On the 27th of September, 1825, George Stephenson’s steam-powered Locomotion No. 1 made its historic 26-mile journey between Shildon, Darlington, and Stockton, carrying between 450 and 600 passengers. This pioneering event marked the beginning of train travel, which rapidly spread across the globe. From the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway on that same date in 1825, to an impressive 1.57 million train journeys made in 2023, the railway has become a cornerstone of modern transport.

To celebrate this monumental anniversary, Girlguiding North East England has created a Railway Challenge Pack, honoring the rich heritage of the railway in our region.

Catherine, one of our officers, has been part of the team working on this exciting challenge for the past nine months, in collaboration with Network Rail and Railway 200.

On Saturday, the badge was officially launched at Hopetown in Darlington. Over 750 girls, aged between 4 and 18, along with their leaders, gathered for the event. They were joined by staff from Network Rail, Community Rail Network, Railway 200, Penistone Line Community Rail Partnership, the BBC, and more.

The girls had a fantastic time learning about the history of the modern railway. They enjoyed a range of activities, including playing in the Wagon Woods, experiencing the immersive Experiment! The Time Travel Ride, completing a STEM activity, and visiting the museum.

We would like to thank Northern and Community Rail Network through their Community Rail Development Fund for supporting the launch by ensuring all the girls went home with the badge, a copy of Arlo’s Adventures there and back and a Hopetown pencil.