S&DR200 celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and its enduring impact on British and global economic history

S&DR200 celebrates the pivotal role the Stockton & Darlington Railway played in British and global railway and economic history. Inspired by the first journey on the S&DR, which went on to connect places, people and communities, the festival will celebrate the region’s pioneering past and look forward to its future with a series of free, large-scale outdoor events, exhibitions, and new art commissions in its public spaces, libraries, and world-class museums from March 2025. The festival’s major museum partners include Hopetown Darlington, Locomotion in Shildon (part of the Science Museum Group), Preston Park Museum & Grounds in Stockton-on-Tees and The Story in Durham City.

The bicentenary celebrations will include a re-enactment of the first journey on the S&DR, taking place on the 26th, 27th and 28th of September 2025. A newly renovated replica of Locomotion No. 1, the passenger carriage Experiment, and coal wagons will run on sections of the original S&DR line. Spectators will be able to see the train at designated locations and enjoy an accompanying programme of special events organised along the route over the three days.

The festival aims to attract local, regional, national, and international audiences and presents an unparalleled opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary ingenuity at the heart of County Durham and Tees Valley.