Stephenson's Rocket: How did this Steam Pioneer Change the World? | Curator with a Camera

3D models provided by Geoff Birse. Check out his amazing work at
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Built in 1829, Stephenson's Rocket found the winning formula for steam power and its innovations were adopted by steam locomotives for the ensuing 130 years.
As Anthony Coulls reveals, there's more to Rocket than its reputation as a genuinely revolutionary piece of engineering. Across its nearly 200-year life, this pioneer of steam has been involved in a number of accidents and been used in a variety of applications.
After a long stint at the Science Museum in London and the National Railway Museum in York, Rocket is currently based at Locomotion in Shildon, where it is on display next to its Rainhill Trials rival Sans Pareil. It will eventually return to the NRM in York, where it was filmed for this episode of Curator with a Camera.
To find out more about Locomotion, visit the museum's website: www.locomotion.org.uk/
To find out more about the National Railway Museum, that's here: www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/
Chapters
00:00-00:23 Intro
00:23-02:00 A brief history of Rocket and the Rainhill Trials
02:00-02:43 Not just a world-leader, but a workhorse
02:43-03:45 The boiler
03:45-04:25 Cylinders and connecting rods
04:25-05:07 Exhaust pipes and driving wheels
05:07-05:34 The first land speed record?
05:34-06:35 Modified smokebox
06:35-06:52 Bufferbeam
06:52-07:38 Sold in 1836 for colliery use
07:38-08:20 Cylinder refinements
08:20-09:28 Rocket's final owner and missing pieces
09:28-10:15 Science Museum makeover
10:15-11:13 What is left of the original Rocket?
11:13-12:12 Rocket's place in history
12:12-12:45 Like and subscribe!
#railways #trains #steam

[@dannyseville2543]

People say it doesn't deserve a place in the museum???? Whoever says that obviously doesn't know the significance it has in locomotive history.

[@thomasm1964]

I think Anthony should name names!

[@davidty2006]

It was sat in the science museum for think a good hundread years. Can do with a new coat of yellow paint on the boiler.

[@TheRip72]

It is the most significant artefact in the museum, beating Mallard into second place. Last time I was there, it was tucked away in a dark alcove in the station hall. I thought it was worthy of a much more prominent place.

[@fredbloggs8072]

One of the most significant machines ever in the history of our civilisation ...doesn't deserve to be in the museum. I guess you can't fix stupid.

[@paulwhite6745]

If Rocket doesn't deserve a place in the museum then no engine does, might as well shut the place down and sell the lot off for scrap! Seriously, what kind of idiot fails to appreciate the historical importance of this loco?

[@thesteelrodent1796]

Denmark's first proper locomotive, Odin, was more or less a direct descendent of Rocket. It was built by Stephenson in Manchester in 1846. They basically took everything they learned from Rocket and shoved it into a more solid engine, and while an improvement over the original design, it also still had a lot of obvious similarities. Odin was sadly lost over the years, but in 2004 a group started on a 1:1 replica of it, which took 14 years before it went out on its first journey in 2018 - and became the first steam engine to be built in Denmark in 60 years ;)

[@brianbarker2551]

How could it NOT belong in the Museum, it's the grandfather to everything that came after! It's the Wright Brothers airplane of the railway world.

[@vectorbrony3473]

Exactly. It showed what the potential of steam locomotives using these designs could do. And it allowed for Stevenson and others to build bigger and stronger locomotives based on the ideas installed in Rocket.

[@wheelie-z7635]

Next episode should be the replica of Rocket

[@monstermind9380]

Well I mean you didn't get Rocket but you did get Sans Pareil. 🤷‍♂️

[@mreckes9967]

There wouldn't be an engineer anywhere in the world that wouldn't give Rocket pride of place in your museum, the fact that so much of it still exists is great.

[@roygardiner2229]

To observe Rocket travelling at 35 m.p.h. must have astounded, even frightened, most people. What great engineers there were at that time!

