The Duke of Wellington and Railroads

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In the life of George Stephenson, the distinguished railroad engineer, it is stated that for a long long period of time the Duke of Wellington would not trust himself behind a locomotive. When the first passenger railroad in Englan d was opened in 1828, Mr. Huskis-son, M. P., was killed before his eyes, and this accident contributed to prejudice him against railways. It was fifteen years (1843) after that event before he mounted the iron rail, and this was on the Southwestern Railway, attending Queen Victoria. The hero of a hundred fights rather quailed before the snorting of the "iron horse."

Scientific American Magazine Vol 13 Issue 24This article was published with the title “The Duke of Wellington and Railroads” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 13 No. 24 (), p. 190
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican02201858-190b

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