Stockton and Darlington Railway challenge is on track!

On September 27th 1825, the Stockton and Darlington Railway opened, linking a number of North East locations.

It was the first passenger railway to use steam trains to transport travelers, thereby acting as a pioneer of modern rail travel as it chugged along connecting people, communities, and industries.

To honour the 200th anniversary of that very first journey along the tracks, Durham, Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, and Tees Valley Combined Authority councils will join with organisations far and wide to revel in celebrations and conduct a series of projects and events.

With activities to suit visitors of all ages, the celebration is to comprise of a nine-month festival, S&DR200, that will see events and activities situated along the twenty-six mile line.

There will be ample opportunities to learn and explore with something to interest and stir the minds of all kinds of visitors. S&DR200 will also aid the promotion of STEM in local schools.

Niccy Hallifax, S&DR200 Bicentenary Festival Director, said: "The importance of this moment cannot be underestimated, the railways have become day to day life for many people around the world. Most of us have a treasured memory or a story that involves a rail journey and it is this, and the drive to invent and explore, that this festival celebrates. We want to inspire and give people the opportunity to discover new opportunities and enjoy collaborations by international artists - all linked to this fascinating industry to mark this special place where it all started."

We are excited to be contributing to the celebrations with our own very special challenge. As with any Little Inventors challenge that focuses on a local landmark, we will aim to highlight the impact and legacy of the Stockton and Darlington Railway and infuse life into its history and its future through educational activities with children.

In the UK alone there are four thousand miles of disused train tracks, many of which have become footpaths for walkers and cyclists. Even part of Stockton and Darlington railway is no longer in use.

We will challenge primary and secondary school children to use their creativity and imagination to invent a new and innovative vision of modern rail travel and make creative use of its historical remnants.

We want them to invent something fun, clever, or unusual that can travel on or make use of tracks.

Little Inventors' Craig Bright eagerly awaits the challenge: "We were thrilled when the festival asked us to contribute to their rich programme of activities throughout 2025. It’s such a fantastic subject matter to stimulate the amazing imaginations of young people in the North East and around the world."

All invention ideas submitted will be reviewed by a team of experts and will be published amongst the spectacular ideas featured on littleinventors.org within their own dedicated microsite.

Five winning entries will be selected to be brought to life and exhibited. The challenge will be delivered in schools in order to integrate creativity and making into the curriculum. A series of railway-themed inventing workshops will set the wheels in motion for some seriously creative ideas.

Activity-packed resources will be accessible online for anybody and everybody interested in the challenge to download and enjoy.

It's full steam ahead as we anticipate the ingenious, resourceful, and imaginative ideas that are sure to spring from this unique and thought-provoking challenge.