More than any other piece of machinery created by the mind
and hands of man, the Steam Locomotive is described as being “alive”; indeed
they are said to be “born” when they leave the works brand new, and they are
“Christened” when they are named. And, it is amazing to think, that a little
over a century separates the record-breaking Mallard and Stephenson’s Rocket –
which, in comparison, was basically a self-propelled kettle. It’s also
interesting to note the Unitarian involvement in the development of the locomotive:
George Stephenson was educated by Rev. William Turner of Newcastle; Henry
Booth, one of the Directors of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway and the
progenitor of the multi-tube boiler, was also a Unitarian. And of course there
was Richard Peacock of Beyer, Peacock of Manchester and Lord Airedale of Leeds
who both built and developed railway engines. But we’re not here for a lecture
on railway locomotives and the Unitarian influence thereon.
