Railway 200 - pre order your commemorative bookazine

The UK is gearing up for nine months of celebrations of the bicentenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.

And the publication, which is in conjunction with LNER, will act as the official programme for the S&DR200 commemorations. 

And, until the end of February, the bookazine is available at a special early bird price of £7.95, which gives readers the chance to save £2 on the retail price when it becomes available in the shops in April. 

Order your copy now here 

On September 27, 1825, George Stephenson’s steam-powered Locomotion No. 1 travelled 26 miles between Shildon, Darlington and Stockton in the North East of England, carrying hundreds of passengers to great fanfare. It set in motion a train of events that changed the world forever.

Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the railway. ( Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) The special publication, written by Newsquest's own historian Chris Lloyd, will look at how a rural corner of south Durham came to be the birthplace of the modern railway, and look at the truly ingenious characters – many of them from the Quaker town of Darlington – who were determined to overcome all obstacles that either nature, machinery or their opponents could throw in their way. 

Locomotion No 1's inaugural journey set in motion a transport revolution that changed the globe.

Our magazine will take you through this journey to the modern railway as we hail Railway200. 

The must-have keepsake will also tell of the many events, including the re-enactment of the inaugural journey, that are planned for this historic year.

A spokesperson for rail operator LNER said: "LNER is delighted to support this publication in celebrating this landmark anniversary. Railways have changed the world in so many ways, and the Stockton & Darlington Railway led the way, connecting communities and enabling for the first time the flow of people and goods.

"The railway industry as a whole is celebrating the Rail200 anniversary and for us at LNER, which operates in the heart of the S&DR territory, it is a source of real pride that our predecessors were there at the very beginning of the railway that got the world on track.”

Don't miss out. Just £7.95 in the pre-sale until February 28. Order your copy now.