The entire rail industry is gearing up to mark the 200th anniversary of the day that passengers first rode behind George Stephenson’s steam locomotive — with a whole year of events being planned.
The Opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825 by J.R. Brown, drawn in 1888.
The key day was 27th September 1825, when 400 people caught that very first train, and as it chugged its way along the Stockton and Darlington Railway, it was being watched by 40,000 bystanders who had come to see this steam-age marvel.
Now, with two years to go until the anniversary, the rail industry has confirmed it will mark the bicentenary and the far-reaching impacts of all railways and train travel, with a year-long programme called Railway 200.
The events are still being designed, and a call has gone out today to everyone with a connection with the industry to join in with the aim to have hundreds, if not thousands of events all across the country for an entire year. Already confirmed though are plans for a travelling exhibition, which naturally will be on a train that will cross the UK showing off 200 years of railway heritage.
Railway 200 is also working with partners from outside the industry to highlight the railway’s influence on culture art and society. Details will start to appear on the Railway 200 website as we approach the start of the celebrations in 2025.
Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, Chair of Railway 200 and Network Rail said: “The world changed forever in 1825 and the 200th anniversary of this first passenger train journey is an historic opportunity to reset the public’s relationship with rail. It is our chance to present the railway as a forward thinking, digital, industry and as an attractive career option for young people and for people from many different backgrounds.
For Railway 200 to reach its full potential, we must harness the knowledge and efforts of the whole industry, so I hope you will join us in creating a programme of celebrations which will recognise this great British achievement, the first public passenger train in the world, while inspiring a new generation to take our innovative railway far into the future.”
Railway 200 has also partnered with Stockton & Darlington Bicentenary Festival (S&DR200) who are delivering a 9-month international festival developed right in the heart of where the first journey took place.
In addition, in 2025 Railway Industry Association will be celebrating its 150th anniversary, and the National Railway Museum will be turning 50.
No, you can’t debate about whether 27th September 1825 marks the first passenger train – the industry has decided it was, and that’s the end of that
Love your comment in italics 😂😂😂
And it was decided that was the date a long, long time ago!
I remember going on a school trip to Stockton Station (I’m from there) in 1975 to look at various exhibits including the Flying Scotsman and a brand new HST sitting side by side.
And the Duke of Edinburgh also paid a visit on the 27th September 1975 for the 150th anniversary.
I’m always slightly disappointed by this kind of thing.
The public transport system should be run for today, no treated a heritage project.
No wonder people buy cars, at least they have the appearance of being in the 21st centaury.
Well said. It’s a bigger problem though – the UK as a country is very good at looking back, but far worse than any of our global competitors at looking forward. Our prosperity suffers as a result.
It is run for today and the future and isn’t just a set-in-aspic heritage project.
It is posible to provide modern infrastructure whilst maintaining many heritage buildings and structures connected to the railways. Elements that many people want preserved and adapted not just demolished.
It would have been so much easier (and probbably cheaper) to just demolish the likes of London Bridge and King’s Cross and build something souless as part of their recent redevelopments. Yet a mesh of the old and the new was built.
And why shouldn’t we celebrate our history?
Suggestions required for commemorating Beeching and Marple?
Statuary or effigies?
There are many ways to celebrate heritage at the same time as looking forward. The structures associated with The Railway have lasted for many years — look at King’s Cross and St. Pancras, or Temple Meads — not preserved in aspic, but brought forward to combine the best of old and new. Had they been demolished, whatever was built in their place would perhaps have lasted twenty years before being deemed obsolete.
Respect for the past is essential if you want to understand the future.
Looking forward to celebrating the Anniversary of the start of the Railway Age.
Owing to government inac tivity will the ASLEF & RMT strikes still be going on in 2025
In theory no because by then we will have had another election so should have a new co-alition government by then