[@MiaCollinsNeighborhood]

Well trains have most certainly evolved!

[@ScotSteam47]

when you consider what the track was like too? Crikey they must have been hanging on for dear life lol

[@garryferrington811]

How amazing that the museum has the remains of this incredibly historic engine! 😯

[@derekloudon8731]

Thank you for explaining why Rocket looks like it does now. I must admit that when I recently visited the museum I was astounded at the condition of the loco. I am now a wiser person and will appreciate Rocket more on my next visit.

[@nickhale2900]

Many thanks for yet another fascinating episode and boy, what a loco to feature. I just can't fathom why some individuals feel it has no place in the museum, when, in fact, it ireason a railway museum exists. It is the pinnacle of the history of locomotion not only in this country but around the world!

[@CustomiZe_]

Exactly, Flying Scotsman has so many new parts that its hardly original but people still love it

[@TheRip72]

@@CustomiZe_ Don't get me started on Flying Scotsman. How is it significant? The first 100mph loco? No, that was City of Truro. Upping the standard of London-Scotland services? No, that was the service after which the loco was named. Its only true significance is that it bankrupted more owners than any of their other possessions.

[@CustomiZe_]

@@TheRip72 Flying Scotsman was first loco to go 100mph officially, City of Turo only went 100mph through word of mouth. Also its significant because it was the first steam loco to circumnavigate the globe. And it did the longest non stop run of 422 miles while in Australia. So I would say that's pretty significant.

[@ironmaidentragic]

People thinking this engine doesn't belong in the museum is one of the more astounding things I've ever heard.

[@LordPhobos6502]

I always wondered why Rocket looked so completely different from the original - never knew it had such a drastic rebuild! Thankyou for the great video & history lesson! 🙂

[@rogerking7258]

You could say that Rocket was the first locomotive to include all the main features of the modern (ish) locomotive, but Planet was the first locomotive to put all of those features in the correct places.

[@rothgarn19]

Amazing locomotive. It derves a place in the museum. With out rocket we wouldnt have steam locomotives. Im from the USA and i love studying the history of steam locomotives.

[@juango500]

Waiting for a video talking about Trevithick's role in railway pioneering

[@Boundsinator01]

^^ this

[@paulwhite6745]

This series seems to be looking at surviving locomotives displayed in the museum. Trevithick's place in locomotive history is obvious, since he effectively invented the very first loco to run on rails, but unfortunately that first loco hasn't survived to be displayed in a museum - which is a pity.

[@adeerdoes]

People who think this remarkable engine doesn't deserve a place in the National Railway Museum need to get their heads checked!.. For all intensive purposes, this is genesis for the modern steam locomotive

[@davidscholz3041]

I've especially wanted to mention that I personally found out that the famous locomotive designed by Robert Stephenson himself known as the Stephenson's Rocket from the year of exactly 1829 respectfully to win the legendary Rain Hill Trials to gain a specifically certain £500 prize as well as a specifically certain contract to construct locomotives for the Liverpool & Manchester Railway @ a certain top speed of close to 20 MPH with rolling stock very easily, but also apparently a certain top speed of 35 MPH light-engine!

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

STEPHEN A K A THE ROCKET: (CHUCKLES) HEY, LOOK; IT'S MY OWN OFFICIAL REAL-LIFE LOCOMOTIVE COUNTERPART!

[@AussiePom]

Although George and Robert Stephenson built Rocket they'd been building lumbering slow colliery engines that at a push might get to 10mph but were happy at 4-5mph . It was William Booth who designed Rocket's firebox the firebox every other steam engine had after Rocket to the end of the steam engine era. William Booth is now a forgotten person of railway history but it was his firebox design that made Rocket fast. The heating surface was so much greater than anything that had gone before it.

[@56NeilWatson]

It's amazing that such a significant piece of history has survived time so well. As an aside, the prototype Mosquito survived, which is VERY rare in the aircraft world.

