Edward Entwistle

Born in 1815 in Lancashire, Entwistle was the first driver of a passenger train on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Apprenticed as an engineer at the age of 11, he worked at the Bridgewater Trust works where the 'Rocket' was being produced. When the work was completed, George Stephenson requested an assistant and the 16-year-old Entwistle was on the footplate during the locomotive's first trials - becoming its official driver when it began its twice daily service on the line. Entwistle later became a marine engineer and emigrated to America.