New county durham discovery trail to celebrate 200 years of modern railway

THE DISCOVERY TRAIL WILL SHOWCASE NEW ARTWORKS ON SECTIONS OF THE WORLD'S FIRST PASSENGER TRAIN ROUTE 16:00, 01 Jun 2025 A new walking and cycling trail coming to County Durham and Tees

Valley is set to reimagine history. Marking 200 years since the birth of the modern railway - The S&D200 Festival - is celebrating the anniversary with a series of events planed

throughout the year from March 9 to November 30. And launching on June 10, a new Trail of Discovery is set to open between Witton Park in County Durham and Stockton in Tees Valley. It will

closely follow sections of the original 26-mile route of the world's first passenger and goods train journey on the S&DR. The historic route will be reimagined through a series of

new unveiled murals from three leading artists at key historic stations, inviting the public to engage through new information panels, and an augmented reality game voiced by a local TV

star. Developed in partnership with Historic England and the Railway Heritage Trust, the Trail of Discovery will permanently connect key communities via waymarked paths, cycleways, and

stations. Artist Kate Jackson's work will feature at the world’s first railway station, the Grade II* listed Heighington and Aycliffe Railway Station - still in use today as part of the

Bishop Line, now known as Heighington Station. The station set the model for modern railway stops, providing a train halt, passenger shelter, and a hub for transporting goods. Article

continues below Adébayo Bolaji 's work will feature at Grade II* listed Darlington Railway Station, famously visited by Queen Victoria in 1849. And Morag Myerscough's work will

feature at Stockton Station, visited by the Prince of Wales during the 1925 centenary celebrations of S&DR. Each artist is working with local community groups, including young creatives

and asylum seekers, to reflect the people and places shaped by the S&DR and reveal the hidden histories of key railway stations. Along the trail, visitors will also be able to see

important heritage structures, including Skerne Bridge, the oldest railway bridge still in continuous use, and the Brusselton Incline, where a section of the original Stockton and Darlington

track is still visible. Article continues below To accompany the route, a new Trail of Discovery game voiced by broadcaster Steph McGovern will also launch in June, using augmented reality

to bring the parts of the route to life. It is hoped the trail will leave a lasting legacy beyond the anniversary year, enabling future generations to explore the railway’s past and present,

and serving as a point of connection for local communities and visitors to the region. Investment in the region has come through the Stockton and Darlington Railway Heritage Action Zone,

which since 2018 has provided £57 million to restore the historic railway and lay the groundwork for transforming the area into a major visitor destination.