Welcome to Little Loco’s Engine Shed
stories
activities
books
Choo Choo!
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.
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?
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. George 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 George the Genius. 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 was helped by Talented Timothy. 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.
Stories
Herald’s Song
You will meet Herald the Horse in the picture book, 'Little Loco's Big Day'. Herald is not happy. Not happy at all. He was told an iron horse was coming to the railway,...
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 –...
For Educators and Event Organisers
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.
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.
Activities
Little Loco Word Search
See if you can find these words in this box? Draw a circle or put a line through each one you find. The words you are looking for are:...
Little Loco – in chocolate!
Little Loco made with a chocolate mini roll, 4 big chocolate buttons, a chocolate finger for her chimney and two chocolate fingers for rails. Yum!
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
- 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 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.
