Stockton & Darlington Railway historic environment audit

This report was produced by Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton Borough Council to learn more about what remains of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. The Stockton and Darlington Railway is important to us because it is the world’s first example of a modern railway network, and it opened in 1825.

The report sets out how we need to protect and preserve this important piece of our history, which will be celebrating its 200th anniversary on the 27th of September 2025.

• Volume 1 Significance and Management [pdf document]
• Appendix 1 Management Witton Park to West Auckland [pdf document]
• Appendix 2 St Helen Auckland to Shildon [pdf document]
• Appendix 3 Management Shildon to County Boundary [pdf document]
• Appendix 4 Management County Boundary to North Road Station, Darlington [pdf document]
• Appendix 5 Management Darlington to Goosepool [pdf document]
• Appendix 6 Management Goosepool to Stockton [pdf document]

In addition, Darlington Borough Council also undertook an additional report to find out more about the Croft Branch Line, what remains of it and what condition it is in. The Croft Branch line opened on the 27th of October 1829.  

The findings of that report can be seen here.