Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Shildon The ‘Rocket' Locomotive
AO Edited

The ‘Rocket' Locomotive

This innovative steam machine was no doubt the most famous of the pioneer locomotives.

Shildon, England

Added By
Luis Morato
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The Rocket as preserved in the Science Museum, London   William M. Connolley
A closer view of the Rocket displayed in the Science Museum, London   Flickr user Elsie esq. / Les Chatfield
A contemporary drawing of Rocket   Mechanics magazine, 1829.
A working replica of Robert Stephenson’s’s 1830 locomotive Planet   G-Man at English Wikipedia
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

While it is true that the train built by George Stephenson and his son Robert in 1829 was not the first steam locomotive, it was the most advanced at the time, and the model that inspired all the other locomotives over the following 150 years. 

Dubbed the "Rocket," the locomotive became famous, especially after winning the Rainhill Trials design competition held by the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. It was recognized for its tall chimney at the front, cylindrical boiler in the middle, and separate firebox at the back of the engine. All these innovations came to be essential elements that were preserved until the end of the era of steam. 

Stephenson called his locomotive the Rocket because of a biased article in a regional newspaper that claimed people would rather go to the Moon in a rocket than ride in such an extravagant vehicle as a steam-powered train. Reference was made to the frequent serious accidents with steam machines.

They were partly right. At the ceremony on the opening day of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway in 1830—a momentous event that attracted prominent guests like the British Prime Minister and Duke of Wellington—a member of parliament was hit and killed by the Rocket locomotive.

Nevertheless, the engine enjoyed many years of service. The machine is still preserved at the National Railway Museum in York. As of March 2023, the Rocket has been relocated to the Locomotion Museum in Shildon while the York Railway Museum is under renovation.

Related Tags

Trains Railroads Steam Machines Technology Transportation

Know Before You Go

Since 2023, the rocket has been based at the Locomotion Museum in Shildon.

Community Contributors

Added By

Luis Morato

Edited By

zydeko, linkogecko, drybrarian, SEANETTA...

  • zydeko
  • linkogecko
  • drybrarian
  • SEANETTA
  • rbenn250

Published

January 30, 2018

Updated

February 15, 2024

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephenson%27s_Rocket
  • https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rocket
  • https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/23/our-elgin-marbles-stephensons-rocket-returns-to-north
The ‘Rocket' Locomotive
Dale Road Industrial Estate
Shildon, England, DL4 2RE
United Kingdom
54.624265, -1.63096
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Winston Churchill's Funeral Train

Shildon, England

miles away

The Mining Art Gallery

Bishop Auckland, England

miles away

Auckland Castle Deer House

Bishop Auckland, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Shildon

Shildon

England

Places 2

Nearby Places

Winston Churchill's Funeral Train

Shildon, England

miles away

The Mining Art Gallery

Bishop Auckland, England

miles away

Auckland Castle Deer House

Bishop Auckland, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Shildon

Shildon

England

Places 2

Related Places

  • Port Erin, Isle of Man

    Isle of Man Steam Railway

    A 150-year-old steam locomotive crosses the southern half of the island daily.

  • Çamlik Railway Museum.

    Selçuk, Turkey

    Çamlik Railway Museum

    This beautiful train graveyard is one of the largest collections of steam locomotives in the Mediterranean and Europe.

  • ‘The Queen’ replica on display.

    Windsor, England

    'The Queen' Locomotive

    A replica of the steam engine that hauled Queen Victoria's Royal Train is on display at Windsor.

  • VECTORR in the Mendocino vineyard

    Ukiah, California

    Vectorr Train Prototype

    A working model of a pressure-driven, high-speed rail whizzes around a private vineyard.

  • Looking up at the Highball Signal.

    Delmar, Delaware

    Highball Signal

    This relic is one of the last survivors of the earliest eras of the American railroad.

  • Riga, Latvia

    Latvian Railway History Museum

    A collection of historical engines and rolling stock from throughout Riga's rich railway history.

  • TY 51 locomotive.

    Krakow, Poland

    Kraków-Płaszów Train Graveyard

    This cemetery of rusting Soviet-era steam locomotives and train cars offers an apocalyptic glimpse into a bygone era.

  • Richmond, Virginia

    The Triple Crossing

    Where three rails and three centuries of transportation meet.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.