The Rainhill Trials: An Animated Short Film

• Gavin Hundley, Art, University of Delaware

• Amy Hicks, Art and Design, University of Delaware

The Rainhill Trials was a significant yet widely unknown event held by the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1829. The newly formed railway held a competition in which engineers were tasked with designing and constructing steam locomotives and testing them on a one-mile stretch of track. Engineers from across the United Kingdom were permitted to build their own steam locomotives and enter them into the competition, only four of which were eligible to compete. Ultimately, George Stephenson’s design, known as Rocket, came out on top. The Rainhill Trials, along with Stephenson’s Rocket, played a crucial role in the advent of steam locomotion and the development of public transportation. Rocket would go on to become the foundation for steam locomotion, paving the way for larger, faster, and stronger engines. This short film is a truncated representation of the event with accurate 3-D renders of each of the competing locomotives, created entirely within the animation software Blender. The historical events of the trials are depicted in the film, often enhanced through storytelling and visuals to create a more engaging experience. Each locomotive was meticulously recreated from available historical information, including both primary and secondary sources, as well as a full-scale replica of Stephenson’s Rocket. The film works to showcase an often-overlooked yet historically significant event, highlighting the people and machines that built the foundation of modern railroading. The film not only serves as an educational tool, but employs the use of stylized visuals and creative story-telling to transform the narrative into an entertaining art piece.