Ink and waterclour drawing bearing the signature of Thomas Rowlandson, showing people watching Trevithick’s steam locomotive travelling around a circular track within a wooden enclosure. Cornish engineer and inventor Richard Trevithick (1771-1833) built the world’s first steam locomotive in 1803. In 1808 (rather than 1809 as the text beneath the image states), he established a ‘steam circus’ in Euston Square in London, charging members of the public one shilling for the opportunity of riding on a carriage pulled by his locomotive, the ‘Catch Me Who Can’. The ride, which was capable of travelling at speeds of up to 12 mph, was popular with the London public, but the weight of the locomotive broke the rails, and it closed after two months.

Picture Reference: 10411048
Subject: TRANSPORT > Railway History, Pre-1922 > Early Railways Pre-1829
Inventory No.: 1973-0336
Credit: Science Museum Pictorial

Keywords: 1780-1818, Attractions, Can, Catch Me Who Can, Catch, Circular, Crowds, Early Railways, Pre-1829, Enclosures, England, Entertainment, Europe, Euston, Euston Square, Fences, Greater London, History, Industrial Revolution, Locomotives, London, Man-made, Man Made Space, Man Made, Me, Palisades, Picadilly Circus, Pre-1922, Rail Transport, Railway, Railway Tracks, Railways, Railway Transport, Richard, Rowlandson, Thomas, South East England, Square image, Square, Steam, Steam Circus, Steam Locomotives, The Arts, Trains, Transportation, Transport, Trevithick, Trevithick, Richard, Uk, United Kingdom, Who

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