Steam locomotive “Rocket”

The “Rocket” steam locomotive was designed in 1829 by the English engineers George and Robert Stephenson. It determined the direction of subsequent steam locomotive development. Exhaust steam was discharged through the chimney, creating an air draught for better combustion in the firebox. The contact area between hot gases and water was increased by the numerous internal tubes in the boiler. These and other solutions enabled the locomotive to reach a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour, approximately 48 km per hour, at the special trials in Rainhill. As a result, it was chosen as the prototype for production locomotives of the world's first public railway, the Liverpool–Manchester Railway. The “Rocket” was fortunate to survive to the present day. It can now be seen at the Science Museum in London.