Welcome to Little Loco’s Engine Shed
stories
activities
books
Choo Choo! Little Loco Arrives has arrived – the prequel to Little Loco’s BIG Day
Here you can read some stories, find out where to find the original Little Loco (Locomotion No.1) and check out some fun activities to do. You can buy the book, Little Loco’s Big Day, here.
I love it and particularly ‘Talented Timothy’!!
Where is the original Locomotion No. 1?
Meet Little Loco and Her Friends
– Little Loco
– Herald the Horse
– The Wonky Waggons
– Talented Timothy
– George the Genius
– Mr Meynell’s Band
Written by Caroline Hardie and Illustrated by John Pickin
Little Loco’s Big Day is the uplifting tale of the first locomotive, now known as Locomotion No.1, which ran on the Stockton & Darlington Railway. Steam powered with a mighty hoot, the nervous Little Loco has to pull wonky waggons along the railway on the opening day in 1825. Trouble brews when the wonky waggons grumble because they want to be pulled by horses, not locomotives. Herald the Horse is worried that he will lose his job if Little Loco is too useful. Can Little Loco find good friends to help her?
Written by Caroline Hardie and Illustrated by John Pickin
Little Loco Arrives is the prequel to Little Loco’s BIG Day. It tells the true story of the events on the 18th of September 1825 when Little Loco, later known as Locomotion No.1, arrived on the world’s first modern railway – the Stockton & Darlington Railway. Little Loco’s journey from the locomotive factory in Newcastle to the level crossing at Aycliffe Lane, near Heighington, took two days.
When Herald the Horse realises that this ‘iron horse’ is stronger than he is, he is worried that he will soon be out of a job. What will happen to Herald and all the other horses who helped to build the new railway? And who will be the first passengers carried by Little Loco? Not grown-ups, that’s for sure.
Meet Little Loco & Her Friends
Little Loco was the first locomotive engine brought to the Stockton and Darlington Railway. This railway was the beginning of our modern railway nearly 200 years ago, so she was very important. Little Loco now lives in a museum, but in the last 200 years she has had lots of adventures and made many friends. You can meet Little Loco and her friends here and buy her lovely story book, written by Caroline Hardie and illustrated by John Pickin here.
Little Loco
Little Loco was a very important engine. She was brought to the railway in September 1825 (see Little Loco Arrives). Her first driver called her Active but the railway company simply called her Number 1 because she was their first engine. She was the first engine on the railway that was the start of our modern railway today.
How is herald?
Poor Herald. Horses used to pull waggons and carts. His job on the opening day of the railway was to walk in front of the train to make sure it didn’t go too fast. But he soon realised that engines like Little Loco could do the job of hundreds of horses. Would he be put in a horrible home for hopeless horses? Scroll down to listen to Herald’s song.
Wonky Waggons
The waggons were cross. They only wanted to be pulled by a horse. One fell off the track. It couldn’t be put back.
Wicked Wonky Waggons!
The railway company got fed up with Wonky Waggons. Something would have to be done!
Talented Timothy
Talented Timothy helped to build Little Loco in Newcastle with help from another engineer called James Kennedy. It was Timothy’s job to look after all the locomotives on the railway. He was a kind man who lived in Shildon. He liked to help people, especially if they were poor.
George the Genius
George the Genius invented Little Loco. He asked Talented Timothy to build her with help from other engineers. George also designed the railway and helped to build it. After the opening day of the railway, he helped to build more railways. Soon they began to spread all across the country.
Mr Meynell’s Band
Mr Meynell helped to run the railway. He opened an inn beside the railway so that people had somewhere to buy drinks and food and keep out of the rain. People thought this was a good idea and so they started to invent the railway station. Mr Meynell also had a band. They loved to play music at celebrations – including the opening of the railway in 1825.
The ‘iron horse’ arrived from Newcastle where the railway crossed Aycliffe Lane at a level crossing. It was on the back of a huge waggon drawn along the road by eight horses. The horses were called:
Hengist the horsa
Hengist the Horsa is from a very ancient German family. However he was born in England and so were his parents and grandparents. He is best known for reliability and hard work.
nookie and nora brown
Nookie Brown and Nora Brown are twins from Newcastle. They used to work in a brewery helping to move barrels of beer. Now they work at Robert Stephenson & Co moving heavy things like locomotives.
hetty happy hoofs
Hetty Happy Hoofs is a cheerful horse, always ready to encourage the other horses. She enjoys hard work, dancing, grazing, leaning over fences and chatting to sheep. Hetty Happy Hoofs enjoys life.
