Railway 200

In 1925 the Big Four companies got together and staged a pageant to mark the 100th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington.

In 1975 we had the cavalcade at Shildon to mark the 150th anniversary. I remember excursions were run from assorted parts of the country to get spectators there. Those of us who arrived early enough were allowed to stay on the platform is we wished. Others either paid to sit in temporary stands that had been erected whilst others found their own viewing spots along the route the cavalcade would be taking.

In 2000 there were plans for a 175th anniversary celebration, but they fell through. Some tour operators had advertised excursions there, but would be charging more than the normal day return fare. There would be some temporary stands erected and anyone not wishing to shell out for a seat would be allowed to stand in one designated field. If you couldn't be in one of the first two rows, your view would be limited. It would also announced that Stewards would be on duty to "move on" anyone who tried walking along a public road and tried standing on an overbridge. These sort of announcements did not go down too well and the event was cancelled.

Now with only four years to go, do any of you know has any initial planning been made for the 200th anniversary please?
If so, which locos can we expect / hope to see there? Many of those that were present in 1975 won't be working then and would have to be towed.

 

I will be surprised and delighted if a Stockton & Darlington 200 event is to be planned. The world has probably turned too far for such an event to be feasible for numerous reasons, but who knows. I'll be very pleased to be proved wrong

 

It seems to me you'd struggle to re-enact the 1975 event. I've watched it in iPlayer several times and it was a mouth-watering line-up that simply wouldn't be possible these days. Not only are some of the nicest engines (IMHO!) no longer in steam, but I suspect the cost of putting on such an event would be eyewatering these days. Moving locos via the mainline is not as simple as it once was, and low-loading is not cheap.

If there is something to mark the occasion, I don't think we should be trying to recreate something which will never live up to the memories of the original. What, if anything, there should be instead, I don't know, perhaps that might be a more interesting discussion?

 

There was also an 1875 (50th anniversary) celebration, so it would be a crying shame if the sequence didn't continue in some form.

Tom

 

I would have loved to see them try that.

 

Having been at the 1975 procession I have my doubts that something similar would be possible on the national rail network today.
I'll launch an idea. How about a week long event showcasing the north eastern corner and the impact of 200 years of railway history?
Locomotion and Rocket at Shildon. First generation and wagonways at Beamish. Industrial steam at Tanfield.
Branch line at Wensleydale. Larger locomotives at NYMR. The development of railways at the NRM. Mainline steam runs from York.
With a joined up marketing initiative and menu style centralised booking this could make a very attractive week. Interconnecting transport options would extend the possibilities.

 

There is some planning going on for an event in 2025 but in what form I do not know. I’m fairly certain it will not replicate 1975 in any similar form. An event at NRM Shildon, perhaps?

 

I can but echo some of the replies above. Insomuch as there isn't IMO a suitable site available these days. The Centenary event was held at Faverdale works which closed in the early sixties [I believe] and as already state the 150 do at Shildon which closed about 7-8 years later. So where could they have such an event in the S & D area, Tees yard? But there's no covered accommodation since they closed and demolished Thornaby TMD.......... Granted there's Locomotion at Shildon but that's nowhere near big enough for such an event.

 

https://www.darlington.gov.uk/envir...s-and-schemes/2025-bi-centenary-celebrations/
2025 Bi-centenary celebrations
Stockton & Darlington Railway 1825; The birthplace of the modern railway

 

Great news! Preparing to be proved completely wrong

 

This is the friends which I recall started to support North Road, a considerable amount of oral history has been recorded from those pre rationalisation across the length of the line.

https://www.sdr1825.org.uk/sdr-2025/
S&DR 2025 Where we are and where we’re going

 

NELPG have been involved in some of the discussions and they keep members aware of this proposal. Part of it is to re-locate A1 Trust, NELPG and DLPG from their current homes. A1 might get a new built workshop etc but it looks like NELPG and DRPS might be evicted and looking for new premises, or at least, that is my understanding of the situation. I hope I am wrong!

(edited to give DRPS their correct title)

 

DLPG getting a new shed I believe, I see picturs on Facebook od their delivery of new track to go in the building

 

I have not found that reference yet. I suspect the whole idea might have ground to a halt because of the pandemic expenses. The 1861 shed does still seem a go-er but at some cost to get it usable. I suspect the ball is in the organizers court. It used to be, or still is, a car sale/breakers yard. Interestingly, I bought my 1st car from Ennerdale Motors who used to occupy A1 trust building in 70's. The new shed etc. works is only a part of the S&D 200 celebrations so those might go ahead!

 

It would be great if there were a reunion of all the surviving support crews from the 1975 gathering. I’d definitely be up for that assuming I’m still in service


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Some happy memories of both Shildon itself, including the 'Redworth Arms', the chip shop with the coke-fired frying range, and the teacher's training college at Middleton St George where the organisers had put us up.

 

Finishing painting 600 Gordon at Urlay Nook before it went to Shildon. Being interrupted from our painting by new arrivals, we had no idea what they might be.

 

Shades of the Gresley Garrett, according to legend it arrived from Beyer Peacock' with wet/tacky paint. As she was sent direct to Faverdale works for the centenary do.

 

An everlasting memory for me was sitting on top of the K1 boiler at Darlington Bank Top, cleaning it after its journey direct from NYMR while Deltics headed north on the adjacent line.
No PPE etc in those days!

 

A few years ago the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington was discussed on here.
It was mentioned that some plans were being discussed. I've not seen anything else mentioned on here, but I've found a link;
https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/2...ngton-Railway-200th-anniversary-celebrations-
At the heart of the festivities are plans for a recreation of the inaugural journey from Witton Park via Shildon and Darlington to Stockton using the replica Locomotion No.1, which could be broadcast globally and in real-time
A regular steam shuttle service between Stockton and Shildon, stopping at Darlington and crossing the Skerne Bridge could also go ahead, as well as scheduled trains being turned over to historic steam with locomotives like Tornado, Prince of Wales or Flying Scotsman replacing their modern units.