 Steam locomotive. The steam locomotive is a type of railway locomotive that produces its pulling power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning combustible material, usually coal, wood, or oil, to produce steam and a boiler. The steam moves reciprocating pistons which are mechanically connected to the locomotives main wheels drivers. Both fuel and water supplies are carried with the locomotive, either on the locomotive itself or in wagons tenders pulled behind. Steam locomotives were first developed in Great Britain during the early 19th century and used for railway transport until the middle of the 20th century. The first steam locomotive, made by Richard Trevafik, first operated on February 21, 1804, three years after the road locomotive he made in 1811. The first commercially successful steam locomotive was created in 1812 to 13 by John Blankensop, built by George Stevenson and his son Robert's company Robert Stevenson & Company. The locomotion number one is the first steam locomotive to carry passengers on a public rail line, the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825. George also built the first public intercity railway line in the world to use locomotives, the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, which opened in 1830. Stevenson established his company as the preeminent builder of steam locomotives for railways in the United Kingdom, the United States, and much of Europe. In the 20th century, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London & Northeastern Railway L.M.R. Nigel Grisly designed some of the most famous locomotives, including the Flying Scotsman. The first steam locomotive officially recorded over 100 miles per hour in passenger service, and a L.M.R. Class A4-4468 Mallard, which still holds the record for being the fastest steam locomotive in the world 126 miles per hour. From the early 1900s steam locomotives were gradually superseded by electric and diesel locomotives, with railways fully converting to electric and diesel power beginning in the late 1930s. The majority of steam locomotives were retired from regular service by the 1980s, though several continued to run under us and heritage lines.