A lithograph that came from my grandfather had a story to tell; that of one man who changed the face of the world – Timothy Hackworth. Forged in the white heat of a new technology, his skill and inventiveness shaped our world. His was the story of determination and talent you were never told at school.
This is a story of challenging times: the scramble to succeed, innovations to be accomplished, the pursuit of recognition. Where others faltered, Hackworth confidently reached forward into the future. Now, after 200 years in the waiting, it's time to honour his life, Shildon the town that he formed and the Railway Works. We are all indebted to him.
In 1893, three men laid out for the world to see and honour the coming of age of those who made the steam locomotive a reality for the world. They rose to the challenge for the famed Chicago World’s Fair. Their quest drives past the dismay and difficulties for George Stephenson and his son, dispels the shadows cast by ‘Rocket’. A rightful place was claimed for Timothy Hackworth, where history had before pushed him aside and trampled his reputation underfoot. His crucial skill and inventiveness is brought into the light of day. Now, finally, the fog of history is breached.
Described as ‘unputdownable’, ‘intriguing’, and ‘filled with details history sought to leave unmentioned and unanswered’, the book has a powerful sense of fulfilment. [Check out the Reviews] Above all, it is an accessible and enjoyable read. A fitting BiCentennial celebration of the life and accomplishments of the man who first got the locomotive all steamed up for the world.
Mike Norman