The Rainhill trials began on October 6, 1829, to decide whether steam locomotives could reliably run the Liverpool–Manchester railway. Rocket's victory helped secure steam power's place on the new intercity line.
The Rainhill trials began on October 6, 1829, as the Liverpool and Manchester Railway tested whether steam locomotives could reliably power its new line. The winner was promised £500 and a contract to supply engines. An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people watched the first day.
Five of ten announced machines started: four steam engines and Cyclopede, powered by a horse on a treadmill. It withdrew after the horse fell through the floor. Timothy Burstall's Perseverance was damaged in transit and failed to reach the minimum speed of 16 kilometres per hour after repairs. The public favourite, Novelty, reached 45 kilometres per hour but withdrew because of leaks. Sans Pareil's cylinder cracked after eight runs, though the railway later bought it for £350.
George and Robert Stephenson's Rocket won. Its tubular boiler used 25 copper fire tubes to increase the heating surface. The locomotive completed the trials without a serious failure and reportedly reached 56 kilometres per hour on a solo run. The builders received the prize and an order for seven more engines.
The trials used a section of track nearly three kilometres long, which entrants were to traverse twenty times. Rules capped boiler pressure at about 3.4 bar and required two safety valves. Locomotives had to use coke and burn their smoke to avoid dangerous emissions for passengers. The precautions followed fatal boiler explosions in 1828.
The Liverpool–Manchester line opened on September 15, 1830, with regular service beginning the next day. In its first year, it carried 460,000 passengers and earned £101,829 from tickets, against a forecast of only £10,000. Freight brought in about £80,000 in 1833, exceeding the £50,000 estimate. Railway success helped fuel the investment boom later called Railway Mania. The Stephensons received an order from Nuremberg, where they built the Adler locomotive.