Nine new works of art will appear along a trail of historic locations to celebrate the 200 year anniversary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR).
Six artists will create murals to appear at sites of historic significance along the new S&DR Discovery Trail, a trail between Witton Park in County Durham and Stockton in Tees Valley which closely follows the original 26-mile route of the world’s first passenger and goods train journey.
The S&DR has launched the project as part of its S&DR200 festival.
From the history of steam through to 21st century rail transport news, we have titles that cater for all rail enthusiasts. Covering diesels, modelling, steam and modern railways, check out our range of magazines and fantastic subscription offers.
The project, which is supported by funding from Historic England and the Railway Heritage Trust, saw artists working alongside the local community to understand the importance of the railway’s past and present.
Two of the nine commissioned works of art have already been unveiled, with the rest to follow later in 2025.
Kate Jackson’s mural Motion 200 appears at Heighington train station and Adébayo Bolaji’s Time and Place at Darlington train station.
The other commissioned artists are Morag Myerscough, Caroline Cardus, Lewis Hobson and Aida Wilde.
David Sinclair, lead curator, said: “I hope this campaign shows S&DR in its current light, honouring the project for its past, present and future through these specific commissions. Offering a snapshot of its landscape and the people who make the communities what they are.”
He continued, “This project has taught me so much about the railways, it changed my perceptions. Giving a rich experience creatively, offering an opportunity to delve into my own relationship with how I look at things. Community, creativity and pride shine through, this reflects in my curatorial approach and is something that has changed the direction of how I would like to amplify community and artistic voices.”
Kate Jackson, artist, said: “I was over the moon to be asked to make a mural design for Heighington Station to celebrate 200 years of rail travel. It blows my mind a bit that global rail travel all began here at this unassuming platform, and therefore so did the concept of universal time. Travelling by train is special to me; romantic, nostalgic and meditative. I wanted my mural to celebrate the design, look and feel of train travel through the ages and took the image of Locomotion No. 1 travelling through Heighington as a starting point. It is a celebration of speed and motion, universal time and this special place where it all began.”
Adébayo Bolaji, artist, said: “Creating this first mural at Darlington Station has been a journey of connection – between time, community, and identity. Working with the Young Producers in Darlington has been inspiring; together, we’ve explored stories of movement and transformation and I’m looking forward to continuing this journey with them. This piece is about honouring the past while embracing the power of change; it’s designed for the producers and myself to then collaborate on the next phase and create something that speaks to the place it’s now hanging in, so that part two is an evolution of part one.”
The S&DR Trail of Discovery can be explored at a variety of waymarked sections on foot, by bike or by train from stations along the route.
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.
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. The game is a legacy project developed and created by Tucan and the University of Teesside. This includes remunerated commissioned work experience and is aimed at developing talent in the region
