Steam on the Move

Overview

The success of the canals led to the development of rivals and vanquishers, the railways. The inadequate power of horses led to the use of stationary, then moving, steam engines and to the parallel development of the steam boat. Anthony Burton visits a stationary steam engine in the Peak District, rides on 'an animated knitting machine', looks for the route of the first successful colliery railway, and takes a trip on the oldest working steam boat.