This blog post forms part of History Day North (at DCDC 2025), a day of online interactive events for students, researchers and history enthusiasts to explore library, museum, archive and history collections across the UK and beyond.

Use Archives Hub, a free resource provided by Jisc, to find unique sources for your research, both physical and digital. Search across over 3.3 million descriptions of archives, held at over 400 institutions and organisations across the UK.

History Day North 2025 takes place in Durham, in the North-East of England, which is very fitting for our theme! Railway 200 celebrates rail history, beginning with a landmark journey that took place in the NE region:

“on 27 September 1825, George Stephenson’s steam-powered Locomotion No. 1 travelled 26 miles between Shildon, Darlington and Stockton, carrying hundreds of passengers to great fanfare. It set in motion a train of events that changed the world forever.” Rail 200 timeline

So, we’re exploring a fascinating range of archives relating to railways, train travel and more – all board!

Pioneers and Inventors

Collections of George Stephenson and Robert Stephenson (1790-1883): George Stephenson, the ‘Father of the Railways’, was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public inter-city railway line in the world to use steam locomotives, the Liverpool and Manchester Railway which opened in 1830. His son, Robert Stephenson, worked with him and also developed his own independent career in civil and mechanical engineering. His work took him to South America where he helped to develop infrastructure there. George Robert Stephenson, was George Stephenson’s nephew and also an engineer. Held by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Archive.

Richard Badnall Papers (1832-1834): Badnall and his collaborator Richard Gill interested many prominent people, including George and Robert Stephenson and the Directors of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, in his eccentric invention, ‘The Undulating Railway’. Comprises letters written to and by Richard Badnall, correspondence with the Patent Office including the original patent, and other documents relating to the invention. Held by University of Salford Archives & Special Collections.

Brunel Collection: Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859) papers: In 1833, Brunel was appointed Engineer for the Great Western Railway Company, where he carried into effect his plans for a broad gauge railway system. Despite the controversy of his decision, his work brought him great renown, and he was asked to design railways in Italy and to advise upon the construction of the Victorian Lines in Australia and the Eastern Bengal Railway. He worked on the system of atmospheric propulsion and attempted to use it on the South Devon railway in 1844, though it did not work in practice. Held by University of Bristol Special Collections.

Thomas Edmondson Collection (1831-1988): in 1836, he became station master at Milton (now Brampton) station on the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway. Milton was not a busy station, and Edmondson had plenty of time to apply his craftsman’s training to the improvement of ticket issue. At the time, railway staff would fill out tickets by hand, which proved impractical once passenger numbers grew significantly. A more efficient method of creating tickets was required, which would also ensure that fraud was limited. Edmondson decided to create an automated system. The Edmondson ticket became universal; in the UK, it was endorsed by the Railway Clearing House set up in 1842 as a condition of its membership and by the end of the 1840s nearly all major companies had joined. Edmondson himself died in 1851, but his family continued to run the highly-profitable business. Edmondson tickets continued to be used in the UK into the 1980s and are still issued by some heritage lines. Held by University of Manchester Library.

Online Resource: IMechE Virtual Archive (c 1720-1985): you can access the story of the world’s first railway to rely exclusively on steam power – the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Photographs reveal how the Bhore Ghat incline, India was constructed and show where workers lived. Artefacts include unique carved railway tokens used by George Stephenson to travel the railway lines he helped to build. Provided the by Institution of Mechanical Engineers Archive.

Railway Companies and Rail Magnates

Records of the Glasgow District Subway Co, Glasgow, Scotland (1894): Glasgow was the third city in the world to build an underground rail system, after London, England, and Budapest, Hungary. In August 1890, the Glasgow District Subway Co was given authority to build a 6.5 mile long route under the streets of Glasgow. The circular line is formed of parallel pair of tunnels built by tunnelling or cut and cover. The system uses an unusual gauge of 4 feet (about 1200mm), with the tunnels just 11 feet in diameter. The underground was opened on 14 December 1896, but a collision that day meant that the network did not open again until 21 January 1897. Held by University of Glasgow Archive Services.

United Railways of the Havana & Regla Warehouse Records (1871-1975): Records of the United Railways of the Havana & Regla Warehouses Ltd. This company, which went into voluntary liquidation in 1954 after the purchase of its property by the Cuban Government, incorporated a number of smaller Cuban railway enterprises. Records for these subsidiary companies are included in the collection: Cuban Central Railways Ltd, Havana Terminal Railroad Company, Mariano & Havana Railway Company Ltd, Matanzas Terminal Railway Company, Western Railway of Havana Ltd. Held by: University College London Archives.

