A replica of a historic steam locomotive will re-enact the birth of the modern railway this weekend – however Network Rail has issued a safety reminder ahead of the event.
A newly restored replica of Locomotion No.1 and passenger carriage Experiment will run on sections of the original Stockton and Darling Railway line in County Durham between Friday and Sunday.
Locomotion No.1 was the first steam locomotive to pull a passenger-carrying train on a public railway.
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The Anniversary Journey event is part of year-long celebrations to mark the opening of the line on September 27 1825.
The replica of Locomotion No.1 was taken on a test run at the Locomotion museum in Shildon, County Durham, on Thursday.
Sarah Price, head of the museum, told the PA news agency the region is having “the hugest party” to mark the anniversary.
She said: “There’s a real buzz in the air.
“People can get a sense of what it was like 200 years ago.”
The replica is “as close to the original as we can possibly make it”, she added.
“If somebody was able to time travel, they would recognise that train from something they saw.”
However, Network Rail has issued a warning to people planning to view the journeys of the “significant danger” of trespassing on the railways.
Operations director Karen Duffy said: “We want the viewing public to have a fantastic time during this celebratory weekend, but we can’t stress enough how important it is to keep safe.
“The railway is full of both obvious and hidden dangers, and it’s never acceptable for the public to trespass on to the track for any reason.
“Our message is simple: enjoy the spectacle of the anniversary journey, but please do so from one of the designated viewing locations.”
The Stockton and Darlington Railway have provided more information about designated viewing locations here.
The bicentenary is also being marked with viewings of the original Locomotion No.1, an exhibition train showcasing 200 years of railway innovation, live music and entertainment.
