Who's idea was this?

The content author of Steam Trek is Commodore Maxby (aka Stephen Vossler) with inspiration from numerous sources including:
 

• Space 1889 RPG
• The Challenger Corps and all it's members
• The United Kingdom of Planets Project created by Admiral Cory Gross
• The Panhistoria Novel "To Boldly Go Where No Gentleman Has Gone Before"
• the numerous Star Trek sources
• and all things Steampunk.