Railways collection (1856-1987), forming part of the Oury Archive (1897-1977): The Oury Archive holds material related to the life and business activities of Libert Oury (1869-1939), specifically during his time as the London office director of the Mozambique Company, and his involvement in the development of the Port of Beira, the Trans-Zambezi Railway (TZR), and the lower Zambezi bridge. Additional material relates to the directorships and business interests inherited by his only son Vivian (1912-1988). Held by: Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York.

Stations, Lines and Networks

Drawings of the Midland Railway Extension to London St Pancras (1867-1871): the collection comprises 33 architectural and engineering drawings as used or designed by contractors to the Midland Railway, covering architectural elements of St Pancras and Finchley Road Stations, various bridges and approaches and the design and emplacement of working equipment such as cranes and traversers. It represents a very small part of what must have been a much more extensive set of drawings. Held by: National Railway Museum Archive.

Online Resource: Rail Map Online (circa 1750 – to date): a free website that provides interactive maps of past and present to explore UK and Ireland railways, US West railroads and UK and Irish canals and more. There are options for exploring via layers (such as narrow guage, Metro, historic tramways), legend (companies) and places (stations). The resource also features a range of tools, including ability to select which coordinate system to display positions with.

Jonathan Backhouse & Company, Darlington (1774-1896): Jonathan Backhouse died in 1826, leaving the business to his sons. The eldest, another Jonathan (1779-1842), is remembered best for his involvement in the pioneering Stockton and Darlington Railway. He argued in favour of a railway during a public meeting at Darlington town hall in 1818, stressing its commercial advantages over those of the conventional option, a canal. The first track was laid in May 1821, and the completed railway opened on 27th September 1825. Jonathan served as the company’s first treasurer until 1833. Held by: Barclays Group Archives.

Railway Image Collection (1904-1930): Edward Alan Chard was chief locomotive draughtsman Eastleigh Works, British Railways, Southern Region. He was an avid collection of railway items. 29 series of postcards and some drawings of British and international locomotives. Held by: Institution of Mechanical Engineers Archive.

Mumbles Railway Records (1804-1959): The Swansea and Mumbles railway ran from Swansea to Mumbles. In 1804 the Oystermouth Railway and Tramroad Company was incorporated and work began on building the line. In 1806 goods traffic began to pass over the line in waggons pulled by horses. The main cargo was limestone at this stage. However, as Mumbles began to lose its industrial character and started to develop as a tourist resort, freight lessened and in 1807 the line became unique as providing the first regular rail passenger service in the world. Held by: Swansea University Archives.

Bridges and Tunnels

Records of P & W MacLellan Ltd, steel stockholders, Glasgow, Scotland (1626-1989): In 1878 the whole of Glasgow was shaken by the collapse of the City of Glasgow Bank, with whom P & W MacLellan had an account. Fortunately, orders began to pick up again in 1879 with Indian State Railways ordering 48 bridges and William Arrol & Co, a Glasgow bridge builder, placing an order for 12,000 tons of steel for the Forth Railway Bridge, Scotland. The Forth Bridge contract however was cancelled when a storm hit and destroyed the Tay Bridge, Scotland. The demand for railway bridges was not greatly dented by the Tay Bridge disaster and in February 1880 the South Indian Railways ordered a further 48. It was also in this year that Walter MacLellan purchased the Carntyne Iron Co, Glasgow, in order to ensure a steady supply of iron. In 1883, the firm won the contract to supply the approaches for a completely redesigned Forth Bridge. Held by: University of Glasgow Archive Services.

Photograph: “Woodhead Railway Tunnel, west” (Derbyshire, 1991), item forms part of the Richard Hills Collection. Held by the Mills Archive.

Channel Tunnel Association archive (1802-2002). The collection covers the history of tunnels under the Channel (172 boxes, material in English and French). Held by: Brunel University London Special Collections.

Beachley – Aust Ferry and Severn Rail Tunnel Timetables and Correspondence: The Beachley – Aust Ferry provided a crossing over the River Severn between South Wales and England from Beachley and Aust, Gloucestershire. From 1931 the ferry was run by Old Passage Severn Ferry Company Ltd. The ferry service was replaced by the Severn Bridge in 1966. The construction of the Severn Rail Tunnel began in 1873 and the tunnel was opened in 1886. Timetables of Beachley – Aust Ferry and trains ferrying cars through the Severn Tunnel with correspondence, 1966. Held by Gwent Archives / Archifau Gwent.

