We're in line for fine celebration of our railway

A REPLICA of Robert Stephenson's world-famous Locomotion No 1 will reenact the first journey on the Stockton and Darlington railway to mark the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.

- KALI LINDSAY

Excitement is building across County Durham and Tees Valley as the festival counts down to the Stockton and Darlington Railway's 200th anniversary (S&DR200) later this year.

The festival is unveiling a week of spectacles that will celebrate the region and its historic legacy.

The project, five years in the making, centres on the newly restored replica of Locomotion No 1 built by Stephenson's company in Newcastle - accompanied by the passenger carriage Experiment and traditional coal waggons.

Over three days, September 26-28, the replica engine will run on sections of the original Stockton and Darlington Railway line, cheered on by thousands of spectators along the route.

The final leg of the Anniversary Journey, from Darlington to Stockton, is not yet confirmed.

S&DR200 is working with colleagues at Network Rail to resolve technical and timetable challenges and hopes to be able to confirm the full plan in the coming weeks.