Rocket_2303_Shildon
The remains of Stephenson’s Rocket recently arrived at Locomotion, Shildon, 10th March 2023.
Locomotive History
Rocket was built by Robert Stephenson in 1829 for the Rainhill Trials organised by the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. It was the first steam locomotive to bring together several innovations to produce the most advanced locomotive of its day and easily won the trials. It is the most famous example of an evolving design of locomotives by Stephenson that became the template for most steam engines in the following 150 years. After service on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway it was used between 1836 and 1840 on Lord Carlisle's Railway mineral near Brampton, in Cumberland. During these ten years the engine was considerably modified. After lying out of use for over twenty years it was donated to the Science Museum in 1862 and would spend the next 150+ years on display at the museum. In 2018, it moved to the National Railway Museum at York and has now recently moved to Locomotion.
In 1979 a working replica of the 1829 version of Rocket was built by Locomotion Enterprises in the Springwell Workshops at the Bowes Railway for the 150th anniversary celebrations. This replica can also be found at Locomotion and is occasionally steamed (see first comment)
Rocket_2303_Shildon
The remains of Stephenson’s Rocket recently arrived at Locomotion, Shildon, 10th March 2023.
Locomotive History
Rocket was built by Robert Stephenson in 1829 for the Rainhill Trials organised by the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. It was the first steam locomotive to bring together several innovations to produce the most advanced locomotive of its day and easily won the trials. It is the most famous example of an evolving design of locomotives by Stephenson that became the template for most steam engines in the following 150 years. After service on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway it was used between 1836 and 1840 on Lord Carlisle's Railway mineral near Brampton, in Cumberland. During these ten years the engine was considerably modified. After lying out of use for over twenty years it was donated to the Science Museum in 1862 and would spend the next 150+ years on display at the museum. In 2018, it moved to the National Railway Museum at York and has now recently moved to Locomotion.
In 1979 a working replica of the 1829 version of Rocket was built by Locomotion Enterprises in the Springwell Workshops at the Bowes Railway for the 150th anniversary celebrations. This replica can also be found at Locomotion and is occasionally steamed (see first comment)