Throughout its history, the railway has been intrinsically linked to Britain’s maritime and inland waterways sector. Trains and vessels worked together in an interlinked fashion to transport goods and people, with their synergy evident to this day in modern container ports. Rail companies often had a waterborne arm to extend their reach from a tourism perspective and trains were used to transport vessels from their build site to their service location. The links between rail and maritime heritage remain present, with joint actions and activities by different organizations in the sectors.
To celebrate Railway 200, National Historic Ships UK will publish a series of online posts highlighting different stories and aspects that portray the intrinsic connections between Britain’s maritime and railway heritage. These will come out throughout the year on the last Friday of the month, and daily between 22 and 28 September 2025, the week of the 200th Anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
We’ll look to cover many aspects of this connection. Do you have any stories to tell us that combine Rail and Maritime Heritage? Reach out at info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk!