In 2025, Railway 200 celebrates the 200th anniversary of the modern railway – a once in a generation opportunity to explore rail’s crucial role in national life.
Northwich Station first opened in 1863 to great fanfare and played a crucial role in the towns salt and chemical industry-whilst in the rural areas the extension of the line allowed the transportation of dairy produce to be sold in the markets of Manchester.
It was also key in the movement of people and became a means of connecting Northwich to the wider world This included the WW1 and 2 troops who departed from the Mid Cheshire stations, no doubt unsure whether they would ever return. But it also gave the opportunity for visitors to come into the area such as the Manchester children who travelled by rail to escape the pollution of the city for the fresh air of the Cheshire countryside.
The exhibition will also shine a light on the fascinating lives of the railways workers, from the elaborate station gardens tended by the station staff to the railway queens who travelled far and wide to represent the British Railway Industry.
The focus will then move to the modern day, to the Station Adoption Groups who carry on the traditions of old by helping to keep their local stations looking their best.
And finally, it will show how rail remains relevant in the modern age as one of the most eco-friendly forms of transport and its continuing role of forging connections between communities.
Presented by the Mid Cheshire CRP