Locomotion No. 1 became the first locomotive preserved in the National Railway Museum’s collection in Britain.
Locomotion No. 1 is significant because it hauled the opening train of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825. After its working life, it remained associated with Darlington and was eventually preserved as an early and exceptionally important steam locomotive.
The locomotive is now displayed at the Head of Steam museum in Darlington, while the National Railway Museum in York holds major British railway collections and has displayed related historic locomotives. The wording “first preserved in the National Railway Museum’s collection” can be misleading because Locomotion No. 1 is most directly associated with Darlington’s museum collection rather than being the museum’s only first preserved locomotive.
A safer and more famous fact is that Locomotion No. 1 was the first locomotive to haul a public railway train. It should not be confused with Rocket or Mallard, which belong to later milestones.