Locomotion Way - Stockton and Darlington Railway Walk
This shared walking and cycling path follows the Locomotion Way from Shildon to Newton Aycliffe in County Durham.
The surfaced path follows the route of the old Stockton & Darlington Railway for a distance of 3.4 miles. You start off at Shildon where you'll find a major railway museum. Shildon is widely considered the world's first 'railway town' because it served as the engineering headquarters for the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
Heading east from here you will pass a local nature reserve where you can look out for a wide variety of birds and butterflies.
The route finishes at Newton Aycliffe. Near here George Stephenson's steam locomotive Locomotion No 1 was placed on the rails close to where Heighington station is.
To continue your railway walking in the area head north to pick up the Auckland Walk in Bishop Auckland.
Locomotion Way - Stockton and Darlington Railway Walk Ordnance Survey Map 
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Locomotion Way - Stockton and Darlington Railway Walk Open Street Map 
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Locomotion Way - Stockton and Darlington Railway Walk OS Map 
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Locomotion Way - Stockton and Darlington Railway Walk Open Street Map 
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Locomotion Way east of Thickley Bridge. The Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR), which opened on 27 September 1825, was the world’s first public railway to use steam locomotives to transport both goods and passengers. Engineered by George Stephenson, the original 26-mile line connected the coal mines near Witton Park and Shildon to the River Tees at Stockton. On its inaugural journey, the steam engine Locomotion No. 1 hauled a train carrying coal and roughly 450 passengers at speeds reaching 15 miles per hour.
Orchid and butterfly sculpture
Shildon is home to Locomotion, a major museum that forms part of the Science Museum Group alongside the National Railway Museum. It is situated on the site of the world’s first railway town, which served as the original engineering hub for the Stockton and Darlington Railway. The museum recently expanded in May 2024 with the opening of New Hall, which allows it to house the largest collection of heritage rail vehicles under one roof in Europe.
Visitors can see roughly 100 historic vehicles, including the original Locomotion No. 1 and the high-speed Deltic prototype. The site also includes several Grade II listed buildings, such as the former home and Soho Works of the pioneering engineer Timothy Hackworth. Admission to the museum is free, and it is located just a short walk from the modern Shildon railway station.