Coal, Fire, Iron, & Steam

Hopkin Thomas and the American Industrial Revolution

Written and Compiled by John B. McVey

Table of Contents

Notes on this Edition

Dedication

Foreword

On a Personal Note

Part I Wales

1. Hopkin’s Birthplace – Bryncoch, Glamorganshire, Wales

2. The Industrial Revolution in Wales

3. Neath Abbey Ironworks

4. On to Merthyr Tydfil

5. Emigration to America

Part II Philadelphia

6. Philadelphia 1830, the Athens of America

7. The Baldwin and the Norris Locomotive Works

8. Garrett & Eastwick - Eastwick & Harrison

Part III The Industrial Revolution in America

9. The Anthracite Coal Industry

10. The Anthracite Iron Industry

11. Steam Engine and Railroad Developments

Part IV Beaver Meadows

12. The Formation of the Beaver Meadow R. R. & Coal Co.

13. Hopkin Thomas as Master Mechanic at the B. M. R. R. & Coal Co.

14. Reorganization of the Beaver Meadow Rail Road & Coal Co.

Part V Tamaqua

15. Why is Hopkin in Tamaqua?

16. Industrial Development of the Schuylkill Region

17. The Great Flood of 1850

18. Latter Tamaqua Days

Part VI Catasauqua

19. Catasauqua – Early 1850s

20 .Chief Engineer – Crane Iron Works

21. Passing and Remembrances

Sources and References

Appendix I Beaver Meadow RR & Coal Co. Annual Reports

Appendix II Minute Books of the BMRR & Coal Co.

Appendix III Patents

Appendix IV Pictorial Catalog of Early Steam Locomotives

Appendix V Pennsylvania’s Anthracite Railroads – Earl J. Heydinger

Appendix VI Catasauqua and its Industries and Residences

Appendix VII Biographies and Genealogies

Appendix VIII Schuylkill County Court Records

Appendix IX Hopkin Thomas Timeline

Go to the Hopkin Thomas Project Page

Rev. January 29, 2011