Timothy Hackworth moved into Hackworth House (formerly Soho House) with his family in 1831.
There he supervised the construction of what became the Soho Engine Works close to the property.
In 1833 Hackworth renegotiated his contract with the Stockton and Darlington Railway to take over the works himself.
This became the Soho Locomotive Building Company.

Hackworth was in a partnership with Nicholas Downing in Shildon however the partnership was formally dissolved on 25 March 1837.

The oldest part still surviving is the Soho Shed.
The grade II listed building was built in 1826 as a warehouse for an iron merchant.
The North Eastern Railway were the occupant from 1863 before becoming a paint shop for trains in the 1870s.
In the 20th century it was used as a boxing gym and rehearsal space for the Shildon Works Silver Band.
The shed still has two engine pits and the remnants of a 19th-century heating system.
The engine shed along with Hackworth House was refurbished in 1975.

Near the Soho Shed, 110 metres to the east, are the grade II listed coal drops.
Constructed circa 1846/47 or circa 1856 depending on source.
The system was used for the refuelling of locomotive tenders.
Coal wagons would be hauled to the top of the coal drops where their bottom would open and the coal would fall down a chute into the engine waiting below.

In this area also stand the Black Boy Stables and out buildings.
The grade II listed stables were built in the early 19th century at the point where the branch lines met from the Black Boy Colliery and Surtees Railway.
Restored in the 1970s the stables were damaged by fire in 1985.
However, a 2016 report disputes their being stables.
It states that while they are "clearly not stables", it believes one was possibly a plate layer's cabin.
The use of the other "adjacent structures is still in some doubt".

Furthermore, the area also has the Goods shed and Parcel Office.
It handled local freight distribution in Shildon from 1857.
The Parcels Office looked after the movement of goods in and out of the shed.

The Soho Works built the first locomotive to run in Nova Scotia, Canada.
The engine, named Samson, was shipped from Shildon in August 1838 to move coal from the coal mines at Stellarton.

The Stockton and Darlington Railway expanded their works on the western side of the Mason's Arms Crossing.
This expansion alongside the nearby Soho works led to a surge in population as people came to the town for work.
The pace of growth quickened further with the opening of Shildon Colliery to the south of the Soho Works in 1873.

In a letter to his sister, Timothy Hackworth Jr. describes the scene in the vicinity of the works -
I have just had a walk on the spoil bank for a few minutes.
It is becoming quite a place of attraction.
The men are now getting their gardens put into order and besides the Company have commenced making a reservoir on the top of the hill just opposite the works and hope they do not mean to drown us out of the place.
It is such a splendid afternoon.
There are hundreds of people walking out in the fields round our City, quite reminds me of the London parks on a Sunday.

— Timothy Hackworth Jr.
In 1855 the Soho Works were bought by the Stockton and Darlington Railway and made an extension of their works.
Now merged with the North Eastern Railway in 1863 and locomotive production was shifted to their North Road Works in Darlington.
The Shildon Works continued but focus was shifted to the construction of railway wagons.

To mark fifty years of the railway, the Northern Echo published an article which included this description of the town -
'Shildon is one of the ugliest places on the earth's fair surface.
It was once a swamp, the malaria from which laid many of its early inhabitants low with fever.
It is now a hideous congerie of houses, growing like fungus on either side of a network of rails.
A huge colliery rears its ungainly head close to the rails, and the noise of its working ceases not for ever.
Engines are plying about with restless activity, like spiders running along the threads of their nets see
Timothy Hackworth moved into Hackworth House (formerly Soho House) with his family in 1831. There he supervised the construction of what became the Soho Engine Works close to the property. In 1833 Hackworth renegotiated his contract with the Stockton and Darlington Railway to take over the works himself. This became the Soho Locomotive Building Company.
Hackworth was in a partnership with Nicholas Downing in Shildon however the partnership was formally dissolved on 25 March 1837.
The oldest part still surviving is the Soho Shed. The grade II listed building was built in 1826 as a warehouse for an iron merchant. The North Eastern Railway were the occupant from 1863 before becoming a paint shop for trains in the 1870s. In the 20th century it was used as a boxing gym and rehearsal space for the Shildon Works Silver Band. The shed still has two engine pits and the remnants of a 19th-century heating system. The engine shed along with Hackworth House was refurbished in 1975.
Near the Soho Shed, 110 metres to the east, are the grade II listed coal drops. Constructed circa 1846/47 or circa 1856 depending on source. The system was used for the refuelling of locomotive tenders. Coal wagons would be hauled to the top of the coal drops where their bottom would open and the coal would fall down a chute into the engine waiting below.
In this area also stand the Black Boy Stables and out buildings. The grade II listed stables were built in the early 19th century at the point where the branch lines met from the Black Boy Colliery and Surtees Railway. Restored in the 1970s the stables were damaged by fire in 1985. However, a 2016 report disputes their being stables. It states that while they are "clearly not stables", it believes one was possibly a plate layer's cabin. The use of the other "adjacent structures is still in some doubt".
Furthermore, the area also has the Goods shed and Parcel Office. It handled local freight distribution in Shildon from 1857. The Parcels Office looked after the movement of goods in and out of the shed.
The Soho Works built the first locomotive to run in Nova Scotia, Canada. The engine, named Samson, was shipped from Shildon in August 1838 to move coal from the coal mines at Stellarton.
The Stockton and Darlington Railway expanded their works on the western side of the Mason's Arms Crossing. This expansion alongside the nearby Soho works led to a surge in population as people came to the town for work. The pace of growth quickened further with the opening of Shildon Colliery to the south of the Soho Works in 1873.
In a letter to his sister, Timothy Hackworth Jr. describes the scene in the vicinity of the works -
I have just had a walk on the spoil bank for a few minutes. It is becoming quite a place of attraction. The men are now getting their gardens put into order and besides the Company have commenced making a reservoir on the top of the hill just opposite the works and hope they do not mean to drown us out of the place. It is such a splendid afternoon. There are hundreds of people walking out in the fields round our City, quite reminds me of the London parks on a Sunday.
— Timothy Hackworth Jr.
In 1855 the Soho Works were bought by the Stockton and Darlington Railway and made an extension of their works. Now merged with the North Eastern Railway in 1863 and locomotive production was shifted to their North Road Works in Darlington. The Shildon Works continued but focus was shifted to the construction of railway wagons.
To mark fifty years of the railway, the Northern Echo published an article which included this description of the town -
'Shildon is one of the ugliest places on the earth's fair surface. It was once a swamp, the malaria from which laid many of its early inhabitants low with fever. It is now a hideous congerie of houses, growing like fungus on either side of a network of rails. A huge colliery rears its ungainly head close to the rails, and the noise of its working ceases not for ever. Engines are plying about with restless activity, like spiders running along the threads of their nets see
Shildon