Locomotion No 1 hauling original train – Stockton & Darlington Railway Centenary 1925. 
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A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Locomotion No 1 hauling original train – Stockton & Darlington Railway Centenary 1925.
Hi everyone, found this site again at last. I also have newspaper cutting about Matthew Wragg driving Locomotion No 1 but when it was in the paper I do not know. I also have a story about my grandfather whose name was Leslie Wragg. He was photoed sitting on the original Locomotion with a picture he had made in gold thread of Locomotion No 1 which looks beautiful. The original of the picture is with my auntie Jean down in York. Could anyone help me with a question: How do I find info on when Matthew Wragg actually started on Loco No 1. Was it in 1828 when John Cree was killed when the boiler exploded (at Aycliff Lane). Charles Nightingale Wragg I believe was the fireman or driver of Rocket. Bye the way, I have now officially finished my family tree and have taken it back to Enoch Wragg but do not know exact spelling
Any updates on the genealogy?
I am also descendant of Matthew Wragg 1825-1904 (my great great grandfather) and all generations since (including me) worked on the railway. Believe Matthew joined Stockton & Darlington Railway aged 11 and subsequently did fire and drive No.1 but not inaugural run obviously. I have a copy of same cutting as Tim Anderson about his retirement in 1898.
I am also a descendent of Matthew Wragg aka Matthew Ragg (born 1825 married Mary Ann Nightingale in 1847 and died 1904). I have a newspaper cutting dated 1898 which states that a presentation took place at the Coach and Horses Inn, Micklegate, York to Mr. Matthew Wragge, the oldest living engine driver in the United Kingdom at the time. Mr Wragge had been 51 years a driver, and had the distinction of having fired on No.1 engine. (but not on the inaugural run) He was one of the oldest railway drivers in the UK, having joined the Darlington and Stockton Railway in 1838, or exactly 60 years before. In 1846 Mr Wragge was transferred to the North-Eastern Railway, on which he had been employed ever since. He had driven every class of engine and had also run the first train from Middlesborough to Redcar on the opening of that line.
We will all have to meet or phone each other as I am also a direct descendant of Matthew Wragg. My name is Neil Wragg, and I was brought up in York where most of my living relatives still stay. I am very keen to find answers to questions I have
My Grandfather was Leslie Wragg, whom I adored until his death in 1977. He told me stories of the George Stephenson days of steam where I got my love for Locomotion No 1. I am in the process now of researching for writing a factual account of the early steam age.
Good luck
If you can establish the family tree, that would be a great achievement. I’m trying to establish the link between my grandfather, another lifelong railway man but Darlington based: Walter Bramham Haxby and the Walter Bramham Haxby who married Matthew Wragg’s daughter (see Jo A’s note below)
It cant be a coincidence I think he must have been the son of one of the first Walter’s sons…?
Let me know if you find anything
Paul Westgarth (grandson of Walter Bramham Haxby, the second!!)
I have one of these medals in front of me as I type this, but it is one of the alloy versions which were presented to the schoolchildren of the Borough. It belonged to my late mother, Marjorie Doughty as she was at the time, and appropriately living in Railway Street.
The Mayor of Stockton L.Ropner had a special commemorative silver medal minted for this. Anyone know who got them and how many were produced?
I am a direct descendent of Charles & Matthew Wragg. If Matthew was the original fireman, the father of Charles, I have found on the internet that Matthew was born 1825. Could it have been his father, also Mathew. I am really keen to get this mystery cleared up.
I recall reading the obitiary for Mathew Wragg clipped from a 100 year old paper at my grandfathers house in the 1960″s which was then lost when he died. He claimed to be Mathews great grandson and was a railway man all his life. He supervised the dissassembly of Locamotion no1 and its burial during WW2. His name was Walter Bramham Haxby and his daughter was named Nightingale…really interested to hear from anyone who could substantiate the story or link..
Hi Paul, looking at the date on this post, that I’ve just come across, you’ve probably received a reply confirming that Walter Haxby was married to Regina Alice Wragg, daughter of Matthew. They had three children, Lilian, Ben and Eveline.
I belong to the line from Regina’s sister, Mary Hannah. If you have any information or photos you wish to share, please get in touch.
5 years on and this has just popped up.
My Grandfather, who was Walter Bramham Haxby, married Lillian Upex sometime around 1929 and died in 1987 so I don’t think the Walter Haxby you hve mentioned was my grandfather, but I suspect my grandfather he may have been a grandson of your Walter…..My Walters’ daughter, my mother, Hilda Nightingale was supposedly named after my Walters Grandmother so that might sort of fit….any thoughts?
Shame they lost the obituary.
As an interesting aside, my great-great grandfather Matthew Wragg was the fireman on the inaugural run of Locomotion No 1 in 1825! His son Charles Nightingale Wragg moved to York and continued to work on the Railway as did all his descendants. My own father retired from British Rail in 1985. I left British Rail after a few years in the late 60s but my sister Susan still works for Network Rail in York.
According to the Darlington edition of the”Evening Despatch” 1 July 1925 my grandfather, Robert Steel Suddes, was to drive Locomotion No. 1 in the Centenary procession. He being “the oldest driver in the northern area of the L and N.E.R.”
The location is most definitely Hartburn Junction. The date was Thursday 2nd of July and was the last of the exhibit trains in the procession.
Correct Cliff – passing Hartburn Junction with Spring Street bridge in the background & Marlborough Road on the left hand side. This is the 1925 Stockton & Darlington Railway centenary celebrations & the train in the picture,hauled by Locomotion, is part of the Celebration Cavalcade & is heading for the grandstands & viewing area that were situated in the Allens West/Urlay Nook area on the Stockton to Darlington line.
Any guesses as to where this photo was taken? I think that the train was heading south out of Stockton. The Spring Street footbridge is in the distance, with Ropner Park on the left, and the branch line to Thornaby veering off on the right?