The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters PREVIEW: Epochs #242 | The History of Steam Power with Alex Masters: Part III
Dec 21, 2025
In a captivating dialogue, historian Alex Masters, known as 'That Steam Guy', delves into the fascinating history of steam power and railways. He discusses the pivotal Rainhill Trials of 1829, showcasing the competition between innovative steam engine designs. Masters highlights the groundbreaking advancements of the Rocket, including its multitubular boiler, and how this technology revolutionized transport. The conversation also covers the engineering challenges faced during early steam engine development and the commercial success of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.
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The Rainhill Trials Story
- Alex Masters recounts the 1829 Rainhill Trials and the five competing locomotives, including Novelty and Rocket.
- Rocket completed the trials and reached over 30 mph, showing steam could outperform horses with passengers onboard.
Novelties and Failures At Rainhill
- Alex describes Novelty's innovative bellows-driven fire and its spectacular failure when the bellows wore out.
- Timothy Hackworth's Sans Pareil suffered water pump and cylinder failures amid claims of sabotage over cylinder manufacturing.
Boiler Design Was The Game Changer
- Rocket introduced a separate firebox with a water jacket and a multi-tubular boiler, massively improving steam production.
- Those two innovations made Rocket vastly more efficient and allowed much faster sustained speeds.