The A4 Pacific, the ‘Mallard’ passing through Stockton Railway Station possibly during the Mallard’s 50th anniversary railtour, August 1988.
Photograph by John W Chesney, courtesy of Joyce Chesney.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
This was one of the 1988 railtours to celebrate the 50th aniversary of Mallard’s record breaking run. This trip had seen it run from York to Carlisle then across to Newcastle before taking the coastal route through Sunderland, Hartlepool, Stockton etc, before heading back to York. The Driver was my father Harold Clark with Jimmy Hughes as Fireman, both based at the now sadly demolished Thornaby Motive Power Depot.They picked up the train at Newcaste and would change out with another crew at Eaglescliffe. And the last time that Flying Scotsman passed through Stockton station was in 1987 after it had been at Saltburn for their Victoriana Week. Again, the driver was my father who took it from Saltburn to Newcastle to do another railtour.
I remember that day. I was working at Norton Station signal box, down Station Road, Norton, on that day of the tour. I am just wondering one thing! Joyce, was John W Chesney a teacher at Freddy Nat., school at Norton? If so I can still see him in my minds eye.
There was reportedly an exhibition of rolling stock at Stockton station to celebrate the 125th – not the 150th in 1975 – anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, probably in September 1950 and 60022 Mallard was one of the exhibits. She also headed the Sundays 3.00p.m. train from King’s Cross to Newcastle via Stockton and Sunderland through Stockton in March 1963. Mallard was withdrawn from traffic for preservation the following month. There were probably other occasions, particularly during engineering diversions from the main line via Darlington.
The 75th anniversary of Mallard’s record breaking run in 1938 comes up this year (2013) and all six of the surviving Gresley A4 class engines have been brought together for it, including one from the USA and one from Canada. The anniversary of Mallard’s run is 3rd July and will be celebrated at the National Railway Museum, York.
I’m sure Dad took us kids to see the Flying Scotsman at Stockton station in the 1960’s… Steamy noisy and smokey !
Not the Mallard but yes, the Flying Scotsman (60103) certainly pulled the summer Saturday train from South Shields and Saltburn (combined at Stockton) one Saturday morning in August 1962, some 6 months before it was withdrawn. I was on that train. I wonder whether Mallard ever graced Stockton station in BR days.