Rocket and Novelty were in for a race
Rainhill, England was the name of the place
Back in eighteen-hundred and twenty-nine
The two came speeding on down the line
Leaving a cloud of smoke for miles behind
Shoveling coal, blowing whistles and minds
Rocket and Novelty
Dinosaurs of the railroad line
Rocket and Novelty
Future machines with a modern design
Struggling along the heavy miles
A locomotive competition called the Rainhill Trials
Horses of steam, which one's gonna rule?
On the railroad from Manchester to Liverpool
Battle between the old and the new
Was gonna change the world for me and you
People that gathered around the tracks
Saw them shaking all the others off their backs
Rocket and Novelty
Dinosaurs of the railroad line
Rocket and Novelty
Future machines with a modern design
Struggling along the heavy miles
A locomotive competition called the Rainhill Trials
Novelty sat at a flying speed
But after half the stretch, Rocket took the lead
Rocket for England, and Novelty was Sweden
Yeah, a lot was at stake when the two came speeding
For the big prize money of five hundred pounds
When suddenly Novelty's engine broke down
Rocket and Novelty
Dinosaurs of the railroad line
Rocket and Novelty
Future machines with a modern design
Struggling along the heavy miles
A locomotive competition called the Rainhill Trials
Rocket and Novelty
Dinosaurs of the railroad line
Rocket and Novelty
Future machines with a modern design
Struggling along the heavy miles
A locomotive competition called the Rainhill Trials