IMechE to honour historic railway milestone

An engineering institution is celebrating a historic milestone.

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) is commemorating the bicentenary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world’s first steam-powered passenger line. 

To mark the anniversary, current IMechE president Matt Garside will re-enact George Stephenson’s iconic 1825 journey on a working replica of Locomotion Number One. 

The replica will depart from the Coal Drops at the Locomotion Museum in Shildon and travel to Stockton, stopping at key points including The Hopetown Museum in Darlington and crossing the Grade I-listed Skerne Bridge, the oldest railway bridge still in continuous use.

During the event, Matt will unveil plaques at The Masons Arms in Shildon, the original starting point, and at Castlegate Quay in Stockton, the railway’s original terminus.

He will also present the Stockton and Darlington Railway with an IMechE Engineering Heritage Award, recognising the pioneering achievement of building the world’s first steam-powered passenger railway. 

Mark Jackson, North East Region chair of the IMechE, said: “We are delighted to host our president on this significant occasion which acknowledges the extraordinary engineering heritage of the North East of England, which is still going strong today. 

“The IMechE is proud that George Stephenson and his son Robert are both past presidents of our Institution which looks forward to its own bicentenary in 2047.”

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