LOCOMOTION No.1: The True Story of the World’s First Public Service Steam Locomotive

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Michael R Bailey Peter H. Davidson

LOCOMOTION No.1

The True Story of the World’s First Public Service Steam Locomotive

Michael R Bailey, Peter H. Davidson, SCMG Enterprises Limited

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English

HISTORY PRESS
01 December 2025

History; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900; Industrialisation & industrial history; Trains & railways: general interest

An archaeological and archival investigation into this historic steam locomotive.

In 1825 the Stockton & Darlington Railway began operations as the world's first public railway to be operated by steam. The first train, that opened the railway on the 27th September, was drawn by the locomotive that became known as LOCOMOTION No.1, and from this origin all public railways the world over developed to become the driving force behind economic progress. The brief history that accompanied the locomotive's preservation in 1857 was both inadequate and factually incorrect. In anticipation of the railway's bicentenary a major archival and archaeological study was initiated by the National Railway Museum to establish the true history of the locomotive both in service and during retirement. This is the story revealed by the study.

AUTHORS: Michael R. Bailey is a railway historian who has undertaken projects for museums in England, Canada and Denmark. He writes and lectures (and occasionally acts as a TV consultant) and was a consultant to UNESCO regarding the Rhaetian Railway's application for World Heritage status. He is a member of the Newcomen Society, and was its president 1995 1997. He was a Trustee of the Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester and remains president of the museum Friends, and is a vice-president of the Stephenson Locomotive Society.

Peter H. Davidson's career has been in mechanical engineering, and in design and construction of miniature locomotives. A consultant to the National Railway Museum and other museums in Britain, he has experience with four archaeological and archival studies (with Michael Bailey) of early steam locomotives. He was co-author of Canterbury & Whitstable Railway Invicta Locomotive (2020), and has written several papers on early railway technology.

12 colour, 264 b/w illustrations

By: Michael R Bailey, Peter H. Davidson
With: SCMG Enterprises Limited
Imprint: HISTORY PRESS
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781837050215
ISBN 10: 183705021X
Publication Date: 01 December 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Other merchandise
Publisher's Status: Unspecified

MICHAEL R. BAILEY is a railway historian who has undertaken projects for museums in England, Canada and Denmark. He writes and lectures (and occasionally acts as a TV consultant) and was a consultant to UNESCO regarding the Rhaetian Railway’s application for World Heritage status. A member of the Newcomen Society, he was its president 1995 – 1997; is a Trustee of the Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester; president of the museum Friends; and is a vice-president of the Stephenson Locomotive Society. PETER H. DAVIDSON's career was in mechanical engineering, and design and construction of miniature locomotives. A consultant to the National Railway Museum and other museums, he was co-author of Canterbury & Whitstable Railway – Invicta Locomotive (2020), and has written several papers on early railway technology.