21st February 1804: World’s first recorded locomotive-hauled railway journey takes place at the Penydarren Ironworks in South Wales

On 21 February 1804, Richard Trevithick’s steam locomotive successfully pulled a load of ten tons of iron, as well as several passengers and workmen, along a 9.75 mile route from Penydarren Ironworks in South Wales in just over 4 hours.

8th October 1829: Robert Stephenson’s steam locomotive Rocket wins the Rainhill Trials to produce locomotives for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway

By the end of the competition Rocket was the only engine to complete the full course without suffering any damage, securing Stephenson the contract to manufacture locomotives for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway that opened the following year.