Steam Locomotives

Royal Mail is proud to celebrate the evolution of British steam locomotives on the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which officially opened on September 27, 1825. This railway is historically significant as the world’s first public railway to use steam locomotives, revolutionizing transportation and industry in Britain and beyond.

Central to the commemoration is Locomotion No.1, the pioneering steam engine built by George and Robert Stephenson. The first steam locomotive to carry passengers on a public rail line it symbolised the dawn of the railway age. The locomotive ran on the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which connected coal mines near Shildon with the port at Stockton-on-Tees, facilitating more efficient coal transport and setting the stage for the rapid expansion of rail networks across the UK.

This important anniversary is celebrated through a national campaign; Railway 200, which includes various events and educational initiatives celebrating the legacy of British railways and honours the technological innovation of steam locomotives whilst also highlighting their cultural and economic impact over two centuries.