The life of George Stephenson, railway engineer - Lighthouse ...

62 LIFK OF GEORGE STEPHENSON. [chap. vii.
killed by an accident, George Stephenson was, in 181 2, appointed
engine-wright of the colliery at the salary of 100?. a year.
He was also allowed the use of a galloway to ride upon in his
visits of inspection to the collieries leased by the " Grand Allies "
in that neighbourhood. The " Grand Allies" were a company
of gentlemen, consisting of Sir Thomas Liddell (afterwards
Lord Ravensworth), the Earl of Strathmore, and Mr. Stuart
Wortley (afterwards Lord Whamcliffe) , the lessees of the Kil-
lingworth collieries. Having been informed of the merits of
Stephenson, of his indefatigable industry, and the skill which he
had displayed in the repairs of the pumping-engines, they read-
ily acceded to Mr. Dodd's recommendation that he should be ap-
pointed the colliery engineer ; and, as we shall see, they contin-
ued to honour hira by distinguished marks of their approval.
He was now in a measure relieved from the daily routine
of manual labour, and advanced to the grade of a higher class
workman. He was no less a worker, but only in a different
way. It might be inferred that he had now the command of
greater leisure ;
but his leisure hours were more than ever given
to work, either necessary or self-imposed.
"When the High Pit had been sunk, and the coal was ready
for working, Stephenson erected his first winding-engine to draw
the coals out of the pit, and also a pumping-engine for Long
Benton colliery, both of which proved quite successful. Amongst
other works of this time, he projected and laid down a self-acting
iniiline along the declivity which fell towards the coal-loading
place near Willington, where he had formerly officiated as
brakesman ; and he so arranged it, that the full wagons descend-
ing drew the empty wagons up the incline. This was one of
the first self-acting inclines laid down in that district.
Afterwards, in describing his occupations at this period of his
life^before a Committee of the House of Commons,* he said,
" After making some improvements in the steam-engines above
ground, I was then requested by the manager of the colliery to
go underground along with him, to see if any improvements could
be made in the mines, by employing machinery as a substitute
* Evidence given before the Select Committee on Accidents in Mines, 1835.