Hornby R30510 Liverpool & Manchester Railway Stephenson's Rocket DCC Ready - Era 1

Celebrate one of the most important locomotives in railway history with the Hornby Stephenson’s Rocket, presented as a solo locomotive model in its distinctive yellow livery and reproduced in detailed OO Gauge / 1:76 scale.

Despite its diminutive size, Stephenson’s Rocket represents a major milestone in the development of steam-powered railways. This highly detailed model combines the locomotive's historic appearance with modern model railway engineering, making it an appealing addition for steam enthusiasts, railway history collectors and OO Gauge modellers.

Built in 1829, Rocket was created to compete in the famous Rainhill Trials, a competition organised by the promoters of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway to determine suitable locomotive power ahead of the railway's opening the following year.

Designed by Robert Stephenson and constructed at his Forth Street Works in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Rocket incorporated advanced engineering for its time and went on to win the Rainhill Trials.

Its place in railway history was further secured in September 1830, when Rocket became one of four locomotives to participate in the opening parade of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.

This Hornby release presents Rocket on its own for the first time, allowing the historically significant locomotive to take centre stage in a railway collection.

Key Features

• Detailed model of Stephenson’s Rocket
• Presented as a solo locomotive
• Distinctive yellow livery
• Detailed OO Gauge / 1:76 scale
• Represents the historic 1829 steam locomotive
• Designed by Robert Stephenson
• Winner of the famous Rainhill Trials
• Historically connected with the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway
• DCC Ready
• Factory-fitted 6-pin DCC socket
• Compatible with Hornby HM7000-6 Bluetooth® & DCC Decoder
• Chain couplings
• Minimum operating curve of Radius 1
• Accessory pack included
• Figure pack included
• Instructions included
• Officially licensed product

The History of Stephenson’s Rocket

Built in 1829, Stephenson’s Rocket was created specifically to participate in the Rainhill Trials.

The competition had been organised by the promoters of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway to determine the most suitable motive power for the revolutionary new railway ahead of its planned opening in 1830.

At the instruction of his father, George Stephenson, who was the Liverpool and Manchester Railway's principal engineer at the time, Robert Stephenson designed Rocket.

The locomotive was constructed at Robert Stephenson's Forth Street Works in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Rocket's design represented some of the most advanced locomotive engineering of its era, and its performance resulted in victory at the Rainhill Trials.

The locomotive subsequently became one of four steam locomotives involved in the Liverpool and Manchester Railway's opening parade in September 1830.

Its achievements helped establish principles that would influence the development of steam locomotives and railways, giving Rocket an enduring place in railway history.

Technical Specifications

Model: Stephenson’s Rocket
Year: 1829
Designer: Robert Stephenson
Livery: Yellow
Scale: 1:76
Gauge: OO Gauge
DCC Status: DCC Ready
DCC Socket: 6-Pin
Minimum Curve: Radius 1
Coupling Type: Chains
Primary Decoder Compatibility: Hornby HM7000-6 Bluetooth® & DCC Decoder (6-pin)
Licensed: Yes

Dimensions

Length: 8.8 cm
Width: 3.5 cm
Height: 6 cm

Its compact 8.8 cm length reflects the diminutive proportions of this pioneering early steam locomotive and makes Rocket a fascinating contrast when displayed alongside later generations of British steam locomotives.

What's in the Box

• 1 x Stephenson’s Rocket Model Locomotive
• 1 x Accessory Pack
• 1 x Figure Pack
• 1 x Set of Instructions

DCC Information

Stephenson’s Rocket is supplied DCC Ready with a 6-pin decoder socket.

The specified primary decoder compatibility is the Hornby HM7000-6 Bluetooth® & DCC Decoder (6-pin), allowing the locomotive to be upgraded for digital operation.

A decoder is not stated as included and is required separately for DCC operation.

Perfect For

Steam locomotive enthusiasts, railway history collectors, Hornby collectors and OO Gauge modellers interested in the earliest years of steam-powered railway development.

Its association with the 1829 Rainhill Trials, victory in that historic competition and participation in the 1830 opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway make Stephenson’s Rocket much more than simply another steam locomotive model.

It is a miniature representation of one of the most significant machines from the formative years of the railway age.