Robert Stephenson & Co. Builder's Plate Mug — Newcastle Locomotive Works | Victorian Railway Heritage Gift

If George Stephenson was the father of the railways, Robert Stephenson was the engineer who turned his father's vision into the Victorian world's most ambitious infrastructure. As chief engineer of the London & Birmingham Railway — the first mainline railway into London — and designer of iconic structures including the High Level Bridge at Newcastle, the Royal Border Bridge at Berwick, and the tubular Britannia Bridge over the Menai Strait, Robert Stephenson reshaped Britain and the world.

Robert Stephenson & Co. was established in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1823 — the world's first purpose-built locomotive manufacturing company. Founded by George and Robert Stephenson together with Edward Pease and Michael Longridge, it built some of the most historically significant locomotives ever to turn a wheel: the Locomotion No.1 for the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825, the Rocket which triumphed at the Rainhill Trials in 1829, and hundreds of locomotives that worked railways across Britain, Europe, and the expanding British Empire. The Newcastle works continued under the Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns name well into the twentieth century, finally closing in 1964 — one of the last great acts of Britain's original locomotive building tradition.

Their builder's plates, in distinctive black and gold, are among the most recognisable and collectable in railway preservation. This 11oz ceramic mug carries that iconic builder's plate design — a piece of railway history you can hold in your hand every morning.

Part of Belchampian Apparel's Builder's Plate Series — the only merchandise range dedicated to the great names of British locomotive manufacturing. See also the BRCW Builder's Plate t-shirt, sweatshirt and mug in the same collection.

• Features Robert Stephenson & Co. builder's plate — Newcastle upon Tyne, established 1823
• The world's first purpose-built locomotive manufacturer — builders of Locomotion No.1 and the Rocket
• 11oz white ceramic, microwave and dishwasher safe, ORCA-coated print — the ultimate railway history gift

Product features
- Dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning
- Microwave-safe for convenience
- Bright and crisp colors from advanced printing techniques
- Durable AAA+ ORCA coating for long-lasting luster
- Comfortable C-handle for easy gripping

Care instructions
- Clean in dishwasher or wash by hand with warm water and dish soap