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The Puffing Devil

On Christmas Eve in 1801 Richard Trevithick, who is buried in Dartford, made history with the first ever successful journey of a steam locomotive. He named the carriage the 'Puffing Devil' and was able to carry 6 people on a journey steered by his cousin through the streets and up Camborne Hill in Cornwall.

Trevithick died of pneumonia at the Bull Hotel on 22nd April 1833. It is sad to say that he was penniless and no relatives or friends were there during his sickness. He is buried at St Edmund's Pleasance and his funeral was paid for by colleagues at Hall's works who gathered a collection. They paid a night watchmen to guard his grave as body snatching was common.
Waymark.com
Sources:
Engineering Timeline- Grave of Richard Trevithick.
Goodreads.com - Richard Revithick

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