Steam locomotive Trevithick's steam locomotive Penydarren

Trevithick demonstrated the first steam carriage running on cast-iron angle rails (the prototype of a steam locomotive) in London in 1803

In 1804 he built an unnamed narrow-gauge steam locomotive (later named "Penydarren" after its place of manufacture) for the South Wales Railway. This locomotive used a high-pressure cylinder without a condenser, using waste steam to increase traction in the firebox. This further increased the efficiency of the engine. These fundamental inventions of the steam engine remained unchanged until the end of steam locomotive use.

With great public interest, the Penydarren successfully pulled a five-car train, transporting 10 tons of iron and 70 people for 15.7 km in four hours. The average speed was 8 km/h.

This experiment proved that steam traction was a promising idea, although the use of the steam locomotive was quickly abandoned because it was too heavy for the primitive plate road. A second locomotive built for use in a coal mine also broke the tracks.

In 1808 Trevithick built a new locomotive called "Catch Me Who Can", which could reach speeds of 30 km/h. For propaganda purposes, he demonstrated it in the suburbs of London.

Having received no financial support from industrialists, Trevithick practically lost his fortune and in 1816 left for South America. After an unsuccessful participation in the war for independence in Peru, he returned to England in 1827 He died in poverty.

The museum houses a model of the "Penydarren" locomotive.