The Darlington
"Brick Train" was opened on Monday, 23rd June 1997 by Lord Palumbo
of Walbrook and was met with mixed reactions by local residents. Some think
it is good for the town whilst others say it is a complete waste of money that
could have been put to better use.
Like it or not, it has certainly pulled in a few tourists to Darlington from all parts of the country which surely has to be a good thing for the area. The Train is situated next to Morrisons Supermarket at Morton Park Industrial Estate on Yarm Road. The actual location is approximately midway between Darlington town center and Teesside Airport and is AA sign posted.
Visitors can park up in the ample carparks and the sculpture is only a couple of hundred yards away, along a footpath. It is modeled on the 1938 record setting,126mph steam locomotive "Mallard". The project was headed by sculptor David Mach and is said to have cost around £760,000 in total. It was funded by the National Lottery, Wm Morrison Supermarkets, Northern Arts, Department of National Heritage, Darlington Borough Council and sponsorship in kind.
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. A team of 34 brickies, laborers and apprentices actually built it in 21 weeks. There are even 20 special 'bat' bricks built in at various places to encourage the nocturnal creatures to use it as their home. Some of the local schools have also donated 'time capsules' which have been put inside the train.
