Liverpool – Manchester Railway – Timeline

1820
Liverpool – An Expanding Port

Manchester – Centre of Industry

The Problem – How to transport goods from Manchester to Liverpool for export?

Use Canals (Slow & Expensive)
Use Turnpike roads (also slow, rough and sometimes dangerous)

1822
First proposal for a railway by William James (businessman) who had seen early railways operating in coal mines in North East England.

Support from other businessmen, including John Moss (Liverpool banker), Henry Booth, Joseph Sanders and Charles Lawrence (Lord Mayor of Liverpool).

1824
First proposal to Parliament

Proposal opposed by:

Canal Owners
Wealthy landowners

Plans rejected.

1826
New proposals

Revised route, objectors overcome. Plans for railway accepted by Parliament. Company formed. George Stephenson appointed Engineer.

1826
Work begins.
Chat Moss;
Liverpool (Tunnel)

1828
Sankey Viaduct
Newton Bridge
Chat Moss

1829
The Railway begins to take shape

The Problem – How to operate the Trains?

Three Alternatives:

Horses
Steam Locomotives
Stationary Winding Engines

1829
Rainhill Locomotive Trials
Railway promoters decide to hold a competition;
Who can design the best steam locomotive to work on Railway?

Prize: £500

Location: Rainhill (1 -mile course)

Each competitor to run total distance of 70 miles pulling a load three times its own weight at not less than 10 mph.

Five entrants:
Rocket; Novelty; Sans Pareil, Perseverance; Cyclopede (powered by horses)

6th October 1829 – The Trials Begin

Great Carnival Atmosphere
12,000 – 15 ,000 people
Engineers & Scientists present
Newspaper representatives
Observers from America, France, Germany
Ladies & gentlemen from Liverpool, Manchester, St.Helens and Warrington
Many arrive by horse-drawn carriages of all shapes and sizes
Atmosphere much like a horse race
Spectators line the track
300 special constables employed to keep order
Large tent erected for Ladies
Band played music
Directors of Railway Company each wears a white ribbon

Cyclopede & Perseverance soon withdrawn.
Crowd’s favourite – Novelty followed by ‘Sans Pareil’; then ‘Rocket’.
‘Rocket’ entered by George Stephenson and built by his son, Robert, wins easily, because – technically, it was the most advanced.

1830 Railway Completed

15 September 1830 – Grand Opening

Duke of Wellington (Prime Minister) present.
Eight trains run from Liverpool to Manchester.
Accident at Parkside. Trains stop for water, passengers walk on track. William Huskisson (MP for Liverpool) is run over by a train and killed.
Despite this, opening ceremonies continue; the railway is an immediate success.
Introduces concept of speed into society.
Leads to expansion of railway network in Britain, Europe, America and throughout the world.

Visit the Virtual Museum to see more.

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