S&DR Discovery Trail
Intro
The S&DR Discovery Trail is a public walk and cycling path between Witton Park and Stockton in County Durham.
The trail closely follows the original 26-mile-route of the world's first passenger and goods train journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) line on the 27 September 1825. On this path you will find notable highlights including the world's first train platform, the oldest railway bridge in continuous use and buildings that housed the cutting-edge technology of the time.
Illustrated panels along the route tell the story of this pioneering historic event that changed the way the world travels, trades and communicates.
The S&DR Discovery Trail builds on the work undertaken along the route following Historic England designating the S&DR route a Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) in 2018.
Key moments of the trail
Key moments of the trail
The first section of the journey in 1825 saw horse-drawn waggons full of coal make their way from the Phoenix coal pit in Witton Park to Shildon where the waggons were then hitched to Locomotion No. 1, a steam engine designed, built and driven by George Stephenson. The train then made its way to Darlington and on to the River Tees at Stockton Harbour.
In 2018 Historic England designated the S&DR a Heritage Action Zone to preserve this historically important stretch of terrain. Since then, conservation, surveys, assessments, and repairs have taken place along the route so that the public can enjoy the natural beauty of this area and see and learn about its unique industrial history.
If you pass by Heighington Station and Skerne Bridge, you can also find the world's first train platform, and the oldest railway bridge in continuous use in the world.
The future of the trail
The future of the trail
The S&DR Discovery Trail follows the original route as much as is possible given the many changes to the environment over the last 200 years. Some sections will divert, and others are not yet accessible.
More information on the S&DR Discovery Trail will be available in summer 2024 and some sections of trail will be open from autumn 2024 with work ongoing to make the full 26-miles accessible in the future.
The map shows the original S&DR route.
Share this page
