Stephenson's Rocket. Historical engraving of the Rocket steam locomotive built by British engineer Robert Stephenson. During 1829 he built a novel boiler, the design of which had been suggested to his father, George, by Henry Booth. Robert incorporated this engine into the Rocket and the three men entered the locomotive in the Liverpool and Manchester Railway's (L&MR) Rainhill Trials in October 1829. This competition offered a prize of 500 pounds for the best locomotive. The 4.2 tonne Rocket beat its competitors, surpassed all the performance demands of the trial's organisers, & demonstrated the practicality of long-distance steam travel.