Stuff You Missed in History Class · iHeartPodcasts
George Stephenson, Father of Railways
January 28, 2026·44 min·4 clips
A brakesman defies experts to fix a broken mine engine, changing his life forever.
As heard by us
A grounded Stephenson episode where railway history begins with study, repair work, and a proud father showing off a sundial.
Holly Frey and Tracy V. Wilson approach George Stephenson through the habits behind his engineering: repair work, mechanical drawing, study from books, and a steady push to learn what formal schooling had not given him. The episode is especially good on the father-son thread.
Why you'd press play
You want the railway pioneer story that starts with homework, side jobs, and stubborn curiosity about how machines work.
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