Only Rocket Roll But I Like It

This replica of Stephenson's Rocket is more usually seen at it's museum home in York. However it is a fully working replica and for another couple of weeks, courtesy of the Science Museum, it will be chugging up and down a very short stretch of railway in Hyde Park, London. It's a smooth ride although you don't get to sit down and you may get a face full of steam from time to time, also not very fast: six year olds on rollerblades were passing us without difficulty.

Rocket was designed by Robert Stephenson. It was my inspiration for the Martian steam barge in Soupremacy so I enjoyed this first-hand experience. The original Rocket, or at least what's left of it, can be seen down the road in the Science Museum.