Sir Nigel Gresley, who lived in Doncaster from 1905 to 1923, became Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway. He designed world-renowned locomotives, including Flying Scotsman,
and Mallard, built at the Plant Works less than a quarter of a mile from the rear of this station.

Mallard still holds the world speed record for a steam locomotive, reaching 126mph, on the 3rd July 1938, driven by Doncaster's Joe Duddington with fireman Tommy Bray.

The "Plant", first opened by the Great Northern Railway in 1853, was a major Doncaster employer.