The Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway are celebrating 200 years since the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway kick started the railway revolution.
Held between March and September the festival will take the form of a series of guided walks covering the 26 miles of the Stockton & Darlington Railway allowing you to explore some of the lesser-known parts of the S&DR slightly off the normal tourist trails as well as the more well known monuments with enthusiastic local guides.
This series of walks will take in the abandoned inclines at the west of the line, where you can see in situ remains of the earliest days. Historic Shildon which grew from a small village to an industrial centre thanks to the Railways and Hackworth’s legacy. Take in Darlington and learn about the Quakers who financed the industry, the story behind the building, and rebuilding of the Skerne Bridge. Walk the line from Darlington to the village of Middleton-st-George learning about the industries that grew up around the railway. Visit Eaglescliffe and Stockton, passing the site of the famous race between horse and locomotive and finishing at Stockton Quayside while learning about the men who came up with the idea of the railway.
These walks are suited to a range of abilities, view the descriptions on our events calendar on the website for more information about each walk and how to book.
The Friends of the S&DR was set up in 2013 to safeguard and promote the heritage of the railway, amidst concerns that what remained of the line was under threat from neglect and redevelopment.
Formed from a wide range of people from all walks of life, with a shared passion for our railway heritage and significant individual expertise, the Friends have a wealth of knowledge of the history of the line.