The New York herald., 1875-09-29
The First Railway from Darlington
to Stockton-on-TeeS.
"A SMALL BEGINNING.
How the Press Described the InnOVa-
ton Fifty Years Ago.
THE FIRST PROGRAMME.

DARLINGTON, England, Sept II, 1878
The Northeastern Railway Company, OF England,
propose to this place the 9th inst, the
nneth anniversary OF the completion and opening for
traffic Of the first railway in Europe The occasion
promises to be very interesting, all the prominent
railway Of England and many from the Continent,
viii be present
To the celebration will possess an unusual
interest reopeuing as il will, the much discussed and
settled question to whether the arst passenger
railway was built in England America The gentle
men who have these ceremonies in hand announce
that the extending from Wilton Park, Darlington,
20 Stockton Tees the first railway operated by
steam The formal opening took place September
81 1925 The great interest manifested in the under
taking that time tame in comparison with what
1t would have been could the great results to England
have been even surmised The Stockton and Darling
Railway long since ceased TO have independent
existence having been merged into the colossal system
Of the North Eastern Railway Company whose lines OF
double steel rails extend the length of the king
gom-
Whether this the first railway completed or
got it is beyond my province discuss this letter.
but that this beginning the germ from which has
grown the gigantic railway system of England cannot
be doubted. The London and Great Western, the Mid
hnd the Northeastern and the Great Northern all
Iprung directly from that experiment" for a coal and
passenger railway which inaugurated fifty years
lgo.
A BEGINNING.
few facts connected with the promotion, construc-
ZION and opening of the line will prove interesting
showing how vast system has risen out Of com
paratively small beginnings The original protector Of
hs line was the late Mr. Edward Pease, a
quiet quaker Of the william Penn stamp, who went
Ilowly to work upon what seemed impossible task,
namely the raising of the funds necessary grade the
roadway and build the rolling stock His first idea had
been 20 form horse tramroad between Stockton and
Darlington What he first contemplated merely
he Of eectng large sales of coal at the stations
Hong the proposed route. The shipment OF coal from
he river Tees was taken into account a source
If revenue expected that than 10 900
IONS could be disposed Of Stockton and these merely
br the purpose Of baastng ships disembarkng goods
1t that port The conveyance of passengers was en-
nrely secondary consideration. In getting up a
.any for the purpose of surveying and forming a
hallway Mr.. Pease had great difficulties to contend
With. The people OF the neighborhood spoke of it as
ridiculous undertaking, and predicted that it would
Ic the ruin of all who had do with IL The Stockton
merchants and snpowners, whom the formation OF a
ailway calculated to benefit greatly gave the
sroject support, and twenty shares were sub
ycrbed for in the whole MT Pease nevertheless
persevered with the formation of company and he
luced many of his friends and relations TO subscribe for
Dhares The Peases the Backhouses and other men,
sers of the Society Friends had however great faith
In the practicability Of the scheme and from them
Il received the warmest support
FIRST RAIL
was laid with considerable ceremony by Mr. Thomas
Neynell OF YARN, at point St Johns Well
Btocktoa the 22d Of May, 1922 During the summer
Mr. Pease anal Mr.. Thomas Richardson over TO
Eiingworth to the working of sephenson's loco
motive engine and the result OF their was that in
lhe amended act of 1923 Mr. Pease had clause in
rerted giving power work the railway by means Of
locomotive engines and employ them for the hauage
pf passengers as well as merchandise. The second
stockton and Darlington obtained in the
Jession Of 1SB not however, without opposi-
lion-the Duke OF Cleveland and the road trustees
appearing as determined opponents Of the bill The
works vigorously proceeded with, and George
Etephenson appointed engineer Of the company at
Ihe modest salary Of f3O0 per anDum. wooden
lramroad had been contemplated when the act was
Irst applied for, but malleable iron was recon-
mended by Stephenson; the expense, however
obstacle to the full adoption Of his views, and ulu-
matey II was agreed have half Of the rails 800
Ions made OF naIleable iron the other half Of cast
iron.
PROGRAMME OF OPENING OF FIRST PUBLIC RAILWAY
SEPTEMBER 27, 1925
The construction Of the line, including all outays
post f125 900 and was owned by fifty shareholders
The formal opening OF the Stockton and Darlington
yne was announced by posters, Of which send you
Photographic copies
TIE FIRST RAILWAY TINE BILL, OCTOBER TO- 1926
The following contrasts forcbly in It's brevity and
simplicity with Bradshaw's vouminous and puzzling
Iables:-