The history of the first locomotives in America. From original ...

STEPHENSON'S ENGINE 49
turned, after a year's a"bseiice, to Killingwortli, on foot,
as lie had gone, and was soon at work as brakesman at
the lifting engine on the West Moore pit.
In 1807 George Stephenson meditated upon emi-
grating to America; but found himself too poor to
pay his passage, and was compelled to abandon the
project. To his 'earnings then he added the repairing
of clocks and watches, and the cutting out of clothes
for the wives of the workmen to make up. Thus did
this energetic and untiring man persevere and labor for
advancement in knowledge, until he was promoted as
head engineer or plugman, as the engineer was called,
at the colliery.
CHAPTEE VIII.
STEPHENSOIf's ENGINE.
It was now that Mr. Stephenson, about twenty-
six years of age, set about the construction of his first
locomotive. As we before stated, the want of good
None of
and skilful workmen was a great drawback. .
the magnificent and ingenious machinery of the present
day to be seen in our machine-shops had been invented.
At that early period every part of the engine had to be
made by hand, and hammered into shape as a horse-
shoe was; and John Thorswall, the colliery blacksmith,
and with all these disadvan-
was his chief workman ; ,
tages and difficulties to contend with, Mr. Stephenson
persevered and finally completed his first locomotive.
It will no doubt be interesting to our mechanical
readers to have a full description of Mr. Stephenson's
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