Carrog Trials w 

In 2002 a film unit brought together all the 3 Rainhill Trials replica locomotives to record for the BBC Timewatch series a re-enactment of the 1829 locomotice trials. This took place at Carrog on the Llangollen Railway where a level stretch of track enabled the locomotives to compete as they had done on the level track at Rainhill in 1829. The original locomotive trials were set up by the Liverpool & Manchester Railway to settle the argument of the best way to operate the railway- ropes or locomotives. Until the Rainhill Trials, locomotives had been slow colliery-based haulage machines. The L & M was built as a modern two track railway is seen today, built to carry passengers and goods quickly between towns. The Trials encouraged locomotive builders of the time to make the most technically advanced machines they could. At Shildon Timothy Hackworth produced "Sans Pareil". At Newcastle Upon Tyne, Robert Stephenson produced "Rocket". In London, Braithwaite & Ericsson produced"Novelty".In the end Robert Stephenson constructed the most reliable one, "Rocket". Steam locomotives proved they could now reliably operate a regular timetable without the need for rope haulage to assist up inclines."Rocket" could reach speeds of over 30 miles per hour. In 1830 nowhere else on the planet could provide travel at such speeds. The modern world had dawned between the towns of Liverpool & Manchester.