All aboard! Help celebrate the birth of the modern railway

Next year marks a major milestone in our national life – the 200^th anniversary of the modern railway. 

Nationwide celebrations are planned throughout 2025, highlighting the historic event in 1825 when George Stephenson’s Locomotion No.1 travelled 26 miles between Shildon, Darlington and Stockton in the north-east of England, a journey that signalled the birth of the modern railway and changed the world forever.

The celebrations, called Railway 200, will showcase how the railway shaped Britain and the world and how its pioneering pedigree continues today and will shape tomorrow.

It’s a wonderful opportunity for UK museums to get involved, especially those with railway exhibits or based in towns and coastal resorts created by the railway. 

The National Railway Museum (NRM), as part of the Science Museum Group, has been involved from day one and discussions have been held with many other museums, including Derby (the new home of rail) and the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, next year’s UK City of Culture.

The railway has played a significant role in shaping our cultural landscape. This will form part of the celebrations, exploring how it has inspired and continues to inspire countless artists, writers, musicians and film-makers down the ages. The support of museums in telling the cultural story would be very welcome.

There are also expected to be a wide variety of partner events and activities taking place across many other parts of the UK, aimed at attracting domestic and overseas visitors and supported by Visit Britain.  These will be promoted later this year on an interactive map on the Railway 200 website.

One of Railway 200’s highlights will be a touring exhibition train which will visit locations across England, Scotland and Wales from summer 2025 for 12 months. 

With help from the NRM, the exhibition will comprise four carriages, covering: railway innovation; an interactive ‘wonderlab on wheels’ to excite and invite young people to consider joining the railway; a careers-focused carriage; and a flexible exhibition space for partners. The train’s itinerary is being developed.

To help tell rail’s big story, four main themes will be explored:

• Skills and education
• Innovation, technology and environment
• Heritage, culture and tourism
• Celebrating railway people

There are also plans to put Railway 200 on the international map, recognising how the railway crossed continents, created countries, connected cities and communities, and has improved the lives and livelihoods of billons of people around the globe. 

Ultimately, Railway 200 is about encouraging everyone to join in this once-in-a-generation opportunity, whether that’s by displaying the Railway 200 logo, organising events and activities, running competitions, or sharing rail stories.

Rail’s bicentenary in 2025 promises to be a very enjoyable and memorable year. All are welcome to get involved. 

As part of Railway 200 there will be a nine-month international arts and community festival, known as S&DR200, across County Durham and Tees Valley.

Further information: