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Liverpool & Manchester Railway
 
Ericsson & Braithwaite's "Novelty"

The "Novelty" took part in the October 1829 Rainhill Trials on the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. It was designed by John Ericsson and John Braithwaite and was unusual in that it had a vertical boiler.
    

Weighing only 2 tons 3 cwt, the "Novelty" was the lightest of the locomotives in the Rainhill competition.  On the first day it distinguished itself by achieving 28 miles per hour. But then a series of steam leaks resulted in it being withdrawn from the competition.

 


Ericsson & Braithwaite's "Novelty".
 

This comparative picture of Ericsson & Braithwaite's "Novelty" was taken under unfortunate lighting conditions at the Manchester Museum of Science & Industry on 14th May 1997.  The "Novelty" had been broken up some time after the Rainhill Trains but the wheels remained, and these formed the basis of the reproduction seen in the photograph.

 
 
 
The vertical boiler, coal basket and pistons of "Novelty".
 
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A close up view of the vertical piston, with the vertical boiler in the background.  
 
Rainhill Trial Locomotive "Rocket"
Rainhill Trials Locomotive "Sans Pareil"
Rainhill Trials Locomotive "Novelty"  (this page)
Rules for Taking Part in the Rainhill Trials
  

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