ods-trucks), loaded with various passengers, and finally six more
waggons of coal. Such was the first train. A man on horseback, carrying
a flag, having taken up his position in front of the 'Locomotion' to
head the procession, the starting word was given, and with a hiss of
steam, half drowned in the shouting of the crowd, the first railway
journey ever made in England was begun.

The man on horseback probably stepped aside before Stockton was reached,
for, to the astonishment of everybody, George Stephenson's engine
insisted now and then on travelling at the giddy speed of twelve miles
an hour, though it was sufficiently modest to do most of the distance at
a slower rate. Many trains have travelled since at over seventy miles an
hour, and a good many in England do long distances every day at an
average speed of well over fifty miles an hour.

When the train steamed into Stockton the number of passengers had
greatly increased; they had seized hold of passing carriages, and
secured a foothold as best they could.

After that the 'Locomotion' had a distinguished career. Twenty years
later it had the honour of opening the railway from Middlesborough to
Redcar, and to-day it stands in state on a pedestal in the Bank Top
Station at Darlington.

When Parliament gave permission for Mr. Pease's railway, it was ordered
that any one should have the use of it who liked to pay for the
privilege. Consequently there were soon large numbers who were glad to
avail themselves of the opportunity. Carriers fitted suitable wheels to
their carts, and drove their horses up and down it, while stage-coach
owners offered travellers an easy and comfortable journey on the smooth
metals. When we remember that it was only a single line, with side
openings every quarter of a mile, we can easily understand that there
were frequent quarrels when two vehicles met half-way. Sometimes one of
the opponents would be a puffing engine, and if it happened to be
dragging a load of coal, back it had to go until the siding was reached,
that the plodding horse might pass. To us such a state of things is hard
to imagine, but the railway and it possibilities were not thoroughly
understood at first. Even George Stephenson did not think it would be
very suitable for passenger traffic.

At last the confusion was put an end to by the Company taking entire
command of the line, and turning the quarrelsome competitors off it.
Then prosperity came.

The twelve miles