As Britain's modern railway movement gears up to celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2025, rail tour expert Ffestiniog Travel creates a very special escorted tour that pays homage to the milestone.

On 27 September 1825 Britain's very first passenger train, steam-hauled, travelled 26 miles between Shildon, Darlington and Stockton, carrying hundreds of people waving celebratory banners. Exactly 200 years to the day Ffestiniog Travel will escort travellers on the very same Stockton and Darlington Railway to experience the celebrations surrounding its bicentenary as a more modern diesel-powered train journeys along the full length of the Tees Valley line to Saltburn by the Sea.

General manager, Maria Cook comments: “A lot of our customers are enthusiasts and have a keen interest in how the railways developed, so we thought a dedicated one-off tour to mark the anniversary would be of interest.

“Britain's modern railways movement has been significant in shaping people's everyday lives and the way they work over the past 200 years. The origins of the modern railway began in Britain, but it quickly spread across the globe. As a specialist rail tour operator that escorts travellers around the world by train, we are particularly grateful for Britain's role as a lot of the railways that are included in our tours are because of what happened in the North East of England 200 years ago.”

It may not be George Stephenson's steam-powered Locomotion No. 1 that will be operating on 27 September 2025, but Ffestiniog Travel's 8-day North East England escorted tour includes additional heritage and steam content to appeal to the train connoisseurs.

Guests will have the chance to enjoy workshop tours and private steam charters on the world's oldest continuously working railway, the Middleton Railway, established back in 1758 to transport coal from Middleton Colliery to the thriving Leeds markets. A private steam train journey on the nearby Keighley and Worth Valley Railway will deliver some scenic Yorkshire landscapes as will a ride on the picturesque Settle & Carlisle line to connect to the Weardale Railway.

Before leaving Yorkshire for the North East a visit to the National Railway Museum in York is a must. The museum and its sister museum, Locomotion, in Shildon, will be running a range of celebratory activities and events to celebrate Railway 200, The Stockton and Darlington Bicentenary as well as the museum's 50th birthday!

A 4-night stay in Bishop Auckland allows time to visit the Locomotion Museum in Shildon for an insight into the region's role in railway history, a Bicentenary anniversary ride on the Stockton and Darlington Railway and a return trip on the nearby Tanfield Railway which claims to be the world's oldest railway, dating back to 1621!

The Beamish Museum, a world-famous open-air museum, will be the concluding highlight when travellers will discover the story of life in North East England from the 1820s to the 1950s and it is home to some of the finest transport heritage pieces in the country.

The 8-day North East of England tour begins in Leeds on 22 September 2025 and the cost from £1,945pp includes all rail travel, excursions, coach transfers, half-board hotel accommodation, a buffet lunch and the services of a knowledgeable tour leader throughout.

See the full itinerary and book online at www.ffestiniogtravel.com