BLUE  PETER LOCOMOTIVE

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A2 PACIFIC ENGINE - A.H. PEPPERCORN

Blue Peter is an A2 Pacific engine designed by A. H. Peppercorn (the last Chief Mechanical Engineer of the LNER). It was built at Doncaster in 1948 and named after the racehorse that won the Derby nine years earlier in 1939. Although originally allocated to York shed, Blue Peter spent most of its working life in Scotland being allocated to Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee.

The 'Blue Peter'

In 1951, 60532 was involved in running trials between Montrose and Stonehaven when it reached speeds of 100 mph. In 1963 it travelled to Darlington to become the last Peppercorn Pacific to be overhauled at North Road Works. In December 1966 the locomotive was withdrawn from service but later that year was privately purchased, given an extensive overhaul and re-paint and 're named' by the Blue Peter children TV programme.

Throughout the 1970's and into the 1980's Blue Peter visited many preserved lines and by now under the custodianship of The North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group (NELPG) undertook a further major overhaul at I.C.I Wilton near Middlesbrough, emerging in 1991.

Since then 60532 was a popular locomotive on railtours on the main line and on preservation lines until the expiry of its boiler certificate early in 2003. Blue Peter is now on static display at the Darlington Railway Museum for a period of about two years.

In 1825 the Stockton & Darlington Railway opened for business and started the great railway era that covered the globe in tracks.  The coming of the railways dramatically altered the landscape in the Tees Valley and Durham areas.  Before this Middlesbrough was just a hamlet, Saltburn barely existed - the railways changed the way people lived and worked.  This was made possible by the pioneering work of Robert Stephenson.

ROBERT STEPHENSON

Robert Stephenson was born in 1803 and was the only son of George Stephenson. Robert's mother died in 1806 and was consequently brought up by his father. Robert was educated privately at Bruce Academy in Newcastle between 1814 and 1819.

He became apprentice to Nicholas Wood, the manager of Killingworth Colliery and later helped his father to survey the Stockton & Darlington Railway. During university at Edinburgh he met George Bidder and over the next twenty-five years worked on several railway projects.

In 1823 Robert joined with both George, his father and Edward Pease to form a company to build locomotives. The Robert Stephenson & Company, Forth Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, became the world's first locomotive builder. 'Locomotion' was finished in September 1825 and was used in the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.

Three years was spent in South America working at the gold and silver mines and when he returned to England entered 'Rocket' in the Rainhill Trials in 1829. Both Robert and George Stephenson produced locomotives for the Bolton & Leigh Railway and the Liverpool & Manchester Railway.

Robert was appointed Chief Engineer of the London & Birmingham line in 1833. When this line was completed in 1838, Robert continued to construct railways all over the world. This included the building of bridges over the Tyne , ( Newcastle ) and Menai Straits .

Robert was elected Conservative MP for Whitby in 1847. In 1859 he was advised to retire from business and politics due to poor health. He died on 12^th October 1859 .

Stephenson's Locomotion

STEPHENSON'S LOCOMOTION

"Locomotion" was constructed at the Forth Banks, Newcastle works of Robert Stephenson & Co. A total of four were built at a price of ?600 each. The world famous engine "Locomotion No. 1" hauled the first train on the opening day of the Stockton and Darlington Railway on September 27^th 1825.

Delivered by road from Newcastle "Locomotion" was first placed on rails at Heighington Station (Aycliffe Lane) ready for the opening day when it hauled a train of "Chaldron" (a measure of coal) wagons and a coach for the Directors from Shildon to Stockton at speeds of around 12-15 m.p.h.

"Locomotion No. 1" suffered from a broken wheel soon after it entered service and an exploded boiler in 1828, killed the driver. The explosion resulted in a complete overhaul at Shildon works, this allowed the loco to remain in service until 1841, when it was bought by Joseph Pease and Partners Limited for use as a pumping engine. It was presented to the railway company in1857 for permanent preservation and was placed on a pedestal in front of North Road station at Darlington . It was later moved to Darlington 's Bank Top station (1892) and returned to North Road Station in 1975 with the opening of Darlington Railway Museum . "Locomotion" is part of the National Railway Museum 's collection of historic locomotives and is on long-term loan to the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum.

 LINKS :

The 24 Hour Museum Website

Train Trail website

A1 Steam

North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group

Darlington Railway Preservation Society

North Eastern Railway Association

Railway Meetings (North East)

Victoria County History of Durham

Tees Cottage Pumping Station

Weardale Railway

Information Darlington

Educational Visits website

Bellingham Heritage Centre

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