By Chris55 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons The Stockton and Darlington Railway was the first railway using steam locomotives to be built in this world. It was the beginning of Railways..
During the eighteenth century and the early part of the nineteenth century, coal from the mines in Country Durham was taken by horse and cart to the nearest river or harbour. Proposals were put forward to improve navigation on the River Tees but nothing happened. Then Edward Pease proposed a horse drawn tram road which was supported, especially by the local Quaker businessmen. Several surveys were done for the horse drawn tram road. Each time the survey was laid before parliament the land owners objected. So it failed. The route was changed again and finally in 1821 an Act was passed by parliament allowing the Stockton and Darlington railway to be built between the collieries inland at Witton Park to the River Tees at Stockton via Darlington. Unfortunately the Act said it was to be a toll railway drawn by horses. Steam locomotives hadn't been invented yet! Edward Pease was not happy with the route planned of the railway so he appointed George Stephenson to do a new survey of the route. George helped by his eighteen year old son Robert found a new route which was shorter and suggested they should use the brand new wrought iron edge rails made by John Birkinshaw for the route. George Stephenson was made chief engineer of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1822. His twenty five mile route for the railway was approved of by parliament the following year. Also moveable steam locomotives and carrying of passengers were allowed. The locomotive factory in Newcastle upon Tyne, which was new. opened in the same year. Robert Stephenson was made managing director. Soon there were orders for two steam locomotives for the railway. The 'Robert Stephenson and Company' was in business. The company was going to supply steam locomotives to the word's railways up until the 1950's. The Railway was going to be built to Stephenson's gauge of four feet eight inches. An extra half inch was added to reduce friction where the line curved. This was the standard gauge for our railway today. Stationary steam engines operated the western part of the line. The twenty miles between Stockton Quay and Shildon were going to be run by steam locomotives. On the railway there were embankments fifty foot high and a wrought iron girder bridge over the River Gaunless. Also there was a graceful arched stone bridge over the River Skearne. The Stockton and Darlington Railway opened on the 27th of September 1825. The date is just as important as when man first walked on the moon in the year 1969. On this special day thousands of people watched George Stephenson's steam locomotive, ( Locomotion ) pull its first passenger steam train on a railway that was public for the first time in the world. About five hundred passengers were carried in the only 'Passenger Coach Experiment' and twenty one converted coal wagons. 'Locomotion' was built at Stephenson's works in Newcastle. She was the first to have driving wheels connected by coupling rods. The iron wrought rails were connected with fish plates every fifteen feet. The rails were laid on stone block which could bear the weight of heavily loaded trains. Forty thousand people and a twenty one gun salute welcomed the first steam hauled passenger train of the world at Stockton Quay. The success of the line proved the viability of steam railways. Horse drawn coaches were still used right up until 1833 when steam hauled services was finally started. ( Locomotion ) retired and became a steam engine that was stationary in 1841 and preserved in 1857. In 1975 it was moved to Darlington Railway Center and Museum. Later on the Stockton and Darlington Railway expanded eastwards to Middlesbrough docks and carried on to transport iron ore from the hills of Cleveland. The railway was a major coal haulier. In 1860 after it had expanded west it was taken over by other railways in 1863. Two hundred miles were taken over by the North Eastern Railway. Today it is still open for business and passenger trains still run on what is now the Tees Valley line. The Stockton and Darlington Railway was a great success. This small beginning has led to the Great Railway Age and we haven't looked back.
1 Comment
Flying Scotsman
9/5/2016 11:57:43
I read up about stockton and darlington once and I think it's very interesting. your article is very good. I tried to make a model of rocket.
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