Line drawing of the contenders at the Rainhill Trials of 1829. The trials were run at Rainhill, near Liverpool, to determine which train would be used on the newly-completed Liverpool to Manchester railway. The contenders were (top to bottom): the Novelty, the Sanspareil and the Rocket. The Rocket, designed by George Stephenson, was the winner. By lucky coincidence, Stephenson had also been the builder of the railway itself.