200 years ago, Shildon was a hive of activity as engineers busied themselves with developing the first passenger railway, which had gained its royal approval in 1821. Tracks were being laid and engines and wagons prepared, for an event that people knew would bring about a revolution in the transport of goods and people.
But how much did they really imagine this would change the face of the whole world? Where would the USA be today without the railroads having made travel over vast swathes of land possible.
Steam engines were not new in 1825, as they had been used in collieries for some time, but the iron rails and the development of more powerful engines led to Locomotion 1 setting off from Shildon to Stockton, carrying hundreds of passengers and leaving spectators in awe and admiration.
The wheel may have been the greatest invention, but the railway changed the face of world so rapidly that its significance cannot be underplayed.
A lot of work had gone into the birth of the railway and involved many famous people and hundreds whose names are not recorded, but whose contributions were exceptional.
Where would the world be without the birth of Jesus 2000 years ago? Many people were involved in his coming into the world; not just Mary and Joseph, but those prophets who had foretold his coming, many of whom were pilloried for their fanciful ideas. Because of their determination in persevering with their message, everything was prepared for Jesus to come into the world. Only a few people witnessed the event, and it would be many years before the significance of his birth would be realised by large numbers of people.
If the railways made people believe that the world could be transformed, which it was, then think of how the world has been transformed by the life and teaching of Jesus. It is directly because of his gospel message that we enjoy some of the things we sometimes take for granted these days: education, health and social services.
Our Christian heritage has enabled us to move further than many other countries in being a place where people are treated with compassion and a degree of equality. Just as Shildon exported the fantastic idea of the railway, let us encourage people all over the world to remember and learn from the history of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, which brings a message of salvation, peace and joy for ALL people.
Shildon had a great impact on the world in days gone by, and although many people have forgotten its place in that history, we should never forget that wanting the very best for people around the world today is the way we can be faithful to the history of the child born so far away, whose teachings have been transported to every corner of the globe, even to places where the railways cannot reach.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
