Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 6.djvu/129

 GEORGE STEPHENSON 296 - Monitor." 2. The " Sanspareil," by Timothy Hackworth. 3. The " Perse- verance," by a Mr. Burstall. 4. " The Rocket," by Stephenson and Booth The programme of test fixed by the judges was to run over a level piece of the road at Rainhill, two miles long, forty times during a day, at a rate not less than ten miles per hour. The train was to weigh three and one-third times as much as the locomotive. Each engine was to have a day for trial. The " Perseverance " proved slow ; its best speed was not more than six miles per hour ; so it was quickly withdrawn. The " Sanspareil " was made by one of Stephenson's own foremen, and dif- fered little from the Killingworth style of locomotive. It was rather over weight, but it ran at times as fast as fourteen miles per hour. Its machinery was defec- tive, however, and it was ruled out by the judges. The " Novelty " ran at times in good style, but its bellows, for making a fire- blast, were defective and repeatedly gave out, causing delay. It failed to make the required speed with a full load ; by itself it is said to have run at the rate of twenty-eight miles per hour. Ericsson claimed that he had not had time to properly construct his locomotive, and the claim was probably just. As it was, the time was extended six days. The day assigned for " The Rocket " was the third day, but when on the sec- ond day all other engines failed, it was brought out to entertain the spectators. Attaching it to a coach full of passengers, Stephenson ran over the line at a rate reaching thirty miles per hour, to the amazement of all. The next morning " The Rocket " was subjected to the regular test. Its as- signed load was thirteen and a half tons, which it drew back and forth over the two-mile track the full stent of forty times, making a spurt at times as high as twenty-nine miles, about three times what had been declared possible by the judges ! Finally, to show how fast the engine could go and still keep the track, Mr. Stephenson ran it alone at the astonishing rate of thirty-five miles per hour. Thus did " The Rocket " surpass all records and all expectations. The enthu- siasm of every one was unbounded. All doubts were removed and Stephenson's opponents in the company became his ardent friends. His judgment seemed infallible, and his word was law. This victory at Rainhill completed the triumph of the Liverpool and Manches- ter Railway. The road was opened the following year, 1830, with most impos- ing ceremonies. Members of Parliament, lords and ladies, and even the great Duke of Wellington, honored the occasion by their presence, and rode on the excursion trains. The story of George Stephenson's great work is told. His railroad and his locomotive had come together, and to stay. All opposition was crushed, and no sooner was one road in successful operation than another, sometimes several, were on foot. George and Robert Stephenson were in demand everywhere, and their locomotive works were full of orders. In twenty years England had nearly ten thousand miles of railways. The spectacle of these two men, father and son, working together as equals