Overview
On Feb. 21, 1804, British engineer Richard Trevithick operated a steam locomotive at the Penydarren Ironworks in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. The journey is recognized as the first successful demonstration of a steam-powered locomotive hauling a load on rails.
The demonstration resulted from a 500-guinea wager between ironmaster Samuel Homfray and rival Richard Crawshay over whether Trevithick’s high-pressure steam engine could haul 10 tons of iron. The locomotive traveled about 9.75 miles from Penydarren to the Merthyr-Cardiff Canal at Abercynon.
Trevithick’s locomotive hauled 10 tons of iron, five wagons and about 70 men. The journey took four hours and five minutes, with the locomotive reaching a top speed of nearly 5 mph.
Quick Facts
- Date
- Feb. 21, 1804