It has been reported by Rail Advent that the newly restored replica Locomotion No. 1 will be the centrepiece of the Stockton and Darlington railway 200 Festival, a week-long celebration of the bi-centenary of the opening of the world’s first steam railway.
Thanks to a partnership with Network Rail, the locomotive will run along sections of the original line on September 26, 27, and 28. There will be multiple official viewing points along the 26-mile route for people to see the locomotive in action. At two of these viewing points; Locomotion in Shildon on 26 Sept and Hopetown in Darlington on 27 Sept, members of the public will require free tickets.
Other highlights will include ‘Ghost Train’ on 21 and 28 September, a two-part performance, which will help visitors to understand the story behind the birth of the passenger railway with storytelling and projections, while the Southpaw Dance Company will put on an outdoor performance called ‘STEAM’ on 27 and 28 September.
Locomotion No. 1
Locomotion No.1 was the train which ran along the world’s first passenger and freight steam railway service in 1825. Four years earlier Edward Pease from Darlington had made known his intention for a railway to be built on an 8-mile line from Stockton to Darlington, to help access a rich seam of coal. George Stephenson heard about this and was soon very interested, having built several steam engines to work in the Killingworth Colliery in Northumberland.
Pease had intended at first to use horse traction but Stephenson was able to persuade him the steam engine could pull as much as 50 times a heavier load than horses could pull and suitably impressed Pease allowed Stephenson to try out his locomotion No. 1 on the new line.
So it was that, “on September 27, 1825, the first engine ran from Darlington to Stockton, preceded by a man on horseback carrying a flag reading Periculum privatum utilitas publica (“The private danger is the public good”). When the horseman was out of the way, Stephenson opened the throttle and pulled his train of wagons carrying 450 persons at a speed of 15 miles (24 km) per hour.”.
The original Locomotion No. 1 was moved from Darlington to the National Railway Museum, now Locomotion, at Shildon in 2021, but under an agreement it is being loaned back to Darlington this year as part of the celebrations for the bi-centenary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington railway.
Replica Locomotion No. 1
The replica of Locomotion No. 1 built in 1975, has already been tested this year on the Weardale railway line between Bishop Auckland and Stanhope and was in Wolsingham in April this year.
Locomotion, the railway museum in Shildon, have also been telling the public about what they will be doing on the historic weekend. You can come to Locomotion and wave off the replica Locomotion No.1 as it recreates the first steam hauled passenger journey in the world. There will be music from brass bands and street entertainers and Locomotion describes it as a party!
Activities
On 27 September, you can visit Inspiration, the railway 200 exhibition train, take a ride on a steam locomotive or marvel at the next generation rail vehicles which can be seen on display outside the New Hall at Locomotion.
On the same day, there will also be stories from Mad Alice Theatre and you can have a go at making something at the arts and crafts sessions or make memories with Same Difference.
On Sunday 28 September the final day of the festival there will be more fun to be had, including demonstrations. There will also be more family make and take activities and passenger rights than on the final day.
All in all, there is an awful lot to interest people and to look forward to in September, as the North East celebrates the bicentenary of the birth of the railways in our region.
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