Steam Locomotives - an Innovation from the Industrial Revolution

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Timeline

  1. Thomas Savery's steam pump

    Thomas Savery patents his steam pump, used to draw up water from the mines.

  2. Newcomen's Atmospheric Engine

    Newcomen patents his design for his steam pump which worked using a vacuum formed by condensing steam inside pistons ans cylinders to draw water up from the mines.

  3. Watt patents seperate condenser design

    James Watt patents his seperate condenser design, which meant a huge efficiency gain for the engine.

  4. Commercial engine production.

    Watt forms a partnersgip with Boulton, and they begin to produce steam engines commercially.

  5. Rotative Engine

    Watt patents his design for a rotative engine used to drive machinery.

  6. Double-acting engine

    Watt patents his design for a double acting engine, that alternated steam to either side of the piston so it could do useful work in both directions.

  7. Trevithick's Steam Carriages

    Thomas Trevithick builds his two steam carriages, which use high pressure steam without condensing.

  8. Railway Locomotives

    Trevithick designs three locomotives that run on rails, but then gives up the project as the rails kept breaking.

  9. Steam Locomotives Continue to Evolve

    In years afterwards, steam locomotives continue to get better and more practical, with better efficiency and new inventions such as wrought-iron rails.