Myth Busting: Trevithick and the Penydarren Locomotive

Myth Busting: Trevithick and the Penydarren Locomotive
On February 21st, 1804, Richard Trevithick and his Penydarren Locomotive changed the world. Find out more as we look at some of the myths around this legendary historical event.
WellbeingMerthyr #Trevithick #Penydarren #Merthyr #Cyfarthfa #CyfarthfaCastle #WelshHistory #MuseumFromHome #Museum

[@paularowe7651]

Excellent video. I am Cornish and live in Redruth, close to Trevithick's home. It's so sad that he died penniless in Dartford Kent. Thanks again.

[@nige2820]

I am Cornish and was born in the womens hospital. The family of my late wifes's mother lived in Pontlottyn, not far from Merthyr.

[@duck1946]

I am 75 yr old born in London,my mother came from Abercynon and up until i was adout 15 we always spent our school holidays at my grand parents in Abercynon. indeed i was Christened in Saint Gwynnos Church at the rear of my grand parents house in Lock Street.
On a weekend if the weather was nice we would walk from Abercynon to Quakers Yard along the track bed of Trevithicks Penydarren railway and over the "bridge with no sides" over the Taff returning along Goitre-Coed Road,
i always remember the square stone blocks visible in places that held that old metal plateway track in place along the route,i wonder i any remain stll?
In our school history lessons Trevithick was always first and Stephenson second,
I enjoyed the industrial history of the area particularly as i lived in the suburbs of North London, it could be the reason why that when i left school i started work on the railway aged 15yr as an engine cleaner!
I am a supporter of a local heritage railway and rest in comfort most know of Trevithick.

[@paularowe7651]

I am Cornish and feel that he is often sidelined in favour of Stephenson. I remember at school in the 1960 s he was never mentioned and all we heard about was Stephenson's Rocket.

[@cyfarthfacastle]

We all feel the same too. Thankfully he is now beginning to get the credit he fully deserves.

[@karltriebel4262]

He got a mention when I was at school, but only in passing and mostly that his name was TreviTHICK as he was Cornish and therefore in my teacher’s eye somewhat backwards.
He had a bigger effect on history than my teacher at least!!

[@liverpoolandmanchesterrailway]

I disagree, I think everyone thinks that Trevithick is the father of the railway locomotive.

[@nige2820]

The English establishment have never been comfortable that Richard Trevithick was a Cornishman. Another Cornishman, Rick Rescorla, led 2,700 people to safety from one of the Twin Towers and perished when he want back in for a last check was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by the USA. He got nothing from the U.K. establishment. The same establishment that tried to take VAT from money raised for the families of the Penlee lifeboatmen.

[@SteamLance]

The engine would have also been smaller, with a shorter chimney and small flywheel due to the tunnel on the line

[@GarethJonesPilipala]

An interesting account of the Penydarren engine. It’s unfortunate that there was no accurate record made of the journey AT THE TIME of the trial. As a result it’s all conjecture and I doubt we will ever be able to obtain what actually happened on that momentous February day in 1804.

[@cyfarthfacastle]

Thank you! It is frustrating but history always is!

[@rhobatbrynjones7374]

Hynod diddorol. Diolch yn fawr.

[@mattnewman125]

Merthyr Tydfil the real capital of Wales ...instead we got a shitty little City with no history has default capital Wales..laughable ...there is a law courts in Merthyr (building still standing) that was being used when Cardiff was nothing but marsh pits rolling hills and trees, that’s how far back Merthy Tydfil goes.