[@SteveMikre44]

Outstanding Curator with a Camera episode...🚂🇬🇧

[@TheEerieMaster]

Am I the only one who really loves Rocket's raty and worn appearance? Looking at pristine engines in preservation is nice, but it's also nice to see "battle damage" on a almost 200 year old engine...

[@JRS06]

Who said this doesn't belong in a museum? That's like saying a WW1 biplane doesn't deserve to be in a museum because it's battle damaged and can't fly. I was blown away when I saw this last year. Are there any plans to keep it or any of the locos in the station hall on display to the public until the hall is renovated?

[@Bowsy-1120]

Who the hell says it doesn't deserve to be in a museum? Honestly my biggest issue with it is that its in a somewhat dark corner of the museum (Or it was when I was there to the point where my parents walked past it and said they didnt even see it.) I'd want to see it fully illuminated to be able to study every detail.

[@gigteevee6118]

Absolutely facilitating, so much more history to know!

[@thomasm1964]

05:23 "It's faster than the horses at the time ..." Apparently, they can run faster nowadays.

[@OfficiallyANerd]

They probably can with selective breeding

[@kkobayashi1]

I've heard it claimed that Romans and ancient Greeks used chariots because horses were smaller and weaker back then.

[@SaturnCanuck]

That was amazing. I had no idea she was made for trials or a competition, similar to the how the Ryan NYP (Spirit of St Louis) was built for the Orteig Prize. While conservation is paramount, I wonder why she has never had a restoration to bring back her pieces as she should have appeared then.

[@AdamJRichardson]

You've really upped your graphics/animation game recently, great stuff!

[@mrsulzer5913]

I supplied the 3D animations

[@thegameoflife9179]

I feel proud to have been born in one of the towns where this amazing locomotive made its first record breaking journey... go rocket go 👍

[@alanhindmarch4483]

Again another excellent video.

[@colinlothlorian]

Curator with a passion, your best yet.

[@roberthocking9138]

What a great video of the very origins of our railways. Excellent work

[@mrsulzer5913]

great video, loved the 3D animations

[@nameless5512]

Without this engine, we wouldn’t have a the car, or easy commerce in general. Its builder laid the foundation for all rail systems, and therefore, modern society. People still don’t quite get how much we still depend on rails, since they travel faster than most things on land, and can carry more than a fleet of trucks. And all that, because this thing won a competition way back in time.

[@trainskitsetc]

A working replica but in the final form would be most interesting.

[@jackking5567]

What blows my mind is that even the nuts and bolts were hand made. Hand made using very basic and early hand made tools!

[@MiaCollinsNeighborhood]

Man, you guys definitely know how to rocket!

[@FreedomLovingLoyalistOfficial]

And someone, please do a model of Rocket in it's Green L&M Livrey. I really want it!

[@robertstevenson4910]

I completely love how closely my full name is to Robert Stephenson. The only difference is, instead of a “ph” my family has “v”. (Stevenson) What quite funny is that my granddad is called George stevenson.

[@johnd8892]

At what period did the reinforcing plate from the crank pin to the wheel edge get added ? As seen in the later drawing but not in the early drawings nor being present on the preserved remains.

[@DangerAngelous]

I'd love to know more about the history of "What we thought Rocket(and by extention the Liverpool and Manchester rolling stock) looked like over time" with those old curators, the replica rocket and then 12:26 this 3D model, and even still the drawing on the wall that all aren't quite the same outline or features

[@mrsulzer5913]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXq4aGmneq1jgLc

[@malcolmbrown3532]

In many regards rather like my Audi TT roadster, Rocket was something of a "concept" design. Insomuch as it proved most of it's features the multi tubular boiler and blast pipe to name but two parts that already existed elsewhere. Granted there were modifications made to the "production version" of the loco in light of experience at the trails to great success....

