Steam Locomotive Information

Here are the notes for Manchester Museum of Science & Industry No. 'Planet', a 2-2-0 located in Manchester, Lancashire. If you have additional information about this locomotive, and would like to share it, click the Add Note button.

Posted: Jul 19, 2024 @ 10:07:53 by Russell Newman
The 1992 built replica Liverpool & Manchester Railway 2-2-0 "Planet", has since been put in static display at the Science & Industry Museum (formely known as the Museum of Science and Industry) and might not ever steam again as the museum will no longer be operating heritage trains at the Liverpool Road Station site as the museum has submitted plans to transform its outdoor public spaces, improving accessibility "while retaining and celebrating the globally significant industrial beauty and heritage of the site". Under the first phase of those plans, to be delivered by the summer of 2025 following the reopening of the renovated Power Hall, the museum aims to create accessible walking routes across the Upper Yard and 1830 built viaduct. While the current railway lines on the site will remain in situ, they will be resituated "in a cobbled landscape instead of stones, akin to when the railway workforce would have been able to cross the area", with a "static locomotive" position on the tracks outside the station for display. They has not been any train operations at the museum since 2018, and there are no current plans to overhaul "Planet" for now and the locomotive will remain on display in their Power Hall for now.

Posted: Apr 14, 2008 @ 13:04:04 by Steve Frost
Robert Stephenson had complete faith in the locomotive as the right means of power on the railway. He was involved in the incredibly rapid transformation of the locomotive from the lumbering, slow moving, complex beast of the 1820s into a reliable form of rapid transport for both passengers and goods. He believed in the multi fire tube boiler with an integral firebox, a smokebox and a blastpipe for the exhaust. Here we see a replica of his 'Planet' type for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway where the classic British inside cylinder loco's features are all present - except a six wheel chassis. (This was achieved a short time later with his 'Patentee' 2-2-2) A replica of a significant step in steam locomotive engineering. The original dated from 1830 - what a big step from 'Rocket' of 1829 and what a giant leap from the earlier locos like 'Locomotion' of 1825. Its as if the Wright Brothers had gone from their 'Flyer' to something like a Douglas DC3 in about 4 years!

Posted: Aug 5, 2005 @ 20:08:43 by Tyler

The MMofS&I's replica of the Stephenson Planet was completed in 1991. It gives rides at the museum.

Cylinders: 12x16

Driver Diameter: 69in

Boiler Pressure: 50psi

Total Weight Including Tender: 14.8tons


Manchester Museum of Science & Industry 2-2-0 No. 'Planet' Manchester, Lancashire, UK	Location: Science & Industry Museum Status: Display (Replica)