The opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825 caught the public imagination and catapulted railways into the limelight … it created so much excitement that we’re still talking about it today.

Railway 200 is about commemorating all the milestones in railway history that created the modern world that we live in – not just the Stockton and Darlington Railway anniversary. From package holidays to commuting and even standardised time, the railways gave birth to them all – this is the year to celebrate all the achievements of the railways.

The Middleton Railway’s engineers Matthew Murray and John Blenkinsop’s pioneer work in 1812 paved the way for George Stephenson’s “Locomotion No 1” to successfully haul the first public passenger train in the World between Stockton & Darlington in 1825.

Here is a list of events linked to Railway 200 that are being held at Middleton Railway this year

May 17, 2025

Middleton Railway – a Preservation Pioneer

Presented by Middleton Railway Vice Chairman, Ian Smith

June 21, 2025

Blenkinsop, Murray and Leeds Loco Building

Presented by Anthony Dawson

July 19, 2025

Happy Birthday ‘Sweet Pea’ – 90 years of Hunslet 1786

2025 marks several anniversaries including the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway opening and 65th anniversary of the

September 6, 2025

Autumn Gala

Middleton Railway presents it’s Annual Autumn Gala. To close our Railway 200 celebrations, we plan on having a celebration of