Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum's site is the fomer Liverpool Road Station, which was the original Manchester terminus of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. This was the first railway built to carry passengers as well as goods. Its opening in 1830 heralded the dawning of a new age of passenger transportation - steam rail travel.  

In trials held at Rainhill in 1829 to select a locomotive design for use on the Railway, Stephenson's Rocket won. George and Robert Stephenson soon developed the improved Planet class of locomotives. Our reproduction Planet locomotive provides train rides at weekends.

The North West became an important centre for the production of locomotives and rolling stock. Leading companies included Beyer, Peacock of Gorton, Vulcan Foundries of Newton-le-Willows, and the Locomotive Works at Horwich near Bolton. Many of their locomotives were exported for use in the countries which then formed part of the British Empire, such as India and South Africa.