Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive Rocket locomotive

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Steam locomotive, remains of Robert Stephenson's 0-2-2 locomotive 'Rocket', designed by Robert Stephenson and made by Robert Stephenson & Co., Newcastle upon Tyne, England, 1829 (see part records)

The Rocket, designed by Robert Stephenson (1803-1859), was the clear winner in the locomotive trials held at Rainhill in 1829 to decide the motive power for the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. It represented a substantial technical advance over previous designs,bringing together in one machine such developments as the multi-tube boiler and the blast-pipe. The speed of progress, however, meant that the Rocket was substantially rebuilt within 18 months and laid aside within 10 years. It was preserved in 1862 incomplete and semi-derelict but it had set the pattern for the future and remains the most significant of all early railway locomotives.

Details

Category:
Locomotives and Rolling Stock
Object Number:
1862-5
Materials:
iron, pine (wood), steel (metal) and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
Measurements:
overall: 4200 mm x 4300 mm x 2100 mm, (estimated) 3000 kg
type:
steam locomotive
credit:
Donated by Thompson and Sons

Parts

Stephenson's Rocket

Steam locomotive, remains of Robert Stephenson's 0-2-2 locomotive 'Rocket', designed by Robert Stephenson and made by Robert Stephenson & Co., Newcastle upon Tyne, England, 1829

More

The Rocket, designed by Robert Stephenson (1803-1859), was the clear winner in the locomotive trials held at Rainhill in 1829 to decide the motive power for the Liverpool & Manchester Railway.

Five locomotives competed at the Rainhill trials – Cycloped, built by Thomas Shaw Brandreth; Novelty, built by John Ericsson and John Braithwaite; Perseverance, built by Timothy Burstall; Sans Pareil, built by Timothy Hackworth; and the Rocket.

The Rocket was the only locomotive to successfully complete the trials, averaging 12 miles per hour and achieving a top speed of 30 miles per hour. The Stephensons won the £500 prize and were awarded the contract to produce locomotives for the Liverpool & Manchester Railway.

When the Liverpool & Manchester Railway was opened in 1830, Rocket, driven by John Locke, was approaching Parkside Station where dignitaries were gathered on the track after disembarking from their own special train. William Huskisson MP was unable to get off the track safely and Rocket collided with his leg as he tried to get out of its path. His injury proved to be fatal.

Stephenson’s Rocket represented a substantial technical advance over previous designs, bringing together in one machine such developments as the multi-tube boiler and the blast-pipe. The speed of progress, however, meant that the Rocket was substantially rebuilt within 18 months and laid aside within 10 years. It was preserved in 1862 incomplete and semi-derelict but it had set the pattern for the future and remains the most significant of all early railway locomotives.

In 1862, Rocket was donated to the Patent Office Museum in London, which became the Science Museum.

In 1998, Rocket went on display outside the UK for the first time, travelling to Japan for the Festival UK 98, a festival of British arts and science, opened by the then-Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Materials:
brass (copper, zinc alloy) , iron , pine (wood) and steel (metal)
Object Number:
1862-5/1
type:
steam locomotive
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Wheel cap, from Robert Stephenson's 0-2-2 locomotive 'Rocket', 1829.

wheel cap from steam locomotive, remains of Robert Stephenson's 0-2-2 locomotive "Rocket", 1829.

Object Number:
1862-5/2
type:
wheel component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Works plate from Rocket

Works plate from remains of Robert Stephenson's 0-2-2 locomotive "Rocket", 1829.

Object Number:
1862-5/3
type:
works plate
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum