The Mechanics Magazine is one of the finest sources for material on nineteenth century mechanics. It was founded in 1829 by Joseph Clinton Robertson (1788-1852), a patent agent in Fleet Street, London, who was therefore well placed to publish it. This particular weekly number features on its front cover two fabulous images of early steam railway engines. This illustrates the first article entitled ‘Proposition for a General Iron Rail-Way, with Steam-Engines to Supersede the Necessity of Horses in All Public Vehicles”. Dated 3 January 1823 this is one of the earliest references to the railways. Indeed the first passenger line was opened in 1925 between Stockton and Darlington by Edward Pease, ancestor of Lord Wardington.