Full steam ahead – 200 years of train travel to be marked with celebrations

28th September 2023

The two year countdown is on, to mark the bicentenary of the birth of the modern railway with celebrations throughout 2025.

The Stockton & Darlington Railway opened on September 27, 1825, connecting places, people, communities and ideas and ultimately transforming the world. 

To mark the 200^th anniversary of that momentous first journey, three councils, Darlington, Durham, Stockton-on-Tees and Tees Valley Combined Authority, have joined forces with a range of local, national, and international partners, to deliver a series of internationally significant projects throughout the bicentenary year.

S&DR200 – a fantastic nine-month festival – is at the heart of the celebrations. Based in the North-East, it will include internationally significant projects which will shine a light on the history and the future of transport.

It’s all aboard for a programme of events including steam train journeys, exhibitions, visual arts and large-scale spectacles. There’ll be something for everyone – from railway enthusiasts and hobbyists to students, families and visitors of all ages.

At the centre of the bicentenary festivities is a celebration of the very first ground-breaking journey. A permanent walk and cycle pathway, which will closely follow much of the 26-mile inaugural route, is being developed across County Durham, Darlington and Stockton-on-Tees. Historic England chose the 26-mile route to be one of their first a Heritage Action Zone and in 2025 a replica of Locomotion No.1 will also be used to provide experiences around the inaugural journey starting from Shildon and Darlington to Stockton.

There will be dozens of activities, events and celebrations in communities along the 26-mile line. There’ll be opportunities to learn and discover at interactive exhibitions and schools will be able to take advantage of a series of S&DR200 focused projects to spark pupils' interest in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the arts.

Keep on track with how to get involved via the festival’s new social media channels and the S&DR200 website.