Little Loco Arrives
Written by Caroline Hardie and Illustrated by John Pickin
Published July 2026. 24pp. Paperback.
The book is suitable for children aged 6-7ish or younger children to be read to. It can be used in schools from Reception to Year 4 (and sometimes Year 5).

The Stockton & Darlington Railway was the start of our modern railway network which went on spread across the world. Little Loco Arrives is the prequel to Little Loco’s BIG Day.

It tells the true story of the events on the 18th of September 1825 when Little Loco, later known as Locomotion No.1, arrived on the world’s first modern railway – the Stockton & Darlington Railway. Designed by George Stephenson (George the Genius), Little Loco’s journey from the locomotive factory in Newcastle to the level crossing at Aycliffe Lane, near Heighington, took two days.

When Herald the Horse realises that this ‘iron horse’ is stronger than he is, he is worried that he will soon be out of a job. What will happen to Herald and all the other horses who helped to build the new railway? And who will be the first passengers carried by Little Loco? Not grown-ups, that’s for sure.

The author, Caroline Hardie, is an archaeologist and a specialist in the history of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. She is also a Trustee and editor for the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. John Pickin is also an archaeologist specialising in industrial archaeology.