[@Biker_Gremling]

When I was a child, I used to have a VHS set of the animated history of mankind. Sufficient to say that the tape containing the birth of the railroad was quitte worn. Also, I stil have to this day a book called "Donald and the Railroad", which depicted the struggles of Stephenson coming up with the best steam loco yet to be seen, and the woes of the trial that Rocket won.

[@TheSudrianTerrier653]

What happened to the Tender???

[@owenrichardson1419]

I have been interested in how Rocket and the other engines made the journey from Newcastle to Liverpool in Rocket's case. I believe it made a journey across the country to the coast and then by sea. Is there any drawings or paintings.

[@SaulsSodor]

Yes

[@nozyspy4967]

This is almost a bit spooky. Like some ancient mummified beast.

[@Mackeson3]

One of the other Rainhill competitors "Sans Pareil" had to withdraw from The Trials because of a cracked cylinder. The cylinder in question was manufactured by non other than Robert Stephenson and co. which caused a few at the time to think that maybe they had deliberately sold Timothy Hackworth (The builder of that engine) a 'dodgy' cylinder so they couldn't possibly win it. The design thickness for the cylinder walls was some 1+3⁄4 inches, but at the point of failure, it was found to be a mere 5⁄8 inch . Hmm 🤔

[@mikebrown3772]

Hackworth had Stephenson's works cast at least twenty cylinders and he chose what he thought were the best two.

[@titanicbigship]

Cool

[@joginns778]

In 1988 my husband worked with moveright international to take rocket out the science museum London to an airfield near swindon then in 1989 he went to japan with rocket his job was to connect and disconnect her chimney at every event her first showing was in an old bank in kobe,

[@allangibson8494]

Actually Mr Guinness was around (and given the company’s interest in steam may have been at the trials). The book was however in the future.

[@petercadman5365]

Does Invicta, the next engine built be the Stevenson's, also have a multiple tube boiler ?

[@mrsulzer5913]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/foXTqGWkirmmsNE

[@TheWacoKid1963]

Whatever happened to the replica of Rocket that was built at Bowes Railway Museum near Gateshead?

[@FreedomLovingLoyalistOfficial]

What other liveries has Rocket been in?

[@spankflaps1365]

Only on its second smokebox! Flying Scotsman has had at least four smokeboxes, and it’s half the age of Rocket.

[@paulkeith9680]

I think flying Scotsman is has done a few more miles in the last 100 years than Rocket...

[@LakhsTsoyknikas]

nice trAIN AMAZING

[@thelastpilot4582]

Excellent a real insight into how it developed I believe there is a full size replica of the original is that so?

[@TheRip72]

Yes, the replica is also on display. I believe that is still steamed sometimes too.

[@mikus4242]

An Icon

[@user-nd4zx3ik5c]

Hey Anthony. Did you know that Toby's leaving the island of sodr

[@andrewdale5473]

Why did the trial ask for the fuel to be COKE rather than COAL?

[@mrsulzer5913]

The engines smokeless

[@mutantthegreat7963]

I always thought it was called "The Rocket"

[@Fchops11]

Why was the museum stashion closed

[@solarflare623]

Have you guys ever thought about making new replacement parts?

[@nikerailfanningttm9046]

If you know Rocket, you can’t forget her cousin: JOHN BULL! Proudly preserved at the National Museum Of American History here in the states!

[@davidty2006]

Blimey thing last ran in 1980's. Meanwhile Rocket hasn't ran ever since being put on static display.

[@ReggieArford]

And a replica is occasionally run at The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. Runs well!

[@Dominic_Kim-]

How did they find Rocket?

[@Combes_]

InterCity 35 😂

[@ryanbarker4083]

4:47 😂who’s that?

