Stephenson's “Rocket”

When the Liverpool and Manchester Railroad Directors were about to decide upon the type of motive power, sentiment in favour of steam was at low ebb. Stephenson finally persuaded the Directors to consent to a public trial of locomotives to be held on 25th April, 1829, and the successful performance of his locomotive “Rocket” not only determined steam as the road's motive power, but did much to promote the use of steam on other roads. In this test the “Rocket” hauled a coach containing 30 passengers at a speed of 29 miles per hour. On the following day it pulled 13 tons forward and backward on the two miles of railroad until 35 miles were covered. The locomotive had two cylinders working in an oblique position and weighed four and a half tons.