THIS is a piece of Darlington railway history – but not quite the piece we clumsily suggested it was in Memories 550. Following what was written on the rear of the picture, we said it was “the last diesel Deltic to be built at the North Road workshops”.

“You have been sold a pup,” said Mike McLaren, who was a trainspotter 50 years ago and so is now able to put his knowledge to good use. “The locomotive is a Sulzer type 2, a great little workhorse that was useful on light goods trains.

“Now, the Deltic is a different animal altogether, used to haul express trains. It was the only loco at that time permitted to run at 100mph, so your caption is akin to sticking a Jaguar badge on the back of a Reliant Robin.”

Fred Ottey in Easington Lane pointed out the engine is a Class 25 and, with the number D7597 on the door, it was the last engine to be built at the North Road works. The works opened in 1863 and when D7597 rolled out on August 12, 1964, it was the last of 2,775 steam and diesel locos built where Morrisons’ supermarket is today.

“D7597 had a life just short of 19 years, working on the Midland and Scottish regions of British Rail,” says Mike Barnard. “It was renumbered 25247 in 1974, and was scrapped at Swindon Works in 1983.

“Apparently one of its cabs was sold privately and was used as a garden shed somewhere.”

What an indignity! The last of 101 years of engineering excellence and it ends up as a place in which to store compost.

Many thanks to everyone who pointed this mistake out.

The Northern Echo: The BR Class 37 diesel-electric

It raises an obvious question: what was the historic diesel loco unveiled (above) only a month ago at North Road station? It was D6898, a Class 37 diesel, which was the last engine to be built at Robert Stephenson & Company at the Springfield works in the town.

“Stivvies”, as the company was known, was formed in the early 1820s in Newcastle to build Locomotion No 1. It moved to Darlington in 1902, and built its last engine, D6898, on April 28, 1964.

The Northern Echo: Closure of Robert Stephenson and Hawthorne / Stivvies closure in 1964, Darlington. Worker gather to see the final diesel locomotive as it leaves the Darlington works

Closure of Robert Stephenson and Hawthorne / Stivvies closure in 1964, Darlington. Worker gather to see the final diesel locomotive as it leaves the Darlington works

Many thanks, as ever, for all your correspondence. If you have anything to add to any of our stories this week, please email chris.lloyd@nne.co.uk

* Before Tornado, of course...