The driver

The Puffing Billy is said to be the oldest surviving steam locomotive in the world. It was constructed in 1813-1814 by colliery viewer William Hedley, enginewright Jonathan Forster and blacksmith Timothy Hackworth for Christopher Blackett, the owner of Wylam Colliery near Newcastle upon Tyne. It proved too heavy for the track and was rebuilt in 1815 with ten wheels, but was returned to its original condition in 1830 when the line was relaid with stronger rails. Puffing Billy remained in service until 1862, when Edward Blackett, the owner of Wylam Colliery, lent it to the Patent Office Museum in South Kensington, London (later the Science Museum). He later sold it to the museum for £200. It is still on display there. Its sister locomotive, Wylam Dilly, is preserved in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

In 2006 a replica was built for use at Beamish Museum and it is this locomotive that is seen here operating on the Pockerley Waggonway on its first day back in service after a major overhaul and retubing over the winter. The driver seems happy with his steed and commented that the new boiler lagging was very effective and they were having trouble keeping the safety valves from lifting.