Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Martin (Admin) on November 23, 2017, 10:48:50 pm

Title: Stephenson's Rocket?
Post by: Martin (Admin) on November 23, 2017, 10:48:50 pm

Random Thursday question....
 
When Stephenson's built and named his locomotive, 'The Rocket',  what would he have in mind when naming the loco?



(https://www.american-rails.com/images/STPHRCKSKTCH.jpg)


(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8106/8655230601_fc7ecae76c_b.jpg)




Title: Re: Stephenson's Rocket?
Post by: raflaunches on November 23, 2017, 11:02:14 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong but wasn’t Stephenson’s Rocket the fastest loco of the era if not faster than any other man made machine. Rockets were used by various people and are obviously quite fast so I suppose that’s where the saying as fast as a rocket comes from! Either that or he was just very Victorian in his naming of machines! ok2
Title: Re: Stephenson's Rocket?
Post by: Baldrick on November 23, 2017, 11:48:08 pm


 Perhaps Stephenson was an ardent vegetarian and at the time he was seeking a name for his invention the lunchtime salad gave him inspiration. The engine could equally have been named Roquette.
Title: Re: Stephenson's Rocket?
Post by: bfgstew on November 24, 2017, 12:18:29 am
Historically no one seems to know, how it got its name or who gave it. It didn't have a name in his manafactory seems to be clear as his correspondance with his partner confirms, always using the term 'engine', never Rocket. Then it seems after it was dismantled and shipped down and rebuilt for the trials did the name Rocket appear.
The top picture I think is the Mk2 version of Rocket as the cylinders are set at 8 degrees instead of the 35 in the second image, this gave a smoother drive to the wheels.
Unless someone knows differently, the naming of it is lost in history with little or no fanfare........Stephenson didn't like blowing his own trumpet....!
Title: Re: Stephenson's Rocket?
Post by: Baldrick on November 24, 2017, 09:55:20 am
They don't make em like this anymore,


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXBwzC4JYC0
Title: Re: Stephenson's Rocket?
Post by: bfgstew on November 24, 2017, 10:08:27 am
Good old Buster Keaton........great comic track sequences. Love it when the donkey moves off when eventually they get pass it.