The Steam Engine

  The invention of the steam engine truly changed the world, from saving lives to powering the industrial revolution, we can still feel its impact today.

Before the invention of the steam engine, the majority of the power methods for factories and supply production were inefficient. According to the world history encyclopedia, the steam engine “could suck 5,000 gallons (22.7 K litres) every hour out of a 153-foot (46.6 metres) deep mine shaft.” This is one of the many reasons why the Newcomen and the Savery engines were called the “miners friend”. The steam engine saved many lives that were considered forfeit. It revolutionized the mining industry, millions of dollars were saved by the steam engine. According to the chicago booth, “The steam engine and rail network—more than the cotton gin, light bulb, telegraph, automobile, or airplane—may have been the single biggest factor in modern London’s growth.” London is still one of the biggest cities in the world and we can clearly trace this back to the revolutionary steam engine. Steam power and trains let the people of London be much more efficient which led to more people moving to London, making it into the huge city it is today.