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

From 45 degrees to 8 degrees: how was the optimum angle for the cylinders assessed? Why did it end up being 8 degrees? Why not, let's say, 22.5 degrees - so half the original angle - or maybe 11.25 degrees, a quarter of the original? How or why did it end up being (exactly) 8 degrees? 🤔

[@mrsulzer5913]

After rainhill further speed trials were conducted and improvments to the twin blast pipe to increase its speed, the high angle of the cylinders caused a rocking motion, so following Rockets last accident of which it had four which involved the supporting cylinder frame to be damaged. It was decided to fit the cylinder just so they cleared the rialing wheels which would have been about 8 degrees. Following the Rainhill trials stephenson received an order for 4 rocket type engines these all had the cylinders fitted at 8 degrees from the factory .

[@user-ht7fs3nh8p]

Very proud to be George's Great granddaughter His daughter Catherine is my Grandmother

[@rankepicdino8194]

where did the tender go?

[@caseaces9276]

It was lost to time It simply didn’t survive along the locomotive unfortunately

[@victormiranda9163]

hex nuts? I thought square was the common type back in the 1830's? Also have to add I liked Novelty more than Rocket.

[@funster73mcr2]

Could do with some better lighting around the exhibit.

[@frostedbutts4340]

Yeah this part of the museum is getting a big renovation so this is temporary

[@2025SPACEDUDE]

Who thought this was a completely different engine when you first saw it

[@madguernseyboy]

is the rocket in the science museum london a replica?

[@johnharrison6808]

This video is of the Rocket that was on display at the Science Museum.

[@madguernseyboy]

@@johnharrison6808 thanks I though he was at York.

[@dansterland1824]

If it wasnt for rocket we wouldnt have engines like flying scotsman or mallard

[@Car_Axle_g0v]

batman needs ur help😨

[@understeer1018]

still waiting for that pacer vid

[@leolee2769]

It's that just a copy of stephenson's rocket now or it is the real one?

[@NatRailwayMuseum]

It's the real, original version, nearly 200 years old. Since this video was filmed, Rocket has gone on display at Locomotion while we do some (a lot) of work in Station Hall. Thanks for watching

[@bofty]

Here I was thinking this was lost to time and only the replica existed!

[@scmorton2370]

Lest hope rocket stays at NRM not the science musum could not understand why it was there in first place one of the pioneers deserves a better place and be able to see bolth sides.

[@Arkay315]

Stephenson's claim to fame, the one and only yellow pioneer- rocket

[@emmabird9745]

Hi Andrew. Lovely video. I have one complaint and that is your use of the term DNA. A locomotive is not an organic life form. It does not have DNA, unless your referring to that resident in the bits of wood. You're not alone in this missuse of the term but missuse it is. DNA is a property of organic life not of artifacts.

[@frostedbutts4340]

It must be hard living with such severe autism Emma. I hope you can get help.

[@emmabird9745]

@@frostedbutts4340 Hi Alex, perhaps you explain your leap of logic that suggests Autism. Perhaps I can discover something interesting.

[@garryferrington811]

You've never heard of metaphor? "DNA" isn't meant to be taken literally.

[@emmabird9745]

@@garryferrington811 Hi Garry. I'm very aware that the general public grab terms and missuse them at will. I don't really mind that. However, Anthony is a representative of the Science Museum (the NRM is a part). As a scientist, I would like representatives of the Science Museum to better respect true science. There are plenty of words that mean characteristics, indeed that is one of them. I'm not going to lose sleep over it but it is nice to be right over some things. Incidentally, "metaphor" did feature in English lessons at school.

[@amazingdecks1]

I hate to burst a bubble but Rocket was merely a continuation of the work of Trevithick, Hackworth and others and didn't contain an original Stephenson idea. My comment isn't to take away from what Stephenson delivered at Rainhill or Stephenson's later amazing accomplishments, but correct the impression many have that Stephenson was the inventor of the steam engine. The Rocket was the culmination of the work of others. I am very disappointed that the NRM doesn't provide the credit the Agenoria, as one example, deserves - it's hidden next to a bunch of huge, modern locomotives. If you want to know the history of steam engines, you won't find it at the NRM.