
4 0 c m
35cm
actual image size: 27cm x 32cm
Description
Oil painting by John Linnell (1792-1882) of Richard Trevithick (1771-1833), the first person to use high presured steam to drive an engine. Until 1800, the weaknes of existing boilers had restricted all engines to being atmospheric ones. Trevithick set about making a cylindrical boiler which could withstand steam at higher presures. This new engine was well suited to driving vehicles. In 1804, Trevithick was responsible for the first succesful railway locomotive.
Image Details
Image Ref.
10198838
© Science Museum / Science & Society Picture Library