Three ancient steam locos on display!

And not just any old locomotives - these are history-makers, from the very dawn of the age of powered transport

Locomotion No. 1, built by the pioneering engineers Robert and George Stephenson, became the first steam locomotive, in 1825, to haul a passenger-carrying train on a public railway, the Stockton and Darlington Railway. (Note that date.) This is the original loco, not a reproduction...

The other two locomotives, the high-pressured Pen-y-Darren (1804) and the Steam Elephant (illustrated - 1815) were designed by equally famous engineers - "equally famous" meaning that even the author of this post, who is spectacularly ignorant about steam engines, recognises the names of their great designers, Richard Trevithick and John Buddle/William Chapman. 

These three ground-breaking machines, along with hundreds of other sooty and oily pieces of railwayana, will go on display at the Railway Pioneers exhibition, celebrating 200 years of the railways, from 4 April to 22 June.

The exhibition is at Hopetown railway museum in Darlington. It is free to enter but, given its likely popularity,  you are strongly advised to book ahead! More details here: hopetowndarlington.co.uk.

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