13 Facts About Stephenson's Rocket

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

Stephenson's Rocket had 25 copper fire-tubes that carry the hot exhaust gas from the firebox, through the wet boiler to the blast pipe and chimney.

Stephenson's Rocket used a blastpipe, feeding the exhaust steam from the cylinders into the base of the chimney so as to induce a partial vacuum and pull air through the fire.

Subsequently, Stephenson's Rocket was modified so that the cylinders were set close to horizontal, a layout that influenced nearly all designs that followed.

At the time that Stephenson's Rocket was being designed and built at the Forth Banks Works, he was living in Liverpool overseeing the building of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.

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Stephenson's Rocket was in daily charge of designing and constructing the new locomotive.

Stephenson's Rocket is believed to have suggested to Robert Stephenson that a multi-tube boiler should be used.

Stephenson's Rocket was built at a time of rapid development of steam engine technology.

Robert Stephenson was able to report to Henry Booth on 5 September 1829 that Stephenson's Rocket had performed initial manufacturer tests with flying colours at Killingworth.

Stephenson's Rocket was dismantled at Newcastle and began the long trip to Rainhill: by horse wagon to Carlisle; lighter to Port Carlisle then by the Cumberland steamer to Liverpool for re-assembly on 18 September 1829.

In 1836, Stephenson's Rocket was sold for £300 and began service on the Brampton Railway, a mineral railway in Cumberland that had recently converted to Stephenson gauge.

In 1862, Stephenson's Rocket was donated to the Patent Office Museum in London by the Thompsons of Milton Hall, near Brampton.

In 1979, a further, working replica Stephenson's Rocket was built by Locomotion Enterprises in the Springwell workshops at the Bowes Railway for the 150th anniversary celebrations.