I was reading Fundamentals of the Steam Locomotive and in the back of the book it mentions, "In 1804, Richard Trevithick developed the first steam locomotive in the world for transpotation on rails."
A couple of questions come to mind, the first is, is this correct, is 2004 the Bicentenial of the steam locomotive?
The second question is, anyone doing something to celebrate this event?
Thanks,
Mark

Nevada Northern Railway Museum
nnry1@mwpower.net

Yes, that is correct; in fact the actual anniversary date was about a month ago. I am not aware of any activities to mark the date in North America, but it was observed by a celebration the town where Trevithick's locomotive first ran in England.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

> I was reading Fundamentals of the Steam
> Locomotive and in the back of the book it
> mentions, "In 1804, Richard Trevithick
> developed the first steam locomotive in the
> world for transpotation on rails."
> A couple of questions come to mind, the
> first is, is this correct, is 2004 the
> Bicentenial of the steam locomotive?
> The second question is, anyone doing
> something to celebrate this event?
> Thanks,
> Mark


Surviving World Steam (200 years later)
james@survivingworldsteam.com

> Yes, that is correct; in fact the actual
> anniversary date was about a month ago. I am
> not aware of any activities to mark the date
> in North America, but it was observed by a
> celebration the town where Trevithick's
> locomotive first ran in England.

> -James Hefner
> Hebrews 10:20a

So what you're telling me is that we all managed to miss it here in North America? Lucky, I'm a little late in getting some of my 2004 brochures into production, I will make mention of it at least. Anyone have any ideas what we could do at this late date?


Nevada Northern Railway Museum
nnry1@mwpower.net

Although the 200th anniversary of steam might not be celebrated in North America, the 175th anniversary of the first commercially operated steam locomotive in America will be. If everything keeps going as planned, on August 8, 2004, the Stourbridge Lion replica will be steamed up for the public for the first time in decades in Honesdale, PA, near the site of the original's first run in 1829. Besides running the replica on a five hundred foot siding, there will also be a large celebration in the town of Honesdale, PA. Similarly, there will be a day long symposium on the Stourbridge Lion the day before the re-enactment, and a diesel powered excursion that evening from Honesdale to Lackawaxen, Pa where dinner will be served before the return trip. Registration for the symposium will start soon and it will cost $50 while the train ride will cost $35. These are seperate events that are timed to make it easy to do both if desired. For more information on the Stourbridge Lion 175th anniversary, please see the webpage below or e-mail me.

www.StourbridgeLion.com
piersa@ptd.net

It wasn't on rails, but in 1804 Oliver Evans built a steam-powered amphibious dredge for the City of Philadelphia. Evans anticipated steam rail roads but he could not get financing.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

The locomotive was named the Penydarren and it first operated 21 February 1804. A replica will be running at the Railfest celebration May 29-June 6 at the National Railway Museum in North Yorkshire, England. See more information at the link below.

Cheers,
Keith

> ... "In 1804, Richard Trevithick
> developed the first steam locomotive in the
> world for transpotation on rails."...is this correct, is 2004 the Bicentenial of the steam locomotive?...is anyone doing something to celebrate this event?


Penydarren Rides Again for Becentenary
kalbran1@san.rr.com