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The establishment of Shildon Works is somewhat
confusing, due mainly to the existence of the works commenced
by the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825 and managed
by Timothy Hackworth which were developed by him when he severed
his connection with the Company in 1840, and he named the
works "Soho Works".
046_workmen(270).jpg) The
initial labour force consisted of 20 men, all unskilled, however
by the time Timothy Hackworth built "Royal George"
in 1827, the numbers had increased to 50. Equipment was basic,
with no lathes or even lifting gear to handle heavy engines
and boilers. During the dark winter days, work was carried
out by candlelight in freezing conditions. Frequently, engines
would come into the works at night, after a full day working,
and the necessary repairs had to be completed for the engine
to resume work the next morning, with the inevitable consequence
of the men, including quite regularly Timothy Hackworth, working
throughout the night.
The works were situated alongside the line
at the foot of the Brusselton East incline where static haulage
gave way to locomotive haulage, and originally consisted of
an engine shed (with space for 2 locomotives) and a narrow
shed used by joiners and blacksmiths.
| SHILDON
RAILWAY WORKS |
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"...as this railway was an example for all
the world to copy, so the system in vogue and the
methods adopted at New Shildon became the standard
for the workshops practice of the railways which
followed. " - Robert Young |
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1833 was the year in which Shildon Works as
we knew it was really founded with the objective of maintaining
and building locomotives for the Stockton & Darlington Railway.
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047(lworks_rules_1833)(v1).gif)
The Last Days of Steam on the Eastern Region
Timothy
Hackworth and the Locomotive.jpg)
