Thylacine
master brummie
Sir Goldsworthy Gurney 1793-1875.
2010-07-02 14:38:38
[Since we've had some fun at Mr Gurney's expense, I'll balance the ledger by posting a brief biopic of the steam carriage pioneer.
]
Cornishman Goldsworthy Gurney (14 February 1793 – 28 February 1875; later Sir Goldsworthy), who like Birmingham's steam pioneer William Church was a medical man by training, began to experiment with steam traction in 1823. On 14 May 1825 he was granted patent 5170 "apparatus for propelling carriages on common roads or railways", and on 11 October 1827 patent 5554 "locomotive engines and the apparatus connected therewith". In 1826 he established the Gurney Steam Carriage Co, with a manufacturing works at 154 Albany Street, Regents Park, London. In July 1829 one of his carriages is said to have averaged about 12 mph on a 400 mile London – Bath – London journey (depicted above).
Charles Dance (dates unknown; later Sir Charles) purchased several Gurney carriages and operated them successfully from London to Holyhead and from Birmingham to Bristol. On 21 February 1831 Dance began to operate three Gurney four-wheel steam carriages (each hauling a coach) on a regular Gloucester – Cheltenham service (not far from the Midlands!). The service operated four times a day, and the nine mile journey took about 50 minutes. "Such was the frequency of derangements, especially the bursting of one or more of the tubes of the tubular boiler, that it required the utmost exertions of an engineer (Mr James Stone) at a salary of £1 per day, and four men at £3 per week to keep one of the coaches in moving order." [Macerone, 1834]. On 22 June 1831 the Gloucester – Cheltenham service ran into serious trouble when a foot-deep layer of gravel was scattered on the roadway (allegedly at the instigation of "the worthy squires and magistrates of the Cheltenham district" [Macerone, 1834]), resulting in a broken back axle. After carrying some 3,000 passengers a total distance of about 3,500 miles without accident, the pioneering service came to an end.
Gurney was a great self-publicist, and gave evidence on the benefits of steam-powered road transport at Parliamentary committees in the years 1831-1836. Though the committees reported favourably, enabling legislation was not enacted and Gurney gave up his steam carriage work. He continued as an inventor and innovator. He invented the Gurney stove, was responsible for lighting and ventilating the Houses of Parliament, and was an active scientific researcher. He became a magistrate for Cornwall and Devon, and in 1863 was knighted for his discoveries and inventions.
[Sources:
The Wikipedia articles linked to in the text.
Francis Macerone (sometimes written Maceroni). A Few Facts Concerning Elementary Locomotion. Second Edition. London: Effingham Wilson, 1834.
Walter Hancock. Narrative of Twelve Years Experiments. London: Weale and Mann, 1838.
Lyman Horace Weeks. Automobile Biographies. New York: Monograph, 1904.]
2010-07-02 14:38:38
[Since we've had some fun at Mr Gurney's expense, I'll balance the ledger by posting a brief biopic of the steam carriage pioneer.
]Cornishman Goldsworthy Gurney (14 February 1793 – 28 February 1875; later Sir Goldsworthy), who like Birmingham's steam pioneer William Church was a medical man by training, began to experiment with steam traction in 1823. On 14 May 1825 he was granted patent 5170 "apparatus for propelling carriages on common roads or railways", and on 11 October 1827 patent 5554 "locomotive engines and the apparatus connected therewith". In 1826 he established the Gurney Steam Carriage Co, with a manufacturing works at 154 Albany Street, Regents Park, London. In July 1829 one of his carriages is said to have averaged about 12 mph on a 400 mile London – Bath – London journey (depicted above).
Charles Dance (dates unknown; later Sir Charles) purchased several Gurney carriages and operated them successfully from London to Holyhead and from Birmingham to Bristol. On 21 February 1831 Dance began to operate three Gurney four-wheel steam carriages (each hauling a coach) on a regular Gloucester – Cheltenham service (not far from the Midlands!). The service operated four times a day, and the nine mile journey took about 50 minutes. "Such was the frequency of derangements, especially the bursting of one or more of the tubes of the tubular boiler, that it required the utmost exertions of an engineer (Mr James Stone) at a salary of £1 per day, and four men at £3 per week to keep one of the coaches in moving order." [Macerone, 1834]. On 22 June 1831 the Gloucester – Cheltenham service ran into serious trouble when a foot-deep layer of gravel was scattered on the roadway (allegedly at the instigation of "the worthy squires and magistrates of the Cheltenham district" [Macerone, 1834]), resulting in a broken back axle. After carrying some 3,000 passengers a total distance of about 3,500 miles without accident, the pioneering service came to an end.
Gurney was a great self-publicist, and gave evidence on the benefits of steam-powered road transport at Parliamentary committees in the years 1831-1836. Though the committees reported favourably, enabling legislation was not enacted and Gurney gave up his steam carriage work. He continued as an inventor and innovator. He invented the Gurney stove, was responsible for lighting and ventilating the Houses of Parliament, and was an active scientific researcher. He became a magistrate for Cornwall and Devon, and in 1863 was knighted for his discoveries and inventions.
[Sources:
The Wikipedia articles linked to in the text.
Francis Macerone (sometimes written Maceroni). A Few Facts Concerning Elementary Locomotion. Second Edition. London: Effingham Wilson, 1834.
Walter Hancock. Narrative of Twelve Years Experiments. London: Weale and Mann, 1838.
Lyman Horace Weeks. Automobile Biographies. New York: Monograph, 1904.]
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