John Leslie writes Robert Stephenson tribute song

Oct 15 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

CELEBRATIONS of the life of North East railway pioneer Robert Stephenson have inspired singer songwriter John Leslie to pen a new track.

John has marked the 150th anniversary of Robert’s death this week by recording his folk-style song about the Rainhll Trials.

When the Liverpool and Manchester Railway was nearing completion in 1829, the directors organised a competition to see whether stationary steam engines or locomotives would be used to pull the trains.

Held in what is now Merseyside, at the trials Robert and George Stephenson’s Rocket beat its rivals Sanspareil, Novelty, Perseverance, Cyclopede, and Manumotive to launch the age of the steam locomotive.

Guitarist John, who lives in Nedderton, near Morpeth in Northumberland, set out to capture the drama of the occasion in his song The Famous Rainhill Trials.

John works for the Gateshead Warm Zone home insulation scheme and his office overlooks the High Level Bridge, which was designed by Stephenson.

As a local historian writing books with his father Jack, John is especially interested in Robert and George Stephenson’s achievements

The song tells the story through the eyes of a young man who was employed to transport the locomotive from Newcastle to Liverpool for the trials.

John plays guitar and sings with his son, also John, and Newcastle Warm Zone colleague John Mitchell in local band The Sawdust Jacks, named after 19th Century Tyneside character Sawdust Jack, who scraped a living by hawking sawdust to pubs and butchers.

He said: “Prior to the Rainhill Trails which was won by the Rocket, man could really only travel as fast as his horse could take him. The railways revolutionised industry and social travelling and we have a lot to thank the Stephensons for. The Rainhill Trials, with the crowds of spectators, caught my imagination.

“Robert Stephenson’s achievements were massive. It was the stuff of fairy tales.”