videos go in a time order. old machines to modern day.

Love the almost subliminal use of the "Ode to Joy" here!

Bless Richard trevithich

I think it was my Grandfather who had a Teacher with the Last name Trevithick, this was Mrs Trevithick, so either his wife Jane or one of his Daughters keeping their Maiden name Or just completely un-related.

You can't get more British than inventing a world-changing device and then going for a 'few pints'.

Love how the bloke pointed behind himself for the portrait. Almost like he anticipated the RU-vid thumbnail.

Big big thanks to Mr.Trevithick!

Leaving a boiler on while going to the pub is quite a British think

"... the first steam engine able to move on his own power. The name of this lad was Richard Trevithick. " You may not have heard about Joseph Cugnot.

The great Cornishman Trevithick!

The 'train' is that which is pulled, the waggons, the carriages. What pulls them is the locomotive (engine). You'd think these people would know that . . .

I really appreciate any pre-rainhill trials information. I never new Trevithick made so many locomotives. Could you make a video on Mathew Murray sometime?

William Murdoch was one of my many times removed great grandfathers. Thank you for mentioning him!

Thank you for making this.

Trevithick is an ancestor of mine unfortunately after all his greatness he his buried in a paupers grave. I'm so grateful that there are people telling his story.... I agree this is the man who put steam into motion

Hello TOT, I wonder if you could make a video about the topic of "Fowlers Ghost" if anyone is unfamiliar fowlers ghost is about a 2-4-0 fireless loco which was a failure (just read wiki) there's only one known photo of the loco

Going up Camborne Hill coming down, the steam was building up, the wheels going round, Going up Camborne Hill coming down-------. Richard Trevithick retired to a Kiddlywink for his lunch and not a tavern or pub. My Granfer worked in the mines as well, as did his father before him, both coming from St Just in Penwith. Time Richard Trevithick was honoured! Kernow bys vyken!

The ding dong mine lol

Thankfully the gentleman never gave up

A Watt high pressure steam engine on wheels. His grandfather pinched one of Watt's drawings. Boulton and Watt had to demand it back.

Imagine if the engines were alive and once he used them for travel, the faces just appeared lmfao that would definitely freak him out

According historians and books, the first steam machine was patented by Thomas Savery in 1689. But in 1600, almost one hundred years before, Jerónimo de Ayanz had patented in Spain, one steam machine similar to that patented by Savery. These machines were used to pump out water in flooded mines, and is the first use of steam with industrial purposes; this device it is considered to be the precedents for James Wat's steam engines

Fun Fact: William Murdoch was the late first officer on the Titanic

Just like the steam pressure relief valve and overheat plug, I suspect when we start teleporting people like in Star Trek a few dozen unfortunate souls will have their patterns spread across the UV spectrum before we invent the pattern buffer lol.

Ah, the good old days where your invention could kill people, get redesigned, kill even more and you could chalk it up to experience.

I always remember on Railroad Tycoon II, building the Baltimore to Philadelphia section of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad you have the Trevithick and the John Bull locomotives. Always went with the John Bull because Trevithick didn't transport goods in time to make money. Then came the C-Type and it was bye bye John Bull hello faster trains which I need for long distance.

Another excellent tale - how about coverage of The Butterly Company and their impact on plateways/railways?

Well you know what they say “a good thing had to start somewhere”

Mr. Trevithick and Mr. Newcomen should be the ones being taught about in schools when the industrial revolution unit takes place. But no. Instead we must learn that "John Deere invented the steel plough" and that "James Watt invented the steam engine." James Watt only perfected Newcomen's design!

FUN FACT: the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada had a 4-4-0 named Trevithick (engine 209) that was used in the construction of Victoria Bridge in Quebec Ironically, the Trevithick was used to build a bridge designed by Robert Stephenson

Nice vídeo but did you recovered from covid and from the.... "live"?

Interesting history of the first steam engine, I guess that makes the rocket the 4th (maybe) engine Edit I’m second I guess

Nice little background. I do have a model of his steam locomotive, the one seen @1:42

Railways as we know them, with trains pulling heavy loads, were not possible until the discovery (in around 1820) of how to make the stronger iron needed for the tracks.

Pretty crazy that the development of the steam engine was at the same time as the Napoleonic Wars.

