Soho Works is one of the most historically significant areas in Shildon, home to several key buildings that tell the story of early railway development. Central to this site is the house built for Timothy Hackworth, locomotive superintendent of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Constructed around 1830–1831, the house served as Hackworth's residence until his death in 1850, after which it became housing for other railway workers. In 1975, the building became the Timothy Hackworth Museum, and later, in 2004, it was integrated into Locomotion. Over time, the house has seen many changes to its exterior, interior, and overall function.

Nearby stands one of Shildon's oldest industrial buildings, built in 1826 as an iron merchant's warehouse. Positioned close to the railway, it was strategically placed to take advantage of the transport links provided by the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Throughout its history, the building has served various roles, from a locomotive paint shop and music rehearsal space to a boxing gym. Today, it houses some of the oldest objects in the Locomotion collection, including the locomotive Nelson and several early chaldron waggons.

Another key structure is the Goods Shed, constructed between 1857 and 1896. It operated until the 1960s, when goods services were withdrawn from Shildon Station. From 1975, the shed was repurposed as a platform for museum train rides, first under the Timothy Hackworth Museum and later under Locomotion. Notably, parts of the shed are built using original stone sleeper blocks from the early railway, identifiable by the bolt holes used to secure rails.

Adjacent to the Goods Shed is the Parcel Office, once used by railway staff to oversee the movement of goods in and out of the site. This building played a vital role in the logistics of Shildon's railway operations.

A cluster of small buildings located at the junction of three railways, the Surtees Railway, the Stockton and Darlington Railway, and the Black Boy Colliery Branch was built between 1830 and 1858. Though commonly referred to as 'The Stables,' their original function is uncertain. They may have supported nearby coal drops, the railway lines, or even a former gas works. The name 'Stables' may stem from their position at the convergence of three horse-drawn rail routes.

Finally, the most visually striking structure at Soho Works is the Coal Drops, built in 1846–1847 to speed up the process of refuelling steam locomotives. Chaldron waggons were hauled up a steep incline and tipped their loads into chutes that emptied into the tenders below. The Coal Drops remained in use until 1935 and have since become an iconic image in railway photography.