Stephenson's Rocket

Stephenson's Rocket was an early steam locomotive. It was built for, and won, the Rainhill Trials held by the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1829 to choose the best design to power the railway.

Rocket was designed by Robert Stephenson in 1829, and built at the Forth Street Works of his company in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Though Rocket was not the first steam locomotive, it was the first to bring together several innovations to produce the most advanced locomotive of its day. 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.

Discovery Museum, Newcastle, UK.