The class 1001 were 0-6-0 goods locomotives designed by William Bouch and purchased by the North Eastern beginning in 1852. They were of the long boiler design popular in the 1840s, designed to lower the center of gravity. The long and thin boiler had overhang both on the smokebox and firebox ends, but this was no great problem for a slow goods locomotive. The small firebox was also well suited for operations where high power was only required for short periods of time. The steam supply of the boiler could be used up when accelerating and then refilled.

The production ran for a period of 23 years. The total of 192 came partly from the North Eastern's own workshops in Darlington and Shildon, others were sourced from several companies. The first locomotives were built without a cab and later retrofitted with one. As part of further modernization, larger tenders were also attached. The last locomotives built in the 1870s were withdrawn by 1923.