The Rocket Locomotive Reached 36 Miles Per Hour in 1829

The Rocket was a pioneering railway locomotive built by George and Robert Stephenson that became the most famous steam locomotive of its era. In 1829, the Liverpool and Manchester Railway held a competition at Rainhill to select a locomotive for their new line. The Rocket won against three rivals, including an entry by John Ericsson, who later designed the ironclad warship Monitor for the Union forces during the American Civil War. For a short stretch during the trials, the Rocket achieved a remarkable speed of 36 miles per hour. This victory proved the viability of steam locomotives for passenger service and established design principles that influenced locomotive construction for over a century. The Rocket's success came from its innovative multitube boiler and its system of exhausting steam to create a draft in the firebox.