The First steaming of Rocket

The replica of Stephenson's Rocket was built in 1979 by Locomotion Enterprises in the Engineering Shop at Springwell. Some images of the construction are shown below

The driving wheels 'parked' next to the Lang lathe in the Shop
© P Norman

The boiler has been assembled and work is commencing on the motion
© P Norman

Here, the tender has been railed ready for finishing and final painting
© P Norman

When Rocket was outshopped, a launch ceremony was held in Springwell Colliery Yard. The loco was officially named by Dame Margaret Weston. For the occasion, it was decided not to operate Rocket in the Yard, mainly for safety reasons. The loco was jacked up on a frame with the driving wheels clear of the rails so that it could be steamed and the wheels turned for the occasion, as the image below shows. The first public steaming therefore occurred on the Bowes Railway at Springwell.

This page last updated 9th April 2007