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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Stockton and Darlington railway
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The world's first public *railway to use steam locomotion. In 1823 the engineer George *Stephenson began constructing a line between these two towns on Teesside, approximately 16km/10m apart; it opened on 27 September 1825, when Stephenson in his engine Active (later renamed Locomotion) drew a train of 450 passengers at about 24kph/15 mph. But his locomotives were not yet reliable and were usually kept on this line for freight, while passengers continued to travel in horse-drawn carriages. The railway provided goods from Darlington with easy access to transport by sea, for Stockton was the major port on the *Tees. The original Darlington station has been restored and is now the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum; the prize exhibit is Locomotion itself.
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