The Rainhill Trials was an important competition run in October 1829 to test George Stephenson’s argument that locomotives would provide the best motive power for the nearly completed Liverpool and Manchester Railway.

Stephenson’s Rocket was the only locomotive to complete the trials, and was declared the winner.

Base 8 have loved learning about the Rainhill Trials and in challenge time designed and made their own steam engines before recreating the competition in school.