A grandson's 19th Century quest to uncover the truth about one of the pioneers of the locomotives is told against the backdrop of the famed Chicago World's Fair. Plus, life of the man and the history of Shildon.
All to play for...
Sam Holmes took the view that his grandfather laid the foundations for the locomotive. Working at the cutting edge of technology, he exploited the potential, forged a path forward and succeeded where others failed. As he made clear in writing to his cousin, Timothy Young:
'When he was building ‘Royal George’ was when he perfected the ‘blast pipe’, keeping his keen smith’s eye on how hot he could raise the coals and how much extra water it turned to steam. How else would ‘Royal George’ have satisfied the Board of the Stockton and Darlington Railway? Remember they didn’t think it could be done.'
Adding...'Make the truth stand out against the deceits.'
The story Major Pangborn wanted for everyone who came to wonder at this World's Fair was about the locomotive. It was also for them to see and feel the work of the pioneers, and there were five such men whose contribution stood out. First among them was Timothy Hackworth - the man whose work breathed life into the very first public railway - the Stockton and Darlington Railway. He had found that for years Hackworth was written out of the history books, his role diminished and his critical invention discounted. Jubilee celebrations went by without due recognition. It was time for justice.
'Drawing in Timothy Young, Hackworth's grandson, with his experience of keeping the locomotives of the 'Milwaukee Road' railroad going on, that was a coup for me. Not my only one of course, but he's the man who can bring out all that there is in the family archives. I can't rely on my instincts to be sure that Hackworth should stand first in line. The public need to have more to celebrate than just my fine words. Honouring him is a quest for all of us...'