Steam train completes 200th anniversary journey

28 September 2025

News image — The Locomotion No 1 replica left Shildon on Friday

PA Media A cloud of white steam engulfs a black steam engine pulling some wagons. Beyond is a sign in big white letters saying Stockton & Darlington Railway Route 1825 — The Locomotion No 1 replica left Shildon on Friday

A replica of a historic steam engine has completed a recreation of the maiden journey on the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) to mark the line's 200th anniversary.

Locomotion No 1, a 50-year-old replica of George Stephenson's original engine, set off from Shildon in County Durham on Friday, crossed the Skerne Bridge in Darlington on Saturday and arrived in Stockton on Sunday.

Organisers said the event attracted an estimated 40,000 spectators, some of whom had travelled from overseas.

With viewing opportunities aplenty along the more than 20 mile-long route, here are some pictures from the journey.

What is so special about the S&DR?

PA Media Chris Cubit, who is bald and is wearing a blue boiler suit and orange high vis jacket, sits on the deck of the Locomotion No 1, a gleaming black steam engine with four large wheels, a large horizontal boiler, funnel and pistons. — The Locomotion No 1 replica was driven by Chris Cubit

PA Media Replica Locomotion No1 approaches Heighington station, County Durham, on its first official journey in 200 years from the Locomotion Museum in Shildon to Darlington, as part of celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of British passenger rail services. Two men are on board. The track is empty and surrounded by overgrown shrubbery. The black train has a funnel at the front with steam coming out. — The Locomotion No 1 replica was built in 1975 for the railway's 150th anniversary

Dave Charnley The Duke of Edinburgh, who is wearing a tan suit and has short fair hair that is thinning on top smiles as he shakes hands with a woman with long blonde hair. Several other people stand round and watch — The Duke of Edinburgh attended the departure ceremony at Locomotion rail museum

Dave Charnley A large crowd of people cheers and waves yellow and blue flags as a black steam engine — The train left Shildon's Locomotion museum at 12:04 BST on Friday

Darlington Borough Council Locomotion No1 - a replica steam train with three coal wagons and a passenger carriage - crossing a high arched bridge. Below the bridge is a large crowd of people, many holding aloft cameras or phones. — The locomotive crossed Skerne Bridge, the oldest working railway bridge in the world, in Darlington on Saturday

Darlington Borough Council A man in old Victorian clothes, namely a white cravat and dark coat and waistcoat with a magnificent white beard and moustache curled up at the ends waves his black top hat. Beside him is a woman in a bonnet and they are surrounded by other people waving — A large crowd gathered to see it cross the Skerne Bridge

Darlington Borough Council The train crosses a large arched stone bridge with a crowd watching on. The image is framed by a large rust-coloured metal picture frame with the words "oldest working railway bridge in the world" embossed on it. — The Skerne Bridge featured in paintings and illustrations of the original journey on 27 September 1825

LNER The old steam engine pulls alongside a bright and gleaming LNER train, which has a white and red livery and the words "Darlington" and "driving innovation for 200 years" written on the side. — At Darlington Station it pulled in alongside a specially named LNER Azuma

Aja Dodd/BBC A crowd of people, including multiple wearing in bright orange jackets, stand on two platforms as a black steam engine and train passes though a station — The train arrived at Stockton Station shortly before 11:00 BST on Sunday

Aja Dodd/BBC The black steam engine and three wagons goes through Stockton station. A large crowd of people is stood on the platform beyond watching. — Hundreds went to Stockton Station on Sunday to see it near the end of its journey

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