200 years of the railway – pioneers, steam locomotives, and the first line

The inauguration of the steam railway line on 27 September 1825 marks the beginning of the actual railway age – and with it the beginning of the groundbreaking success of an essential part of modern mobility, which has lost none of its importance to this day. Originally designed to transport coal more efficiently, its proponents, led by the industrialist Edward Pease and the engineer George Stephenson, revolutionized transport. They used steam locomotives on a public railway line that could be used for both freight and passengers. The first route was surveyed in 1818/19 by George Overton, a Welsh civil engineer. He first proposed horse-drawn trams instead of steam locomotives.

Facsimile of Stephenson's route map from 1822 with Overton's first plan drawn in (source: National Railway Museum York). Overton's route (dashed line): a straight, direct route was designed for horse-drawn trams and featured fewer curves. Stephenson's route (solid line) was adapted for steam locomotives, with gentler gradients and more curves to maintain efficiency.

When George Stephenson was appointed chief engineer in 1821, he resurveyed the line and adapted it to operate with steam locomotives. Although Overton's surveying had laid the foundation for the concept of a railway line to Stockton, his direct involvement ended when Stephenson took over as the new chief engineer. Stephenson revised the plans, which were then presented to Parliament. Parliament passed the Stockton and Darlington Railway Act on 19 April 1821, issuing the building permit.

A sketch of Stephenson's "Locomotion No. 1" of the Stockton-Darlington Railway: original fold-out copper engraving from William Strickland's "Reports on Canals, Railways, Roads", published in Philadelphia in 1826 after his engineering research trip through England. (RailCollection Suchanek)

The first rails, made of cast iron or wrought iron, were laid on stone blocks or wooden sleepers. The Stockton and Darlington Railway used both sleeper stones (especially on gradients) and wooden sleepers in some places.

A souvenir: pincushion from around 1825/1827 with an illustration of the "Locomotion No. 1" and a note about the inauguration on its back. (RailCollection Suchanek)

On 27 September 1825, the day of the inauguration, a large crowd gathered to witness the inaugural journey of the railway. Locomotion No. 1, driven by George Stephenson, hauled a mixed train of wagons carrying coal and flour, as well as passenger coaches. The train travelled from Shildon (near the locomotive workshops) via Darlington to Stockton in several hours at a speed between 8 and 24 km/h (5 to 15 mph), depending on the gradient and track conditions.

The subsequently successful operation of the line showed that the railway could radically change travel, trade, and industry, paving the way for the rapid expansion of railway networks around the world. (dks)