Steam Locomotive Information

Here is the photo album for Liverpool & Manchester Railway No. 'Rocket', a 0-2-2 located in Shildon, Durham. If you would like to suggest additional photos for this album, please click here.

On display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester in December 2018.

The leading driving wheel. Wooden construction like contemporary road vehicle wheels, hooped with iron tyre. Boss is cast iron incorporating the crank pin. Connecting rod missing. Notice the innovation of springs to the driving axle. December 2018.

Right hand cylinder and slide bars. Notice that the cylinder has been relocated from it's original highly inclined position inline with the production series of locos. Slide bars are square section mounted to give a 'diamond' like effect. December 2018.

Rear view from the footplate. Notice the fire tubes - the secret of Rocket's performance at Rainhill and the feature that followed on all conventional steam locos. Firebox not yet incorporated into the boiler. Rear axle and wheels thought to be not the originals. Note the drive to the slide valves across the back of the firebox. As originally built with the steeply angle cylinders, the valve chest was underneath the cylinder. To relocate them they swapped them side to side - this was originally the left hand side one! December 2018.

View through the spokes of the left hand driving wheel reveals the original Stephenson valve gear. No moveable link at this point so no expansive working - just forward and reverse. The eccentrics were slip eccentrics, free on the axle. To engage forward or reverse, the eccentrics were moved left or right to engage the driving discs in the photo with dogs. The knuckle joints in the eccentric rods allow for this movement.

Two rivals from the Rainhill Trials of 1829 displayed together at Locomotion, Shildon on 11th may 2025. 'Rocket' is in the foreground and 'Sans Pareil', with a statue of Timothy Hackworth, is behind.

Displayed at the National Railway Museum on 13th December 2025.


Liverpool & Manchester Railway 0-2-2 No. 'Rocket' Shildon, Durham, UK	Location: Locomotion Museum Status: Display