AV Dawson, the operator of the Port of Middlesbrough, marked the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) with a special rail experience event.

The ‘AV Dawson Shunter Special’, held in collaboration with the Branch Line Society, brought together rail enthusiasts, local schoolchildren, and community members to celebrate the legacy of the world’s first passenger railway. Proceeds from the day, totalling £5,500, were donated to Friends of Stockton and Darlington Railway, a community group dedicated to preserving the railway’s heritage.

Visitors at the Port of Middlesbrough had the opportunity to tour the site aboard AV Dawson’s 08410 and 08774 locomotives and learn more about the rail facilities. The event aimed to highlight both the historical and contemporary aspects of rail operations in the Teesside area.

Charlie Nettle, group managing director of the AV Dawson Group, said:

“We were delighted to host this event on behalf of the Branch Line Society at our Port of Middlesbrough facility. It is great to continue the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and showcase the rail facilities at our site to people who love the railway. The money we generated from the day is going straight back into supporting local rail heritage. We’ve been working with Caroline Hardie, from Friends of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, for many years, and it’s fantastic we can give back to such an important group who continue to fly the flag for the rich rail heritage we have here in Teesside.”

“It was fantastic to bring together a range of people to celebrate this tremendous milestone. From rail enthusiasts to primary school children, it showcases how significant this milestone is while also promoting the future of rail. We feel it’s important to give back to the community and also, inspire the next generation. The children had a fantastic afternoon with our colleagues, learning more about the locomotives we have on our site, talking to the train drivers about their roles and they even had the opportunity to each have a ride in a train!”

Kev Adlam, Branch Line Society Fixtures Secretary, added:

“It was fantastic to host the ‘AV Dawson Shunter Special’ event at Port of Middlesbrough to not only celebrate the bicentenary but also to allow our members to learn more about their fantastic rail facilities and experience their historical locomotives. We’d like to thank AV Dawson for hosting this memorable day for our members and for also hosting our annual general meeting at their incredible facilities.”

The celebration also included six primary school students from across the Tees Valley who had won the ‘S&DR200 Challenge Day.’ The challenge involved 15,000 pupils learning about the history of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and creating a resource to mark the anniversary. The winning students received ‘golden tickets’ to attend the rail event, enjoying a hands-on experience with AV Dawson’s trains and staff.