The Power of Water

Last Saturday was a memorable day for several reasons. A fantastic art installation called the Ghost Train came to Darlington as part of the Stockton and Darlington Railway 200th anniversay celebrations. Secondly, it rained all day, resulting in one of my cameras becoming victim to the deluge.

It's a big year for Darlington when you consider the global impact of trains and the railway. Passenger rail journeys began here back in 1825, when Robert Stephenson's Locomotion No.1 made its inaugural journey. Pulling coal waggons that carryied an estimated 450-600 people, it reached a top speed of 15mph between Shildon and Stockton. The experiment was deemed a success, despite a man falling from one wagon, and paved the way for rail travel as we know it today.

Saturday's Ghost Train took a different route to Stephenson's engine, trundling from Darlington's market place to Hopetown museum. Despite the wet conditions, residents came out to greet the passing of this unique spectacle as it puffed through North Lodge Park and down Bartlett Street. A cherry picker dressed as Locomotion No. 1 led a parade of seven Nissan Micras, each dressed as a railway wagon and representing innovations since the time of steam, including medicine, electricity and the combustion engine. Costumed actors - sat atop each car in elaborately designed carts - brought the themes to life. A very different sight from 200 years ago but impressive all the same.

As an update, my sodden camera has since risen from the dead after spening 72 hours covered in rice. Therefore not tarnishing my memory of a historical anniversary for the region.

@darlingtonbc @TheNorthernEcho @stocktoncouncil @hopetowndarl @sdrfestival