Find out about what has been happening since 2014 about preparing for the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 2025. This video (just under 10 minutes) will be updated regularly to include new developments as they happen – so watch this space!
Category: News
News and updates from the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway

People of the S&DR: John Carter and the Skerne Bridge
This article by Brendan Boyle was first published in The Globe in July 2017. The most evocative image of the early railways anywhere in the world is, without doubt, John Dobbin’s Opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825, depicting the packed processional train, hauled by Locomotion 1, crossing Ignatius Bonomi’s glorious Skerne Bridge. […]

People of the S&DR: Percival Tully
People of the S&DR: Percival Tully This article by Brendan Boyle was originally published in The Globe (December 2019). THIS IS THE STORY of a man who worked on the Stockton and Darlington Railway during its first decade and a half of operation. He was not an investor, an engineer or a bridge-designer, but nor […]

People of the S&DR: John Dixon
John Dixon 1796 – 1865 John came from a very famous family – the Dixons of Cockfield in County Durham. A key early (1830) branch line of the S&DR runs below the Fell – the Haggerleases branch line – and the later ‘High line’ linking Bishop Auckland to Barnard Castle runs over the fell itself. […]
Working the Line: Towards the 200th Anniversary 2025
Coming soon…. Join Trish Pemberton as she meets some of the people currently working along the line. Several groups have now sprung up along the route of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, working within the Friends of the S&DR to protect and preserve the line. Find out about their work and, you never know – […]
People of the Stockton & Darlington Railway
Coming soon…. Meet the people who played their part in building the Stockton & Darlington Railway from those with money to invest, the engineers and innovators to those who didn’t support its development.

History and Heritage Festival 23rd October to 1st November 2020
Welcome to the second History and Heritage Festival, now expanded and bringing together two Heritage Action Zone programmes. Ten days of varied and fascinating events, both virtual and live from craft activities, online exhibitions/displays, walks and talks. There’s something for everyone to enjoy. Our theme for this year is “People and Place” with events and […]

Local MPs Get Behind the S&DR
Newly elected local MPs, representing constituencies along the route of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, met with the Friends chair Trish Pemberton today at Portcullis House in London on Wednesday to discuss the preparations for the bicentenary celebrations. Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison and Darlington MP Peter Gibson were present. Matt Vickers, newly elected MP […]
Locomotion No.1 to be Moved from Head of Steam to Locomotion Museum: A Statement from the Friends
On the proposal by the National Railway Museum to move Locomotion No.1 from Darlington to Shildon; A Statement by The Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. Locomotion No.1 is one of the most recognisable and historically important early steam locomotives in the world and as such deserves a suitably appropriate and inspiring home to […]
Chair’s Report – June 2019
Welcome once again to the chair’s report – incorporating the vice-chair’s report. Another busy month has passed and there is, as usual, a good deal to tell you about. The chair and vice-chair attended the Rail Heritage Board meeting at the start of May and afterwards attended a short ‘catch up’ meeting with Linda Tuttiett […]