乔治和罗伯特·斯蒂芬森父子(Ge-orge＆Robert Stephenson)是近代科技史上的重要人物。他们的功业影响着现在每个人的生活。老乔治设计了世界上第一座铁路桥梁,修建了第一条铁路,因为他和他的儿子罗伯特发明了第一辆切实能用的蒸汽机车“火箭号”,并一举证明了铁路运输的实用价值。老乔治在1781年6月9日出生于英格兰北都距离煤乡新堡(New Castle)八英里处的Wylam小镇上。他父亲是一个煤矿泵机的司炉,家境穷得孩子们打零工挣钱而不能去上学。乔治的第一个工作就是为邻居放牛,他的消遣就是用泥巴 Georges and Robert Stephenson and his son (Ge-orge & Robert Stephenson) is a major figure in the history of modern science and technology. Their work affects everyone’s life now. Old George designed the world’s first railroad bridge and built the first railroad because he and his son, Robert, invented the first practical steam locomotive, the “rocket,” and proved the utility of railroad transportation value. Old George was born on June 9, 1781, in the town of Wylam, eight miles north of Newcastle, England. His father, a coal mine pump, was so poor that his family members were poor and could not go to school. George’s first job was to give his neighbor a cow, and his pastime was with mud