George and Robert Stephenson, Triumphs and Tragedies

In this illustrated talk Newcastle local history author Ken Smith throws the spotlight on the lives of North-East steam railway pioneers George and Robert Stephenson.

Both were born on the banks of the Tyne and rose to achieve worldwide fame.George honed the early steam locomotive into workable, practical form.

His son Robert became a designer of great bridges and head of Newcastle's Forth Street Works, the world's first locomotive factory.