XXX 



departure for America he had assisted his father in the survey of 

 the line of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which was opened 

 for traffic on the 27th of September, 1825. During the progress of 

 the works, public attention was so much attracted to the subject, 

 that the project was resuscitated for a railway between Liverpool and 

 Manchester, intended chiefly for the conveyance of cotton from the 

 port to the place of manufacture. Mr. George Stephenson was 

 appointed to survey the line contemplated for the undertaking ; and 

 being afterwards appointed engineer for the construction of the work, 

 in the year 1826, and feeling the need of his son's assistance, he 

 summoned him to England. Robert Stephenson, on his return home 

 by way of the United States of America and through Canada, fell in 

 with Trevithick, who was also coming home from South America. 

 That steam locomotion should form a constant topic of conversation 

 between two such men was only natural ; and Robert Stephenson, 

 who was already acquainted with and had assisted in carrying out 

 the improvements of his father in the Killingworth and other loco- 

 motive engines, was well inclined to listen to what were then con- 

 sidered the "visionary schemes" of Trevithick, whose utmost ideas 

 of attainable speed were, however, so soon to be far exceeded. 



Whilst engaged, after his arrival in England, in assisting his father 

 in the construction of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, Robert 

 Stephenson at the same time directed his attention to the systems of 

 railway traction, and was successful in the competition for the 

 prize offered by the Directors of the railway for the best locomotive 

 engine. The result of his experiments, added to the joint Essay by 

 himself and Mr. Joseph Locke, in replyto the Report of Messrs. "Walker 

 and Rastrick, which recommended fixed engines and rope traction, 

 led to the settled adoption of the locomotive engine, and contributed 

 materially to decide the question of the general introduction of rail- 

 ways in this country. Soon after this he constructed the ' Planet J 

 engine, at the Newcastle factory, which became the type of all the 

 very successful engines that have been since employed. About the 

 same period the United States Government sent three officers of the 

 corps of Topographical Engineers to examine into and report upon 

 steam locomotion on railways as practised in this country. For these 

 gentlemen Robert Stephenson designed and constructed two locomotive 

 engines, embodying a special contrivance adapting them to traverse 



