In the late 1820s, the Liverpool & Manchester Railway Company directors were committed to using steam power for their new railway but were divided on whether to use fixed engines or locomotives.  George Stephenson (1781–1848) was their “Engineer-in-Chief”. He was pro loco and also owner of a loco factory with son Robert & partners.  The board decided to offer a £500 prize for an improved locomotive meeting certain requirements.     Much attention had been given to the trials in press and many local and national news reporters came to witness them at Rainhill in October 1829.  On a number of days it is recorded there were 10 to 15,000 spectators present.

Only five competitors showed up on the first day of the trials.   A two mile stretch of track was chosen because it was straight and level.   The new railway had double track unlike with one being used for the trials.   At the end of the first day the judges returned to Liverpool to discuss how to assess the competitors.  Each trial would comprise ten trips on the test track which would be equivalent to the 35 miles to Manchester after allowing for accelleration and deceleration on each run.  More fuel and water would then be taken on a second ten trips made representing the return to Liverpool.

Driving a locomotive in 1829 was quite a skill. There were no brakes and drivers had to reverse power to slow down.

Novelty, unlike Rocket arrived at Rainhill ‘untested’on track, because there were no railway tracks in London.  At that time all railways were in the north.  People were however impressed with the loco.   An article in The Liverpool Chronicle stated ....”it passed the spectators with a rapidity which can only be likened to a flash of lightning”.     Novelty’s trial took place on Saturday but a water feed pipe burst and it had to be sent to a workshop Prescot for repairs.   Novelty had a total of three failures, the last being  during the final for the “grand prize”.

San Pareil’s trial took place on Wednesday the 14^th of October.

Robert Stephenson (1803–1859) built Rocket funded by George Stephenson & Henry Booth.  He built the loco at “Forth Street Works”, Newcastle but asked Booth to have the tender built by a particular coachbuilder in Liverpool because he thought they would do a better job. Rocket achieved 24 MPH on the first day and before the actual trials at Rainhill.  Rocket’s trial took place first on Thursday the 8th of October, 1829. While repair work was happening on Novelty, Rocket did more demonstrations.  On the inclines at Whiston & Sutton beyond the two mile stretch used for the trials, it was proved that stationary engines would not be needed.

Cycloped, which was actually operated by two horses that were carried onboard, achieved only half of the minimum specified speed and was not considered further.

Perseverance did not carry-out a trial as it had been damaged in transit after the long sea journey to Liverpool.

After plenty of time for it’s competitors to show what they could do, Rocket was eventually declared the winner. The directors agreed to award the prize to “Messrs Booth, Stephenson & Stephenson”. The L&MR purchased the loco and placed orders for another four before the end of October 1829.