The Seaham Harbour Dock Company’s locomotive fleet included a number of veterans, several of which had unusual pedigrees. One of the most interesting of the early engines was No.1 SEATON seen here at Seaham in the 1950s. At the time the NER took over the Londonderry Railway in 1900, an 0-4-4T was under construction at the Seaham Engine Works (part of the Londonderry empire). This engine had originally been intended for passenger duties on the Londonderry Railway but, as the NER had ample passenger engines of its own and as there was no requirement for passenger engines on the Seaham Harbour railway system, the unfinished engine was taken to the Seaham Harbour Company’s new workshops to be completed as an 0-6-0T instead. When it eventually entered service, it was designated No.1 SEATON and had a works plate inscribed ‘Seaham Harbour Engine Works 1902’.

© David P Williams Archive / Rail-Online