In 1811 Wood was sent to work at Killingworth Colliery to learn the work as a viewer. It was during his time at Killingworth that he became aquanted with George Stephenson, whom he assisted in making his safety lamp. As an early advocate of the railroads, Wood assisted in a number of early experiments with locomotives and, in 1825, he published A Practical Treatise on Railroads and Interior Communication in General. In 1844 he became manager of Hetton collieries.