Don't miss this whistle stop tour of Stockton and Darlington Railway's rich history!

A touring exhibition showcasing Stockton and Darlington Railway's momentous history has steamed into the Borough as part of the S&DR200 celebrations.

Whistle Stop, presented by the S&DR200 Festival, gives visitors the chance to step back 200 years in time to see important documents and images from the birth of the modern railway.

The documents have been brought together from archives across the UK and include engineer drawings and rarely seen maps, as well as a few amusing Victorian cartoons depicting the adventurous and strange inventions of the age!

The exhibition runs until 8 May at Stockton Central Library and from 12 May to 7 June at Thornaby Central Library.

Yesterday (14 April) the Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees, Cllr Stephen Richardson, visited the Whistle Stop exhibition at Stockton Central Library.

He said: "It is truly remarkable to witness these fascinating documents and images from such a significant moment in time, when Stockton was at the heart of a world-transforming feat of engineering.

"Nearly 200 years ago the first passenger railway journey on the S&DR between Shildon and Stockton, via Darlington, sparked a global socio-economic boom that was unrivalled in history.

"Thanks to the Whistle Stop exhibition our residents have the opportunity to be transported back two centuries to get a feel of the importance of that moment in the Borough's and indeed the world's history.

"This library tour is just the first of many S&DR200 events here in our Borough, and I'd urge everyone not to miss it!"

During his visit the Mayor also saw examples of the project work for the Bicentenary celebrations from volunteers with the 26 Mile Heritage Project, Friends of S&DR and the WI.

And he was given a sneak peek at some of the first peg dolls made for A Memorable Journey, a mass-participation art project taking place across Tees Valley and County Durham which sees community groups decorate peg dolls representing their favourite train journey. These will be showcased in an exhibition at Preston Park Museum in the summer.

The nine-month S&DR200 Festival is celebrating the historic first journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway with a series of impressive free large-scale outdoor spectacles, events, exhibitions and new art commissions in the public spaces, libraries and world-class museums of Tees Valley and County Durham until November 2025.

The S&DR200 programme in Stockton-on-Tees includes events and activities suitable for railway enthusiasts and novices alike, with expert lectures and talks on the subject of the birth of the modern railway, plus family-friendly fun with sensory and interactive events planned to get everyone involved.

Keep on track with how to get involved via our social media channels and the S&DR200 website.

S&DR200 is being delivered and funded in partnership by Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

Major funders include Arts Council England, Tees Valley Combined Authority and The National Heritage Lottery Fund.

Thanks to Historic England and Heritage Railway Trust for their funding support and S&DR200 sponsors including LNER.

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