doris and morris
Doris and Morris (formerly known as Maurice, pronounced Maurees) are sister and brother. They came from France ten years ago in difficult circumstances which they’d prefer to forget. Morris still doesn’t like loud bangs and Doris is often frightened of rubbish caught in hedgerows. This can be awkward when pulling a cart. Morris refuses to speak French even though he can remember how to.
hairy henry of hock
Hairy Henry of Hock was sold by his previous owner who got into debt. He is happier in his new job where there is plenty of hay and a dry stable. He enjoys being groomed but racing along the roads, spoils his tidy hairstyle. He would like a side parting and a bow.
pickersgill
Pickersgill is from a long line of horses paid to carry people, parcels and heavy loads along the roads. Soon, Pickersgill will help to run passenger coaches on the railway. She is very excited about this and wants to change her name to Pickersgill the Pioneer.
Stories
Herald’s Song
You will meet Herald the Horse in 'Little Loco Arrives' and 'Little Loco's Big Day'. Herald is not happy. Not happy at all. He was told an iron horse was coming to the...
A long time ago…there was a Little Loco
The Little Loco A long time ago, when travelling was slow, walking was cheap with boots on your feet. Riding a horse was clip cloppity faster, but you could fall off –...
Activities
Colour in the ‘iron horse’.
George the Genius described Little Loco as an 'iron horse' when he explained what a locomotive was to Herald the Horse. This led to a lot of funny ideas of what an iron...
Let’s write an acrostic poem – an activity for Little Loco readers
Write a word vertically. It could be your name or something to do with railways. This one is Timothy. Now think of words or phrases beginning with each letter. Terribly...
Sound Poem – an activity for Little Loco readers
What sounds did people hear on Little Loco's journey? Choo chooWhoo WhooClickety clackClangClunkRumbleHoorayFlags flutteringOoompahRoot toot toot Can we make a sound...
For Educators and Event Organisers
What teachers said about school visits:
“Hi Caroline, thank you SO much for today! I don’t think I’ve ever had children and teachers come and find me before to say thank you for organising such an amazing experience! I have heard so many positive things, and can’t wait to get full feedback after the holidays. Thank you SO much! You’ve inspired a lot of children this morning!”
If you would like the author to do a reading at your school or event, please use the contact details above. The author Caroline Hardie is an archaeologist located close to the Stockton & Darlington Railway near Barnard Castle. She is also a Trustee of the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and has a current DBS certificate.
“Dear Caroline, dear all,
Today was just wonderful. Warmest thanks all round. Caroline – I very much enjoyed your session with year 3 and the teacher mentioned later on how engaged the children were. I’m just sorry I didn’t have a chance to say a proper goodbye and thank you. I hope this message will suffice to express our gratitude to you and Rob for making this possible. I’m delighted to hear that more books are being planned.”
Teachers might like to use these educational resources on the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway web site. These are suitable for KS1 and 2.
“What a wonderful day we have had! The children were delighted with their copies of the book and with the activities. We are so very grateful.”
You can watch primary school children in Darlington read and enact the story here. This was a project devised by Darlington Libraries designed to encourage children to read. They have really brought Little Loco’s BIG Day to life!
Where is the original Locomotion No. 1?
Little Loco is now very old so she lives in a museum where top people look after her. Today she lives in a museum called Locomotion in Shildon.
Books and other things
Trade Enquiries
If you would like to stock Little Loco’s Big Day, please contact us using the tab above. The book retails at £8.99 and is suitable for ages 6-7 or younger readers being read to. It can be displayed in non-fiction or picture books. Local retailers might also wish to display it in the local history section where it will be seen by parents and grandparents with that interest.
- Written and illustrated by previously published archaeologists, one of whom is a specialist in early early railways and a Trustee (and editor) of the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway
- Designed to coincide with the 200th anniversary celebrations of the start of the modern railway in 2025
- Designed to be part of a series
- Professionally edited by 3Rs Editing
- Registered with Nielsens/Pub Easy and Gardners
- 250 x 200mm landscape
- 28 pages includes activities to the front and the true story towards the back
- Published on high quality paper 300gsm gloss with lamination outers, plus 170gsm gloss inside pages
- No minimum order, free delivery (or collect) if local to DL12
- Use the contact tab at the top to discuss discount terms
The content of Little Loco’s Engine Shed is copyright Caroline Hardie (author) and John Pickin (illustrator). Herald’s song is copyright Caroline Hardie and Philip Sculthorpe.
