Trevithick steam locomotive, October 1804.

Drawing (scale 1:12), believed to be by Richard Trevithick (1771-1833), of his steam locomotive designed for use on the Wylam Wagon way. Trevithick was the first 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.