Novelty (locomotive)

Novelty
Contemporary drawing of Novelty
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder John Ericsson and John Braithwaite
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-2-2WT Loco weight 2 long tons 3 cwt (4,800 lb or 2.2 t) Fuel type coke
Career Operators St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway

Novelty was an early steam locomotive built by John Ericsson and John Braithwaite to take part in the Rainhill Trials in 1829.

It was an 0-2-2WT locomotive and is now regarded as the first tank engine.^[1] It had a unique design of boiler and a number of other novel design features (perhaps explaining the choice of name). Unfortunately, several of the major components had significant design weaknesses which ultimately resulted in its failure at the Trials.