Darlington Works was established in 1863 by theStockton and Darlington Railway in the town ofDarlington in the north east of England.The main part of the works, theNorth Road Shops was located on the northeast side of theStockton and Darlington Railway (now part of theTees Valley Line)
The first new locomotive was built at the works in 1864. Though the railway had amalgamated with theNorth Eastern Railway (NER) in 1863, it continued to build its own designs for a number of years. In 1877, the first North Eastern designs appeared.
Additionally works (paint and boiler shop) were constructed west of the S&DR railway in the Stooperdale area of Darlington.[1][2] Grandiose offices for the NER were also constructed in the Stooperdale area in 1911, to the design ofWilliam Bell. The offices were used by NERchief mechanical engineerVincent Raven until 1917.[1][3]
In 1914, a class of NERBo-Bo electric locomotives was built at the works to run between Shildon and Newport. Ten of these 1,500 volt direct current locomotives were completed.
Sir Vincent Raven designed theNER Class T2 0-8-0 freight locomotive in 1913, and by 1921 the works had built 120 of the engines, which were later designated Q6 by the LNER. The heavier and more powerful RavenNER Class T3 0-8-0 (LNER Q7) followed in 1919, 15 engines being completed by 1924.
Under theLNER it continued to play a major role, producing a new engine each week, withGresley'sK3 class2-6-0 appearing in 1924. Both the class V2 and A1 express locomotives were also built. By 1927 the works was the town's largest employer.
Darlington works built sixLNER Class K4 2-6-0 locomotives in 1937/38 for operation on the West Highland Line. No. 3442 (later 61994)The Great Marquess has been preserved in full working order and in 2009 was still hauling special steam trains on the UK main line network.
After nationalisation, Darlington built both steam and diesel locomotives, includingBR standard class 2. The equivalent of theNER Class E1 (LNER J72)0-6-0tank locomotive had been built, virtually unchanged since 1898. In 1954 during the modernisation ofBritish Railways the works was enlarged and had grown to cover over 238,000 square feet (22,100 m2),[4] but in 1962 the BR Workshops Division was formed and, with rationalisation, the works was run down and closed in 1966.
The land of the Stooperdale part of the works was sold toWhessoe in 1962.[5]
The site since about 1979/80, is occupied by the Morrisons supermarket, and the adjacent Bowls Hall, with the original clock which was restored, was re-erected by contractors Fairclough Building Ltd onto the east wall of the supermarket overhanging North Road.[citation needed]
The Stooperdale offices were grade II listed in 2001.[1][3]
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