This five-year, heritage-led conservation and economic development scheme is a partnership between Historic England, local authorities and other stakeholders. The three listing upgrades form part of the work of the Stockton and Darlington Railway Heritage Action Zone. The building only became a locomotive engine shed sometime after it was purchased by the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1855.Ī third site also upgraded to II* is the Locomotive coaling drops, a very early and rare example of a purpose-built facility for refuelling steam locomotives. In 1842 it was leased to Soho Works which lay immediately to the north. An 1850 plan of Soho Works depicts the building but as it is unlabelled, its exact purpose is unclear. Originally built in 1826 as a warehouse for an iron merchant, it is one of the earliest railway-associated industrial buildings in the world. The only surviving building associated with Hackworth’s Soho Works is the Soho Engine Shed, which has also now been upgraded to Grade II*. The Soho Engine Shed and Locomotive coaling drops Here, he built Russia’s first steam locomotive (1836) for the Tsarskoye Selo Railway, as well as three of the earliest locomotives used in Canada (1838) including Samson, which ran on the Albion Mines Railway in Nova Scotia. In 1833 Hackworth established Soho Works in Shildon. Hackworth’s later locomotives include Sans Pareil, also on display at Locomotion, which took part in the 1829 Rainhill Trials for Liverpool & Manchester Railway, and the Globe (1830), the S&DR’s first dedicated passenger locomotive, said to be able to reach 50mph.Īs the success of the Stockton & Darlington Railway spread far and wide, Hackworth helped to promote steam locomotion internationally by sharing his expertise with visitors from across Europe and North America. The original Locomotion No.1 is on public display at Locomotion. This model firmly established the supremacy of the locomotive over horse-driven haulage and paved the way for the general adoption of steam. Hackworth rebuilt Locomotion No.1 to make it more reliable and designed the Royal George in 1827. Hackworth’s engineering skills came to Stephenson’s attention when he worked as a relief manager at his locomotive works in Newcastle and he was offered the role as Superintendent of Locomotives at the S&DR on Stephenson’s recommendation. It was Timothy Hackworth who came to the rescue. Born in Wylam, the same Northumberland village as George Stephenson, Hackworth began his career designing and maintaining locomotives at Wylam colliery as the pit’s blacksmith. However, Stephenson’s locomotives were not initially up to the task of running regular long distances and kept breaking down. Together with Michael Longridge of Bedlington and Robert Stephenson they set up Robert Stephenson & Co to build locomotives, which they hoped to sell to emerging railways both in Britain and abroad. This was largely thanks to the vision and skill of George Stephenson who designed Locomotion No.1, the first locomotive to run on the S&DR and his business partner Edward Pease, the main promoter of the railway. When the S&DR was formally opened on 27 September 1825, it marked a crucial step towards the birth of the modern railway network. By sharing his experience with visiting engineers and rail promoters he also directly influenced the development of railways on both sides of the Atlantic. Soho House in Shildon, part of the railway museum at Locomotion, was built for Hackworth by mid-1833 as his main residence. It was originally listed at Grade II in 1986 but has now been elevated into the top 10% of England’s most important historic buildings in recognition of Hackworth’s huge contribution to the success and international influence of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR).Īs the first Superintendent of Locomotives for the S&DR between 18, Hackworth played a vital role in developing steam engines that met the significant demands of freight and passenger travel. The County Durham residence of pioneering railway engineer Timothy Hackworth (1786–1850) has been upgraded to Grade II* by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England, giving it greater protection and recognition. The house of pioneering engineer Timothy Hackworth in Shildon has been upgraded to Grade II* in recognition of the vital role he played in the development of railways.
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