Black Country celebrates steam engine history

The Black Country will mark its 300 year connection to the steam engine this weekend, with a working replica of the world's first railway engine.

The Festival of Steam will be held at the Black Country Living Museum. Several traction engines and other displays will be used to celebrate the Tercentenary event.

A Black Country colliery successfully fitted the world's first steam engine, which was invented in 1712 by Thomas Newcomen. Nothing remains of the original engine but there is strong evidence that it was put to work on a colliery at Coneygree in Tipton, within view of Dudley Castle.

TV presenter Adam Hart-Davis will re-open the Museum's replica Newcomen engine following its £100,000 refit.

The Museum is also staging a poetry festival, family activities including Pneumatic rocket cars. There will also be an Interactive History and Science show explaining all the ins and outs of the Newcomen engine.

The Festival of Steam begins today.