Date: 1885
The difficulty and expense of the mode of conveying coal from the pits to the river Tyne drew his attention to the necessity of improving the means of transit, and it was to his inge nuity that the locomotive engine of Trevi thick, Blenkinsop, and Chapman first became practically, or at aU events extensively, use ful.  Hedley first saw clearly that a loco motive engine and wagons needed none ot the old rack rails and toothed wheels to se cure sufficient friction to induce motion ; his patent for the smooth wheel and rail system bore date 13 March 1813.  Soon afterwards the smooth rails were laid down at Wylam.