Description
The new station in 1850 was built to cater for increasing traffic of both passengers and freight. A through line for non-stopping trains was soon added.
In 1853, the Great Northern Railway Locomotive and Carriage Building Works relocated from Boston, Lincolnshire, to Doncaster due to the company’s rapid expansion. The town, which was previously a quiet market town with a population of around 24,000, quickly transformed into an engineering powerhouse. As the railway works grew, many workers and their families moved to Doncaster, leading to a major housing development, as well as the construction of a church and a school to serve the new community.
Doncaster’s first locomotive was produced in 1868, marking the start of a pivotal era in the town’s history. Sir Patrick Stirling, a Scottish railway engineer, became Locomotive Superintendent at the Doncaster works in the 1860s. Stirling designed the famous Stirling Singles, which were built at Doncaster. His son, also named Patrick, later became the Mayor of Doncaster and played for Doncaster Rovers.
In 1923, when railway companies were nationalized, Doncaster became the main design centre for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). One of the greatest engineering feats to come out of Doncaster was the design of the Flying Scotsman by Sir Nigel Gresley, who served as the Chief Mechanical Engineer at the works. The Flying Scotsman was not only showcased at the British Empire Exhibition but also became the first locomotive in the world to reach 100 mph.
In the 1930s, Gresley designed the streamlined A4 locomotives, and in 1938, the Mallard—another locomotive built in Doncaster—set the world speed record for a steam locomotive, reaching 126 mph. This record still stands today. In 2013, the Mallard returned to Doncaster to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the record and is now displayed at the National Railway Museum in York alongside the Flying Scotsman.
Though much of the original railway works has since been dismantled, Doncaster’s legacy as an engineering centre endures. The town continues to be a significant railway hub and was selected as the site for the National College for High-Speed Rail.
Doncaster’s railway significance almost didn’t happen. Initially, the town was not included in early proposals for key railway lines, and for years, local aristocrats believed that railways were unnecessary. It wasn’t until 1844 that local MP Edmund Denison pushed for a line to serve the town, which ultimately led to Doncaster being connected to the East Coast Main Line in 1849. The new line made travel from London to York faster by bypassing previous, longer routes, and the town’s new station quickly became an important railway junction, linking other cities like Leeds.
Today, Doncaster remains a key railway town with a rich legacy of engineering achievements and continues to play a crucial role in the UK’s rail industry.
