Here they are once more in 11 archive photos showing them at their magnificent best.
There was Mona, Regal, and many more horses over the years and we have photos from the 1950s onwards.
Re-live the days when they were a regular sight on the streets of Wearside.
9. Regal was an award winner
Bob Stobbart lets Regal, one of the Vaux horses, have a drink out of one of the trophies that he helped to win at the Royal Show in Windsor in 1988. Photo: se
10. Saying hello in 1979
Eric Maddison, 4, is brave enough to stroke one of the horses as Ronnie Brown, Vaux drayman, keeps a watchful eye. Photo: se
11. Home from Hungary
Douglas Nicholson (left foreground) is pictured with some of his team of horses after his return from a driving championships in Hungary in 1973. Photo: se
12. A part of Wearside history
Share your own memories of the Vaux horses by emailing [email protected] Photo: se