IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Ribble Avenue, PRESCOT, L35 0NJ

St Ann centre in View Road, Rainhill, formerly the old schoolhouse.

Rainhill has an important place in railway history, as the location of the Rainhill Trials (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainhill_Trials ) where the proposed designs of locomotives for were tested in competition prior to the opening of the World’s first passenger railway, between Liverpool and Manchester. This replica railway carriage, in the colours of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company, houses a small exhibition containing many items of railway history that commemorate the Rainhill Trials of 1829 and the 150th Anniversary Celebrations held in 1979/80. The Museum is open to the public; it is accessed through the library.

Situated behind the local library and with limited opening times. "Rainhill was the site of the 1829 Rainhill Trials won by George Stephenson and his Rocket. The Trials exhibition is staged in a British Railways Mark 1 carriage in the grounds of St Helens Council's Rainhill Library. It contains sketches and accounts of the Trials with original memorabilia. A short audio visual presentation traces the development of the railways and steam locomotives. Souvenirs are also available from the library." - St Helens Council

Looking west along Warrington Road to the village centre. Rainhill is famous for the locomotive trials of October 1829. When the Liverpool and Manchester Railway was approaching completion, the directors of the railway ran a competition to decide whether stationary steam engines or locomotives would be used to pull the trains. The Rainhill Trials were arranged as an open contest that would let them see all the locomotive candidates in action with a prize of £500 was offered to the winner of the trials. The Rocket was the only locomotive to complete the trials. It averaged 12 miles per hour, hauling 13 tons, and was declared the winner of the £500 prize. The Stephensons were accordingly given the contract to produce locomotives for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.

Viewed from the western end of the Manchester-bound platform, from beside the A57 Warrington Road bridge, looking in the direction of Liverpool.

Looking east, along Warrington Road (A57).

Carved stone post on Skew Bridge, by the A57, in parish of Rainhill (St Helens District), Warrington Road; East side of bridge, against wall, on South side of road. Prescot stone, erected by the Liverpool, Prescot, Ashton & Warrington turnpike trust in the 19th century. Inscription reads:- : TO / WARRINGTON / VIII / MILES : : TO PRESCOT / 11 / MILES / TO / LIVERPOOL / X / MILES : Grade II listed. List Entry Number: 1261826 Milestone Society National ID: LA_WALV08