I guess you could say he invented the steam train. I would have said locomotive, but I guess trains pulled by steam locomotives would be steam trains. Very American.

My hero as the inventor of the train

Absolutely one of my great ingineering heroes. What he laid the ground for, realy chanced the world beyond recoknition, shure would like to have a pint with him! ;o)

He an ancestor of mine.

The real madlad in this story is the guy that named Ding Dong Mines. Mint!

The God of Steam Railways.

And to think that a mere 100 years later, steam technology would progress to a point where the Pennsylvania E6 would produce 1,000hp per cylinder

My 6 times great grand uncle was Samuel Homfray, the proprietor of the Penydarren ironworks at the time. He was the ironmaster who made the bet. 😊✨

The first known steam locomotives and presumed inventions of them are the two modelles built by Mister John Fitch. They were only scale-modelles, but they were fully functioning. He demonstrated at least one before the Continental Congress and the Cabinet of President George Washington alongside other Founding Fathers. The first modelle was tragically lost to a house fire, but the second was found in an attic. Mister Fitch is also misceedited with inventing the Steam Boat, of which the title of Inventor goes to his familiar Mister Robert Fulton, whom ran A test and held A grand opening alongside Mister Fitch n the Hudson River. Both launched their companies, publicly opened, and began their passenger services the same day.

He was ‘the man’

Think you'll do Matthew Murray and the Stephensons next?

I want to be like this man

HAPPY NEW YEAR, TRAIN OF THOUGHT!!!

Proud to be Cornish ❤

Awesome

this is awesome

O Hell. He invented the steam LOCOMOTIVE. Long before the invention of the steam LOCOMOTIVE trains were pulled by horses and even people. The thing that follows a wedding dress is called a train not a dress. 😬

Keep in mind,Steam engines are over a decade older than photographs

A great man and a better engineer than stevenson, who undermined Trevithick at every opportunity and by doing so put back development of high pressure steam years. The old folk song remembers Trevithick " going up Cambourne hill coming down "

When we briefly talked about this in American history I had to contain myself from "um actuallying him" because I knew if I did start talking about this I would take up the entire class

yes he finally got regonition with the 2 pound coin, the in dustrial reveloution started in Cornwal

Well he used the tech that was alredy ther and improved it whle coping from other disines. Woud he bild it with our copy right laws?

Video title correction - locomotive or Engine, not “train”.

Hello my names Jack Trevithick and my brother Richard Trevithick direct descendant of the one Richard Trevithick

... wait ... at Ding-dong mine ...

So you are telling me the man made a car... And we just dont talk about that?

Just a thought, Stevenson committed us to standard gauge railways. Imagine if the Brunel 7ft gauge had been adopted - faster roomier trains.

It's a steam locomotive. Do not confuse the words train and locomotive.

Wasn't it that Trevithick invented the locomotive, but Stephenson invented the railway?

People making fun of electric car should watching. No technology is perfect or good at its infancy.

Ding dong mine💀

But where was he born?

No. Trevithick did not invent the world's first steam engine able to move under its own power. That honour goes to Nicolas Cugnot. The 1803 locomotive had a gauge of three feet one and a quarter inches. The Coalbrookdale Iron Works had no plateway of that gauge. Possibly it was built for the Tredegar iron works which had a plateway of the correct gauge. George Stephenson did not build Rocket. That was built by his son Robert and Henry Booth.

Now I’m not saying he is wrong but wasn’t puffing devil made by Timothy Hackworth?

The "l" in Holborn is silent

There's something to be said for the inventor of a proof-of-concept.

Society when Trevithick invented the train:

3:01 just a heads up it’s said like grenich

What happened to the original penydarren

BRO THAT MY CLASSMATED GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDPA WTF

I thought Holborn was pronounced "Hoh-burn".

Locomotive

Watt?!?

Not true !! " A worker was killed and the Company lost interest " Not True !! Trevithick was the Company and the Owner and he brought the same engine to London in 1803 to run on a circle of track to earn him money through the sale of tickets !! It was the same engine ! Then someone bet him his engine couldn't pull anything of any weight so in 1804 the SAME engine was taken to the Penydarren tramway in South Wales to haul a train of tubs loaded with Iron Ore !

3:10 - yeah, this is why you need to blow off steam before you are in a state where you just can't take it and worse things might happen 😃