Darlington Railway Works, known locally as North Road Shops, was built in 1863 by the Stockton and Darlington Railway. In 1864 The first new locomotive built. Though the railway had amalgamated with the North Eastern Railway in 1863, it continued to build its own designs for a number of years. By 1875 the North Road Engine Works had produced 102 locomotives and by 1877 the first North Eastern designs appeared.

Under the London and North Eastern Railway the works continued to play a major role, producing a new engine each week, with Gresley's K3 class 2-6-0 appearing in 1924. Both the class V2 and A1 were also built there. By 1927 the works were the town's largest employer.

After nationalisation in 1948, Darlington built both steam and diesel locomotives, including BR standard class 2. The equivalent of the LNER Class E1 0-6-0 tank locomotive had been built, virtually unchanged since 1898. The works was enlarged in 1954 and the BR Workshops Division was formed in 1962, however, with rationalisation the works was run down and closed in 1966.