A warm welcome to the Grade II-listed bronze statue of Robert Stephenson, making its debut in the North East to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
This imposing bronze statue of Robert Stephenson is now on display close to Locomotion's main entrance. Inside the museum you will find out more about Stephenson’s pioneering role in developing the railways.
The statue was commissioned by the Institute of Civil Engineers’ memorial committee after Stephenson died in 1859 and created by renowned Italian-French sculptor Baron Carlo Marochetti (1805-67), who worked extensively in France and Britain.
Marochetti completed the statue prior to his death in 1867, but it was not displayed until 1871 when it found its home at the forecourt of Euston Railway Station in London.
It was moved to the east side of the station when it was redeveloped in the 1960s and moved again in 2008, when further redevelopment was proposed to stand on the west side of the station forecourts.
The statue is one of the few surviving elements of the original Euston station after it was redeveloped in the 1960s.
Locomotion is pleased to be taking care of the statue on a 10-year loan to the National Railway Museum’s collection.
The statue is owned by Network Rail and on loan to the Science Museum Group in collaboration with HS2, the London Borough of Camden and Historic England.
Gallery
Robert Stephenson statue in its original place, outside Euston railway station.
Science Museum Group
Robert Stephenson Statue outside Locomotion
Science Museum Group
Portrait of Robert Stephenson, c.1840
Who was Robert Stephenson?
Born in Northumberland, Robert Stephenson (1803-1859) was an outstanding 19th-Century civil and mechanical engineer.
He was a prominent engineer in the early days of the railways and the only son of George Stephenson, who was known as “Father of the Railways” from his involvement in early railway networks such as the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
Robert worked closely with his father on many projects, but also led many of his own—including locomotives such as Rocket, a design that pioneered technologies that would influence locomotive design for decades following its success at the Rainhill Trials in 1829.
Take a look at the stories below to dive deeper into the history books.
