Shildon railway works
Encyclopedia
Shildon railway works opened in 1825 in the town of Shildon
in County Durham
, England.
, who maintained their locomotives at the Soho Works. These had been giving so many problems that the S&D's directors were considering abandoning steam. Hackworth asked the railway's directors for a free hand to build a locomotive of his own design and, in 1827, built the Royal George. Among its innovations is said to be the blast pipe which directs exhaust steam into the chimney in such a way as to draw the fire, and seven more were built by 1832.
The railway also no longer allowed horse-drawn passenger carriages to use the line. The existing freight engines were extremely slow. Hackworth was asked to develop something lighter and faster, and built the "Globe" in 1830, the first specialist passenger engine. It was also said to be the first to use cranked axles, successfully at least.
The railway bought the Soho Works in 1855 to be part of its Shildon and Darlington Works. In 1863 the railway company became part of the North Eastern Railway (UK)
. Ten more locomotives were built between 1863 and 1867, but, generally the work was transferred to Darlington and in 1871 all locomotive work ceased. In 1883 the Soho Works closed, but the remainder of the Shildon works remained a major centre for wagon building and repairs. Among its achievements, in the 20th century was the 'Presflo' cement wagon and the 'Freightliner'.
From then on, however, British Rail
ways' freight traffic contracted to the point where the works closed in 1984.
Part of the works in now the Shildon Locomotion Museum
. The museum has an example of a 'Presflo' cement wagon on display in its collection.
Shildon
Shildon is a town in County Durham, in England. It is situated 2 miles to the south east of Bishop Auckland and 11 miles north of Darlington. It is 13 miles away from Durham, 23 miles from Sunderland and 23 miles from Newcastle-upon-Tyne...
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, England.
Overview
Shildon was the terminus of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, when it opened in 1825. Its first locomotive superintendent was Timothy HackworthTimothy Hackworth
Timothy Hackworth was a steam locomotive engineer who lived in Shildon, County Durham, England and was the first locomotive superintendent of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.- Youth and early work :...
, who maintained their locomotives at the Soho Works. These had been giving so many problems that the S&D's directors were considering abandoning steam. Hackworth asked the railway's directors for a free hand to build a locomotive of his own design and, in 1827, built the Royal George. Among its innovations is said to be the blast pipe which directs exhaust steam into the chimney in such a way as to draw the fire, and seven more were built by 1832.
The railway also no longer allowed horse-drawn passenger carriages to use the line. The existing freight engines were extremely slow. Hackworth was asked to develop something lighter and faster, and built the "Globe" in 1830, the first specialist passenger engine. It was also said to be the first to use cranked axles, successfully at least.
The railway bought the Soho Works in 1855 to be part of its Shildon and Darlington Works. In 1863 the railway company became part of the North Eastern Railway (UK)
North Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
. Ten more locomotives were built between 1863 and 1867, but, generally the work was transferred to Darlington and in 1871 all locomotive work ceased. In 1883 the Soho Works closed, but the remainder of the Shildon works remained a major centre for wagon building and repairs. Among its achievements, in the 20th century was the 'Presflo' cement wagon and the 'Freightliner'.
From then on, however, British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
ways' freight traffic contracted to the point where the works closed in 1984.
Part of the works in now the Shildon Locomotion Museum
Shildon Locomotion Museum
Shildon Locomotion Museum is a railway museum in Shildon, County Durham, England. The museum is a branch of the National Railway Museum , which is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry...
. The museum has an example of a 'Presflo' cement wagon on display in its collection.