Talks about railway history always attract a good audience to meetings of Linton & District History Society, so today marks an important anniversary for railway afficionados :  the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway on 27th September 1825.  Many industrial sites had carts running on railway tracks, but the Stockton and Darlington is generally regarded as the world’s first steam-hauled service.

The building of the line was the work of George Stephenson, who also designed an iron bridge to cross the River Gaunless.  Stephenson and his son Robert designed and manufactured the steam locomotive Locomotion number 1.  Although the main purpose of the line was to haul coal, wagons were fitted with seats for the opening day, and more than 400 people made the inaugural trip from Shildon Lane End to Darlington.  The eventful journey included two stops, for repairs to one of the wagons and to the engine itself, but nevertheless, a top speed of 15 mph was reached.  After refreshments, a further journey took the train to Stockton.

Crowds greeted the locomotive and intrepid passengers, and the day ended with a celebration dinner.

Linton & District History Society has a special guest lecturer on October 4th : Professor Keith Ray, who is the acknowledged expert on the archaeology and early history of our area.  He will talk on post-Roman history “After Ariconium – the centuries of the Kingdom of Ergyng in the Wye Valley”.  Doors open at 7 p.m. for 7:30, all welcome, visitors £5.