Rocket
An early steam locomotive of 0-2-2 wheel arrangement, built in Newcastle at the Forth Street Works of Robert Stephenson and Company in 1829. It was the first 'modern' locomotive, and the template for most steam locomotives since.
Rocket was designed and built to compete in the Rainhill Trials, St. Helens, Merseyside, a competition to select the locomotive type for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, on 6 to 14 October 1829. Rocket fulfilled the key requirement of the contest that a full simulated 50 mile (80km) round trip under load be completed with satisfactory fuel consumption. It averaged 12 miles per hour while hauling 13 tons and 29 miles per hour running light.
After service on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, Rocket was used near Tindale village on Lord Carlisle's Railway in Cumberland (now Cumbria).
