Engraving depicting Braithwaite & Ericsson's locomotive 'Novelty'. Novelty was an early steam locomotive which took part in the Rainhill Trials in 1829. John Braithwaite (1797-1870) an English engineer who invented the first steam fire engine. John Ericsson (1803-1889) a Swedish-American inventor, active in England and the United States, and regarded as one of the most influential mechanical engineers ever. Dated 19th century.