News & Events
Posted: June 23, 2008
On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the first ever ticketed passenger rail journey, O2 and Eurostar have joined forces with UCL to celebrate the breakthrough work of Richard Trevithick's 1808 experiment, and the opening of the UK's first high speed rail link to the continent 200 years later, as well as the exciting advances being developed at the UCL Centre for Transport Studies.
The UCL Chadwick Building of Engineering stands near the site where Richard Trevithick organised his ‘Catch Me Who Can’ steam demonstration of 1808. The experiment ran over the summer months, and members of the public were admitted to take a ride (for at least a shilling) behind Trevithick’s steam engine.
Although it took another 20 years to turn into a passenger-carrying railway, Trevithick’s
demonstration was far more significant than just a
step forward in powered motion. Occurring at the end
of the ‘long century’ and the English Enlightenment, passenger rail facilitated the communication of ideas and thinking. The ‘travel revolution’ transformed
society in a single-step change that not even the advances in computing or electronic communications have surpassed.
Trevithick Steam Circus, Watercolour
(Collection of the National Railway Museum)
UCL marked this major bicentennial with a season of activities highlighting the achievements of this most remarkable engineer, including a special exhibition of rare historical material relating to Trevithick curated by the Science Museum, London.
An Innovations competition, sponsored by Eurostar, highlighted new thinking in transportation for the future, and a glittering Bicentennial Trevithick Dinner on the 11th June, in the presence of HRH The Duke of Gloucester, KG, GCVO, Patron of the Newcomen Society.
Commemorating Richard Trevithick’s demonstration of 1808, the dinner celebrated 200 years of passenger rail and launched the Trevithick Bicentennial Exhibition and 4th International Early Railways Conference at UCL.
Sponsored by O2, with the promotions partnership of Eurostar, the dinner was attended by Chairmen, Chief Executives and Directors of industry including Eurostar, LCR, Virgin Trains, First Great Western, Stagecoach Group, Network Rail, Transport for London, Chiltern Railways, Balfour Beatty, ATOC, O2 as well as heritage and engineering institutions, media and government.
The Dinner and Exhibition were succeeded by The 4th International Early Railways Conference, which was held at UCL 12-15 June.
To find out more about Richard Trevithick and the significance of his 1808 demonstration, click here to download an article by Grahame Boyes and Andy Guy, of the 4th International Early Railways Conference Committee.
Download a slideshow of images from the event.
For further information, contact Dr. Anna Clark, Director of UCL Business Partnerships.
Tel: 0207 679 9000, email: a.clark@uclb.com
