Rocket 150 - Official Programme II

Resource Type: Image | Posted on 18th November 2011 by Liam Physick

This is the second page of the official programme. It starts with a message from Sir Peter Parker, chairman of the British Railways Board welcoming visitors to Rainhill and emphasising the importance of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. The event timetable is then listed, and is followed by some information on the Rainhill Trials re-enactment. It is explained that the replicas of the Rocket, the Sans Pareil and the Novelty will pull three replica coaches with passengers on board and will run a course, starting in intervals. On each day, the winning locomotive is the one that completes the course quickest, with the engine achieving the quickest aggregate time over the three days being the overall winner. The programme explains, “We feel the test offers a reasonable challenge to the locomotives, their builders and handlers without in any way becoming too serious or attempting to overturn history! We certainly do not hold out any hope that the winner will henceforth be used to work trains on the line!”, a subtle reference to the abolition of steam traction on BR.

Tagged under: steam locomotives, rocket 150, rocket, british rail, sans pareil, novelty, rainhill trials re-enactment

Categorised under: Landmarks, Landscapes & Locomotives