When was Robert Stephenson born and where did he grow up?
Robert Stephenson was born on the 16th of October 1803 at Willington Quay east of Newcastle upon Tyne. He grew up in an upper room of a cottage after his parents married.
Questions about Robert Stephenson
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What happened during the Rainhill Trials for Robert Stephenson in 1829?
The Rocket designed by Robert Stephenson won the trials held between the 6th and the 9th of October 1829. It covered thirty-five miles in three hours and twelve minutes before taking a fifteen-minute break to replenish supplies.
Why did the Chester and Holyhead Railway bridge collapse in 1847?
The bridge gave way under a passenger train on the 24th of May 1847 causing five people to die when the tender and carriages fell into the river. Robert Stephenson argued that the cast-iron girder fractured because the tender had derailed from a broken wheel.
How many tubes does the Britannia Bridge have and when did it open?
The Britannia Bridge crosses the Menai Strait with four tubes large enough for trains to pass through. A single line opened to public traffic through these tubes on the 18th of March 1850.
What health condition caused Robert Stephenson's premature aging and death?
Robert Stephenson suffered from chronic nephritis known as Bright's Disease which led to his premature aging by 1850. He commissioned a hundred-ton yacht named Titania in 1850 to defend himself from unwelcome visitors at his home on Gloucester Square.