Darlington England United Kingdom - This firing shovel was used on Locomotion No.1, the first steam locomotive to run on a public railway, at the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway on 27 Sep 1825.
 
The shovel was originally on display with the locomotive at Bank Top Station in Darlington.
 
However in the 1950s the firing shovel was grabbed by a young man, Jack Cudbertson, to use in self-defence when a group of soldiers from nearby barracks threatened him.
 
Jack forgot to take the shovel back and kept it for more than 25 years.
 
In 1988 he gave the artefact to his friend Charlie Dennis because he was interested in locomotives and is a fireman on the South Devon Railway.
 
Charlie returned the firing shovel to Darlington in 2008 so it could be re-united with Locomotion No. 1 at the Head of Steam, Darlington Railway Museum.
 
Author unknown.