Rocket under it's own power?

[sad1e]

When was the last time Rocket ran under it's own steam, has it even ran under it's own steam in preservation or has it been kept completely original for historical reasons?

 

[Spartacus]

I think the best estimates place it's last running some time around 1840.

 

[Harvester]

When was the last time Rocket ran under it's own steam, has it even ran under it's own steam in preservation or has it been kept completely original for historical reasons?

It does not appear to have been steamed since withdrawn from service around 1840, 185 years ago!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I think the best estimates place it's last running some time around 1840.

Was that on some local colliery line up in North East Cumbria?

 

[Spartacus]

Was that on some local colliery line up in North East Cumbria?

Yeah, Brampton.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Probably shows how quickly GB locomotive design had moved on in the 1830s if 'Rocket' was deemed, by the end of the decade, to be no longer suitable for hauling even the lightest of loads.

 

[simonw]

Probably shows how quickly GB locomotive design had moved on in the 1830s if 'Rocket' was deemed, by the end of the decade, to be no longer suitable for hauling even the lightest of loads.

Not going to be too many lines it would be any use on, even if they had an exceptionally high loading gauge

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co26704/rocket-locomotive

Pic of rocket in science museum

 

[Spartacus]

Probably shows how quickly GB locomotive design had moved on in the 1830s if 'Rocket' was deemed, by the end of the decade, to be no longer suitable for hauling even the lightest of loads.

It was that quick that Rocket was two generations behind the times as early as 1933, after Stephenson's Planet and then Patentee classes, that latter of which made Rocket look hopelessly outdated.

 

[simonw]

It was that quick that Rocket was two generations behind the times as early as 1933, after Stephenson's Planet and then Patentee classes, that latter of which made Rocket look hopelessly outdated.

Yep, I think it was well out of date by 1933.

 

[Spartacus]

Not going to be too many lines it would be any use on, even if they had an exceptionally high loading gauge

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co26704/rocket-locomotive

Pic of rocket in science museum

It wasn't so much the height (I'm sure cutting it down would have been done if needed), it was the weight, or rather lack of it. For the Rainhill Trials the axle loads were tightly controlled, which limited Rocket's pulling power. If you had decent loads or hills, a Rocket type loco wasn't the answer. The Patentee's tender alone was quite a bit heavier than the Rocket.

 

[Ploughman]

Which version of Rocket do you mean?

 

[sad1e]

Which version of Rocket do you mean?

The original 1829 built one.

 

[Bevan Price]

The original 1829 built one.

Yes - it is easy to forget that several replicas of Rocket have been built - some showing it in its "final" (modified) condition. One was built & steamed in/after 1980, coinciding with the 150th Anniversary of the Rainhill trials & related events.

Sadly costs and (un)available infrastructure will probably mean that any 200th Anniversary events in 2030 will be on a much smaller scale than 1980.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Yep, I think it was well out of date by 1933.

I think they might have meant 1833?

 

[simonw]

I think they might have meant 1833?

I'm sure they did.

 

[Spartacus]

I think they might have meant 1833?

Not wrong though, either way

 

[DJ_K666]

Probably shows how quickly GB locomotive design had moved on in the 1830s if 'Rocket' was deemed, by the end of the decade, to be no longer suitable for hauling even the lightest of loads.

Let's not forget, Rocket was built to do one thing and one thing only: Win the Rainhill Trials

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Let's not forget, Rocket was built to do one thing and one thing only: Win the Rainhill Trials

Indeed. £500 first prize for doing just that.

BTW, how much did 'Rocket' cost to be built, back in 1829?

 

[DJ_K666]

There was a budget limit of £550.