Shildon Works 40 Exhibition

June 2024 brought the 40th Anniversary of the closure of Shildon Works - an occasion that held as much pride as it did sadness for the people of Shildon.

Sadness in that the moment heralded a lost opportunity for families in this town, the end of a 150 year old railway engineering story, and the commencement of an economic downturn from which many believe Shildon has not yet recovered.

Pride, however, in the immense skill and ingenuity shown by the menfolk of our community over generations, bringing a significant influence to bear on the worlds railways. Women too - when the men went to war, the women stepped in to fill their shoes ever so capably. Ours was the town where it was proven once and for all that steam locomotive power, if correctly engineered, was surely more efficient than man and horse power. The town where successive innovations emerged that influenced railway development around the world. A town where many of the world's best pioneering early locomotives were born and later enhanced. A town that became a specialist centre for building and repairing the rolling stock that enabled goods and raw materials to flow around the railway arteries of Britain, and then the world. A town that during the First World War became the centre of a regional experiment to prove the effectiveness of rail electrification. A town that despite being abandoned economically by its nation's Government in 1984, simply refused to die - and has since become a destination, through its tourist offering of the Locomotion Museum, for those curious to learn about the evolution of the railways.

There will always be sadness - but there is SO MUCH to be proud of here.

To mark the occasion we held an exhibition of memorabilia associated with Shildon Works which we held on Sunday 30th June and which was attended by many many former Shildon workers, as well as the descendants of many others. Though it was a one day event, we wanted to share a flavour of the event with you on this page - in photograph and video form. We've also attached a digital version of the 36 page booklet we created for the event.

We'd like to thank all the people who loaned or donated items to show at the exhibition - without whom it wouldn't have been half as good an event as it turned out to be. You are all champions of Shildon's incredible legacy.

Photos

Photographs and Works Map Blueprint

A selection of photographs from our archives with a blueprint map of the works layout

Vintage Railway Carnival Posters

Posters promoting events in conjunction with the railway carnival

Stephenson Choral Competition Shields

1920s shield trophies from the Stephenson Choral competition between Shildon schools run in conjunction with the Railway Hospital Fundraising Carnival

Tools and Toolbox

Selection of tools used or made at the Shildon Works

Toolboxes and Artefacts

Metal toolbox made by a Shildon Works apprentice during training, similarly a wooden toolbox made at the works, and a cutter made at the works for chopping veg at home.

Lamp, Tools and Bell

A railway lamp, bell from the old works fire engine, and a selection of tools used at, or made at, the works.

Works Aerial Photograph

Photograph of the works taken from the air when the works site was at its peak.

Merry Go Round

Display of information and photographs relating to the merry go round (MGR) trains for which wagons were made at Shildon Works.

Handy Tools

Another view of the collection of hand tools on display

WorksTour Maps and Works Bandmasters

Boards explaining Shildon Works famed brass bandmasters and composers, and showing maps issued on works tour days.

Different Styles of Wagon Plates

A selection of the different types of plates from wagons that were made at Shildon Works, or started at the site.

Wagon Plates and Their Wagons

Wagon plates were like car registration plates, but what kinds of wagons did they come from?

Photographs of Workers and Management

The official works photographer was kept very busy, and it was very common for whole teams of workers from the workshops to be photographed together.

More Wagon Plates

More insight into the wagons of Shildon Works shown through their plates

Works Tour Volunteer Appeal

Poster appealing for workers to volunteer to help out on an open day, showing visitors around and demonstrating skills

More Plates

More wagons to explore through their plates

Rumours Abound

One of the most common rumours about the works was that the night shift might take the occasional nap. Is it true? Maybe.

BRSA Leek Club and Chain Link

The British Rail Staff Association had its own leek club at the Institute - this box was for collecting subscriptions. The link was for connecting rolling stock.

NUR Works No 2 Branch Banner

1970s trade union banner made by the workers and their family for parades and demonstrations

Shunter & Merry Go Round Wagons

A typical BR Class 3 shunter as seen at the works, with a couple of MGR wagons of the type that Shildon turned out over 10,000

Transition Plates

After Shildon was part of the LNER and becoming British Rail plates from newly built wagons showed this 'E' lettering to denote a works from the Eastern region of BR

Photographs of Tools & Equipment

Objects probably fabricated or used at the works

Small Tecnhical Items

A selection of small technical items used in the offices at the works

Photographs and Booklets

Including an account of a working man's life at Shildon Works written by Ron Spedding, a wagon worker who was also a keen writer and poet.

Framed Articles

Framed newspaper articles speaking of events connected to the works.

List of Unionised Workers

Key documents listing the names of workers from Shildon Works and other sites in the region.

Books Depicting Wagons Built at Shildon

A collection of books from our extensive library - focusing specifically on Shildon Works and the wagon types made there.

Technical Items

Including an opsiometer for measuring boilers given to Daniel Adamson by Timothy Hackworth, and a printing block used by John Wesley Hackworth for business cards.

More Books of Wagon Diagrams

Another selection of books from our extensive collection including a document prepared as part of the campiagn to keep the Works open.

Books Photos and Documents

Miscellaneous items and photographs with a connection to the works

Wagon Diagrams and Leaflets

A collection of BR leaflets on safety and operating.

More Books of Wagon Diagrams

Drawing and illustrations from booklets used to promote the types of wagons made at Shildon in the LNER and North Eastern Railway era.

Booklet

This booklet, you can access digitally using the link below, is our attempt to try to recapture some of the spirit and meaning of Shildon Works - for it is still in our DNA, still part of our area's unique identity, and we should not forget.

Click here to access the booklet online