The Man
Robert Stephenson
One of Tyneside's most famous sons
Whereas his father, George Stephenson, has been given due accolades, the role of Robert Stephenson as a locomotive and civil engineering pioneer has never fully been acknowledged other than during his lifetime.
Robert possessed similar energy and inventive flair to his father but had too an intellectual capacity for scientific learning.
Robert's career started with him assisting his father around Tyneside and then moved on to co-founding the world’s first purpose built locomotive factory in Newcastle upon Tyne where he was the Managing Partner. In this factory Robert's original designs established the basis of all future steam locomotive development. It was here that many of the World’s pioneer locomotives were manufactured including the Rocket, winner of the famous Rainhill trials held on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.
​
But it is as a civil engineer that Robert became particularly renowned through his involvement in the development of many national railways both in Great Britain and overseas. His reputation was made with the construction of the London and Birmingham Railway where he overcame complex problems in this outstanding engineering feat. Later his development of tubular bridges to span the the River Conway and the Menai Strait produced totally original structures of engineering and architectural merit.
While Robert had to establish his office in London and travel far afield in pursuit of his career, he retained an affinity for Newcastle referring to it as his native tow'. Engineering monuments to his prowess in the North East remain for all to see along the route of the East Coast Main Line starting with the High Level Bridge between Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne and ending with the Royal Border Bridge between Tweedmouth and Berwick upon Tweed and with numerous bridges in between.
(video)
(Science Museum)
