Today, 9th June is (as every steampunk knows) the birthday of Mr George Stephenson. Born in 1781, he would have been 232 years old today and would have needed a very large cake to accommodate all of the candles.
As per a rather well known song this Mr Stephenson was not the author of any works of fiction, we should stress that this includes a fictional pamphlet know as a Railway "Timetable". He did have a great influence on the railways though and was known as "The Father of The Railways", his rail gauge of 4 feet 8 1/2 inches is now the worlds standard gauge. Without him it is quite possible that Lord Belborough would not have been moved to sing the immortal words "Time flies by when I'm the driver of a train. And I ride on the footplate there and back again".
George Stephenson began his working career as a miner, but it wasn't until he was an adult that he designed his first locomotive. His success with the railways is well documented and partly as a result of this in 1847 he became the first president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Interestingly the town of Matlock in Derbyshire is home to Peak Rail, a steam and diesel railway that will in in operation the same weekend as the Steampunk Summer Solstice in Matlock Bath. Yet another good reason to be there.
Thanks for reading, and until next time, farewell.
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