Plans agreed to relocate Rainhill Trials exhibition to railway station

With Rainhill chosen as the location to test trains for the nearly completed Manchester to Liverpool railway line - which was the country's first steam-powered railway - the village has been forever etched into the history of the railways.

As George Stephenson's 'Rocket' was the only locomotive to finish the 'Rainhill Trials' back in 1829, the vehicle has become a symbol of the village and an exhibition of this history had been displayed in a converted rail carriage on the grounds of Rainhill Library.

With a community interest company set up in 2021 to move the exhibition back to its historic home at Rainhill station, this relocation was made more urgent  following the closure of the library at the start of the year.

Remaining resolute in their aim, the 'Trainhill Trust' group recently secured a long-term lease to move the exhibition to the local railway station.

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The Trials exhibition was previously housed in a converted rail carriage on the grounds of Rainhill Library (Image: Rainhill Heritage and Railway Society) With parties such as Rainhill Parish Council, Rainhill Railway Heritage Society and Rainhill Civic Society involved in the 'Trainhill Trust' project, the relocation is significant as the exhibition should be in operation ahead of the 200th anniversary of the Rainhill Trials in 2029.

With the Manchester to Liverpool railway opening a year after the Trials, there have been proposals to mark the 200th railway anniversary as an "event of national significance" in 2030, with various events proposed in Rainhill and other areas of the borough.

Following the agreement to use part of the station's Platform 2 building, Trainhill Trust is aiming to appoint Seed Architects to help bring the project to life, as they are specialists in the sensitive restoration of heritage buildings.

The exhibition will be housed at the station's Platform 2 building (Image: St Helens Star) A statement from Trainhill Trust states: "The Trust believes there are multiple organisations and individuals who would be thrilled to be associated and involved in this globally important station site, and [to see] the historical building restored to provide the story of the world famous Rainhill Trials of 1829 for future generations.

"The Trust's collective aim is to create a space to tell our history to future generations, while protecting our heritage Trials artifacts in a community hub that puts Rainhill firmly back on the global map as the home of the Locomotive Trials 1829 and Stephenson's Rocket."

Tim Hedley Jones, Executive Director at The Railway Heritage Trust, added: "We are pleased to hear that Trainhill Trust has taken a lease of part of the listed station building at Rainhill.

"We look forward to working with them as they develop their plans to restore the station and tell the story of the Rainhill Trails at the station."

Stephenson's Rocket has become a symbol of Rainhill since the Trials of 1829 (Image: Rainhill Heritage and Railway Society)