CHAP. XIII. THE PKIZE AWARDED. 273 



for making another trial of his " Sanspareil." But the 

 judges had now had enough of failures ; and they 

 declined, on the ground that not only was the engine 

 above the stipulated weight, but that it was constructed 

 on a plan which they could not recommend for adoption 

 by the directors of the Company. One of the principal 

 practical objections to this locomotive was the enormous 

 quantity of coke consumed or wasted by it about 

 692 Ibs. per hour when travelling caused by the sharp- 

 ness of the steam blast in the chimney, which blew a 

 large proportion of the burning coke into the air. 



The " Perseverance " of Mr. Burstall was found unable! 

 to move at more than five or six miles an hour ; and itJ 

 was withdrawn from the contest at an early period] 

 The " Rocket " was thus the only engine that had per- 

 formed, and more than performed, all the stipulated 

 conditions ; and it was declared to be fully entitled to 

 the prize of 500/., which was awarded to the Messrs.! 

 Stephenson and Booth accordingly. And further to i 

 show that the engine had been working quite within its 

 powers, Mr. Stephenson ordered it to be brought upon 

 the ground and detached from all incumbrances, when, 

 in making two trips, it was found to travel at the 

 astonishing rate of thirty-five miles an hour. 



The " Rocket " had thus eclipsed the performances of 

 all locomotive engines that had yet been constructed, 

 and outstripped even the sanguine anticipations of its 

 constructors. It satisfactorily answered the report of 

 Messrs. Walker and Rastrick ; and established the effi- 

 ciency of the locomotive for working the Liverpool and 

 Manchester Railway, and indeed all future railways. 

 The " Rocket " showed that a new power had been born 

 into the world, full of activity and strength, with bound- 

 less capability of work. It was the simple but admirable 

 contrivance of the steam-blast, and its combination with 

 the multitubular boiler, that at once gave locomotion a 

 vigorous life, and secured the triumph of the railway 



VOL. III. T 



