We had a trip to Darlington to look for a new sofa today.
This is a sculpture built beside the A66 road, on the outskirts of Darlington. It was modelled on the 1938 record setting, 126mph steam locomotive “Mallard”. Funded by the National Lottery, Wm Morrison Supermarkets, Northern Arts, Department of National Heritage, Darlington Borough Council and headed by sculptor David Mach the project reputedly cost c £760k.
A total of 185,000 bricks were used in its construction along with 170 cubic meters of concrete. The train weighs 15,000 tonnes and covers an area of 600sq meters. It is of hollow construction and measures 23ft high by 130ft long. It took a team of 34 brick layers, labourers and apprentices 21 weeks to build.
In addition, there are even 20 special ‘bat’ bricks built in at various places to encourage the nocturnal creatures to use it as their home. Local schools also donated ‘time capsules’ which were put inside the train.
It was commissioned and built in 1997 by Scottish sculptor David Mach as a tribute to the town’s railway heritage.
The Train Journey
Hurry up, hurry up,
Get right up, get right up,
Sit back up, sit back up,
Clickety clack, clickety clack.
On the track, on the track.
I saw a tunnel, I saw a tunnel.
Under a tunnel, under a tunnel.
Out of the tunnel, out of the tunnel.
Clickety clack, clickety clack.
On the track, on the track.
Home at last, home at last.
This is a poem that was the winning entry in a competition for local schoolchildren to write a poem inspired by 'TRAIN'. The winner was David Quick (aged 7) from Middleton St Georges Primary School.
OMG! I got such a shock when I saw this. Don't live that far from it. Used to pass it on the daily commute still never photo'd it! @barneyone
You would think we would photo this one day eh! ;0)))
@barneyone
You would think we would photo this one day eh! ;0)))