Locomotives at Stockton Gas Works. The railway sidings from the holder to the signal belonged to the gas works. c1950 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Locomotives at Stockton Gas Works. The railway sidings from the holder to the signal belonged to the gas works. c1950
William Brown was my great grandfather, I have some pics of him with a train, probably the train mentioned. Can give more details if required.
A kit for the diminutive LNER Class Y7 (a type purchased and used by Stockton Gas Works)is available from Connoisseur Models and elsewhere. Comparing the smart Stockton Gas Works Y7 locomotive (photo above) with the completed model image on the Connoisseur web-site highlights the changes made to the Stockton engine to allow it to run under the gas works gantry, ie alterations to the chimney (height and width), the safety valves, the removal of the whistle from on top of the cab roof, also the acquistion of shunting poles attached to each corner of the frame. These could be used to move wagons on adjacent tracks. Owing to their small size and short wheelbase these Y7 engines excelled on tight curves and poor quality track, but the absence of an external bunker meant coal was carried in buckets or on top of the side tanks. The above engine bought on 18 July 1930, was named ‘William Brown ‘ on 15 October 1945, and withdrawn for scrap in August 1953. No nameplate is visible on this side of the locomotive, which may indicate the photo was taken before 1945. I have seen these accurate Y7 models operating on exhibition layouts and they were impressive, so now you can build your own North Stockton layout.
The Gas Manager recommended on 17 March 1930 that the 55 year-old Gas Works locomotive EVELYN JENNIE or JEANNIE be replaced as the framework had practically worn out. The Gas Committee then asked the Gas Manager to obtain quotations for repair of the old locomotive, for the purchase of a second-hand locomotive, and for the purchase of a new engine. At least two quotations for a second-hand locomotive and three for a new locomotive were investigated from 14 April 1930, with repair of the old engine considered uneconomic. The Town Council favoured the purchase of a new locomotive, but the Gas Committee wanted a cheaper second-hand locomotive. A Sub-Committee soon inspected a second-hand locomotive and recommended its purchase with 37 pounds added to the quoted price for altering the funnel, safety valve and cab to enable it to run along the coal gantry. The Gas Manager reported to the Gas Committee on 19 May 1930 that the quoted price of the engine was 250 pounds, with 37 pounds for the alterations, and 25 pounds for painting. On 16 June 1930 the Vulcan Boiler Insurance Company agreed to insure this redundant LNER locomotive No. 945 subject to satisfactory hydraulic tests. The tests were successfully completed and the Gas Manager informed the LNER that the Committee wished to buy the engine. According to Yeadon”s Register, Vol. 32, page 68, LNER engine No. 945 was sold on 18 July 1930 agreeing with the above costs except for an extra 5 pounds for removing the lagging for the hydraulic test of the boiler. The engine had been in Darlington North Road Works for the fitting of a new crank at LNER expense between 11 June to 18 July 1930. The engine lost its LNER number and became its new owners No.3, although the number seems not to have been carried. The above photograph of pristine No.3 may have been taken soon after its arrival at Stockton in 1930. A post-war picture in Yeadon”s Register shows it had lost its lined livery with no number visible, but had gained the centrally fitted WILLIAM BROWN nameplate. This locomotive built at Gateshead Works, works number 36.88 new into traffic Dec 1888, was scrapped in August 1953.
North Eastern Gas Board eventually replaced all steam locomotives at Thompson Street Gas Works, Stockton, with diesel shunters. Intially there was a four wheeled diesel mechanical, built 1951 by Ruston and Hornsby Ltd, Lincoln, Works no. 305320; of the same type used at Middlesbrough Gas Works. A later Stockton loco was a virtually new 0-4-0 diesel electric of the Stephenson range, built 1963 by English Electric(formerly Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Ltd), Darlington, Works no. 8453. Both shunters were present during the sixties.
Picture of loco in front of gas holder. Loco was once named WILLIAM BROWN after Councillor, later Alderman (from 9th November 1945) William Brown, public servant of Stockton from the early 1920s until his sudden death on 3rd October 1948. As a long term member of the Corporations Gas Committee he was instrumental in getting this war worn locomotive inspected, repaired and overhauled at the Darlington LNER Locomotive Works during the late summer of 1945. As a mark of appreciation for this task, the council confirmed the naming of the engine WILLIAM BROWN on the 15th October 1945, see Stockton Council Records for 1944-45, page 1318. The above locomotive, still referred to as LNER No 945 in many Council Records, does not appear to carry the name on the visible side of the locomotive in this 1950s photograph. Incredibly, the Outdoor Foreman at the Gas Works from the 1920s onwards was also called WILLIAM BROWN.
Left hand picture t2377; ref 1.,Locos of the LNER, part 9B, pages 93-99, especially page 97, Railway Correspondence and Travel Society, 1977; ref.2, Industrial Locos of Durham, ed. Tonks E. Birmingham Loco Club, book L, 1962 for a list of Stockton based industrial locos. Loco is NER class H, LNER class Y7, designed by T.W. Worsdell, built at Gateshead Works 12/1888 from a batch of six, boiler built at York Works but later re-boilered from Gateshead Works, 0-4-0 IC tank, LNER number 945 under 1923 numbering scheme, allocated to Tyne Dock. Its inside cylinders were increased from 13 to 14 inches in 11/1922. It was withdrawn from LNER service in 7/1930 owing to the trade depression and the decline of dock activities and sold to Stockton-on-Tees Corporation to shunt the gas works as number 3 named WILLIAM BROWN (who is he?). In 1953 Stockton Gas Works received two newer replacement locos (ref.2) and the smart left hand side engine was scrapped in 8/1953. Its long serving workmate Peckett 0-4-0 OC of 1901 named BULLER (picture T2376) was scrapped or sold circa 1956. Further batches of Y7s were built, and two survive in preservation, one on the Middleton Railway at Leeds.
William Brown was my great grandfather