Tales from the Rails – The Opening Day

February 28, 2024

Opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825, painted by John Dobbin in 1875. Dobbin attended the opening day when he was ten years old so much of this scene was painted from memory. The train is passing over the Skerne Bridge in Darlington, hauled by Locomotion No.1. The passenger coach Experiment can be seen amongst the waggons. Photo: Darlington Borough Council.

Prepare to journey back in time to 1825 with our podcast series, Tales from the Rails.

Hosted by archaeologist and trustee of the Friends of Stockton & Darlington Railway, Caroline Hardie, alongside South West Durham News Managing Editor, Archie MacKay, this engaging series will bring to life the history and milestones of the Stockton & Darlington Railway; the railway that got the world on track.

With fun facts, unforgettable tales, and insightful interviews lined up, this series promises to be an exhilarating ride on the world’s first modern railway.

In our introductory episode, we explore the opening day celebrations of the S&DR, sift through forthcoming events and recent news and in the Stars of the S&DR section, we learn all about the S&DR’s civil engineer Thomas Storey.

Brought to you by the Friends of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, our series serves as a homage to the heritage and influence of this important milestone in railway development.

Caroline and Archie would also like to acknowledge the support of Dave Reynolds of Shildon Railway Institute (the world’s first!), who wrote and performed our musical jingles.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a railway aficionado, or just a curious listener, Tales from the Rails promises an adventurous exploration of railway heritage. So sit back, relax, and join Caroline and Archie on this immersive journey through the tracks of time!

To listen to the first episode of Tales from the Rails: 27 September 1825 – the Opening Day, visit talesfromtherails.podbean.com or find the show on your favourite podcast app. You can also like and comment on each episode and if there’s anything you’d like Caroline and Archie to discuss on the show, you can email them at podcast[@]pitmatic[.]productions.