A SET OF NUMBERPLATES FROM THE WORLD FAMOUS LOCOMOTIVE “LOCOMOTION”. The first steam engine in the World to pull a Passenger Train on 27th September 1825
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Find your local specialistA SET OF NUMBERPLATES FROM THE WORLD FAMOUS LOCOMOTIVE “LOCOMOTION”. The first steam engine in the World to pull a Passenger Train on 27th September 1825
One set of plates (No 1 & 1825) has a cast/wrought iron base with brass numbers (in the style of Stockton & Darlington Railway) and are thought to date from circa 1860-1875, when LOCOMOTION was first preserved. Photographic evidence shows that this set of plates was carried on the Left Hand Side of LOCOMOTION from circa 1875 until 1961.
The second set of plates (No 1 & 1825) is brass throughout and date from a later period. It is believed these plates were made for the 1925 Stockton & Darlington Railway Centenary Celebrations, and was carried on the Right Hand Side of LOCOMOTION from this date again until 1961.
All 4 plates were removed when LOCOMOTION came into Darlington Works in the early 1960’s for a cosmetic overhaul. From this time LOCOMOTION has not carried such plates.
Footnotes
Locomotion was built by Robert Stephenson & Co in 1825 as Works No 3. It worked on the Stockton & Darlington Railway as a locomotive until 1846, when it hauled the first train at the opening of the line to Redcar. Later in 1846 it was used as a pumping engine at Howden station. It was loaned, or sold to West Durham Colliery (owned by the Pease family, who were major shareholders in the Stockton & Darlington Railway) in 1850, again as a pumping engine. In 1857 LOCOMOTION was preserved (following an overhaul) and placed on a plinth at North Road Station, Darlington. During this time LOCOMOTION travelled overseas to various celebrations and centenaries including Chicago & Philadelphia, USA in 1876 and Paris in 1889. LOCOMOTION also took part in the 1875 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. In 1892 LOCOMOTION was further restored and moved to a plinth at Bank Top Station, Darlington, where it stayed (apart from short breaks for cosmetic overhauls) until 1975. It is now on display at the North Road Railway Museum, Darlington.