NEW research this week, the 198th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, has uncovered the names of the seven men who were employed as the drivers of the world famous Locomotion No 1 - are you descended from any of them?

These "engine men", as they were called, include those who drove No 1 so fast they were fined for speeding, and one poor fellow who was killed by the engine when it imploded...

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The Northern Echo: FAMOUS: The famous view taken by artist John Dobbin of the opening day of the Stockton and Darlington Railway on September 27, 1825. It shows Skerne Bridge, which was restored recently, with North Road on the left and Locomotion No 1 going over theLocomotion No 1 on opening day was driven by George Stephenson, with James assisting

James Stephenson: George’s elder brother, who had driven engines at Killingworth, was No 1’s first driver, paid 3s 6d a day in 1825. James signed the payment register with a cross because he was illiterate whereas George had taught himself to read. James’s fireman was William Gowland, who also came down from Tyneside. He became an experienced driver, at the helm of Hackworth’s Sans Pareil at the 1829 Rainhill Trials.

The Northern Echo: William GowlandWilliam Gowland. Picture: NRM

John Cree: He took over from Stephenson, who moved to a new engine, at the end of 1827, and was fatally injured on July 1, 1828, when No 1 imploded at Aycliffe Lane. He died two days later. The railway gave his widow £10. His descendant, Pte John Cree, of Shildon, was killed during the First World War. Are there still descendants in the area?

The Northern Echo: John Cree's mark next to his name in the S&DR payment register. Picture courtesy of Michael BaileyJohn Cree's mark next to his signature

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Henry Lanchester: He started as a labourer laying the line and rose to become No 1’s third driver, from September 1829 to July 1832, when he was promoted to a new engine. He signed his name “Henery” in the payment register.

Thomas Hutchinson: Lasted a year as No 1’s driver and then left the railway.

Ralph Morgan: Took over as engine man in May 1833 and was at the helm on August 8, 1833, when No 1 collided with a “dick ass” (presumably a male donkey). In the confusion, the foot of his apprentice fireman, Thomas Hutchinson, was ran over and had to be amputated the following day. Ralph was paid by the amount of coal the engine moved with his earnings peaking for the month of July 1836 at £71 (£6,500 in today’s values, so extremely well paid), but this might explain his temptation to drive too fast: he was fined 2s 6d in January 1838. Ralph was No 1’s longest serving driver, finishing in April 1838, but he was recalled in 1846 for the ceremonial opening of the Middlesbrough & Redcar Railway.

G Glendening: Driver in May and June 1838, fined once for driving too fast and twice for not maintaining his wagons adequately.

John Burton: Fined three times for speeding in his first two months as No 1’s driver. He was probably the last full time driver as the engine was withdrawn in 1840.

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