The “railway tunnel” at Harlaxton Manor was built at the same time as the north wing of the house (completed 1845-1850). The tunnel is on two levels meeting the north wing at the 2nd and 3rd floors. The presence of coal dust in the service shafts provides witness that the tunnel was in use for some time and in the 1937 Contents Sales Catalogue Lot 855 describes a railway coal trolley 4ft. 6ins. by 3ft. by 3ft. 6in. high. What seems to be unique about the service tunnel at Harlaxton is that it joins the house at high level, using gravity to deliver the goods rather than the use of expensive and time consuming hoisting equipment to haul goods up to the higher level. The tunnels are also home to several species of bats, with surveys of hibernating bats carried out annually, in January and February, by the Lincolnshire Bat Group. During the hibernation season (November to March) visitors are not allowed to enter the tunnels. The folder of material forms part of the collection ‘Harlaxton Manor Gardens, Conservatory, Walled Garden and Railway Tunnel‘ (1838 to present), held by Harlaxton Manor Archives.

Souvenir of the inauguration of the railway bridge over the South Channel of the River Niger by H.E. Sir Frederick Lugard at Jebba, Nigeria, West Africa (1916): Album containing general views of the bridge at Jebba, photographs taken during the opening and of the wreck of the ‘Dayspring’ which sank in 1857. Railway construction started in earnest in Nigeria in 1893 with the building of the Lagos Railway running north from Lagos to Ibadan. In 1907 work was started by the Northern Nigeria Administration on the Baro-Kano line which was completed in 1911. The Lagos line was then extended northwards to join the Baro-Kano line at Minna, but until the completion of the bridge at Jebba, trains still had to be ferried across the Niger. The opening of the bridge by Sir Frederick Lugard on January 31 1916 finally connected Lagos and Kano on a direct line of 705 miles. Held by: Royal Commonwealth Society Library.

Passengers and Journeys

Travel Journal of Rev. John Warner: a detailed travel journal from 1890, compiled by Rev. John Warner (1860-1933), describing a voyage aboard the SS. City of Chicago from Liverpool to New York, and a subsequent tour of the north-eastern United States and Canada, encompassing Dayton (Ohio), Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Montreal, Lake Champlain, Saratoga Springs, etc., between May and November 1890. The journal is an important source for nineteenth-century American studies, offering a perceptive visitor’s comments on the condition of the north-eastern United States and Canada during a period of rapid industrial, economic, social development. The journal is also valuable for studies of trans-Atlantic passenger shipping and the railways of the U.S. and Canada. Held by: University of Manchester Library.

The Records of the Traveller’s Aid Society (1885-1939): The Travellers’ Aid Society was initiated in 1885 by the Young Women’s Christian Association to aid female passengers arriving at ports and railway stations, where they were met by accredited station workers who reported to the Travellers Aid Society Committee. Held by: Women’s Library Archives.

The diaries of Thomas Sopwith (1803-1879), mining engineer, land surveyor and philanthropist in the north-east of England, cover the period 1828-1879. The collection includes both the original diaries, and a copy of the material held on 16 reels of microfilm. They form a meticulous account of the professional life of Sopwith, detailing his work, projects and his travels both for business and for enjoyment. The diaries also include sketches and illustrations of people, views, and buildings and often include descriptions of lectures and conversations with people Sopwith met on his travels. A particularly notable aspect of the diaries is Sopwith’s descriptions of journeys he made by rail, often along newly-opened railway lines in a period where rail travel was in its early stages. Held by Newcastle University Special Collections and Archives.

Railway staff and Accidents

Papers relating to the railway and railway safety, including correspondence and note (1837-1843): forms part of the The notebooks and other papers of Sir George Cayley collection (1780-1957) held by National Aerospace Library.

Railway Accidents Book (1922-1930): The London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co.Ltd. was created in 1923 from a merger of several railway companies, most notably the London and North Western Railway and the Midland Railway. The LMS was the largest of the four UK railway companies created under the terms of the Railways Act 1921, and it was the second biggest employer in the UK after the General Post Office. The LMS also claimed to be the largest joint-stock company in the World. A volume containing records of accidents to LMS employees during the period 1923-1930. Accident returns were required under the terms of the Factories Acts, and each report provides details of the employee, the nature of the accident and its consequences, the date and time of the accident, and a decision on the category of accident (misadventure, negligence by injured party or other party, and “other cause” – nearly all cases were judged to be misadventure). Held by University of Manchester Library.

National Union of Railwaymen (1894-1992): The collection, 87 volumes and 14 boxes, comprises 5 series: proceedings and reports, 1894-1987; Executive Committee minutes, 1966-1992; other papers; Branch papers including Norwich, Stockport district and Manchester. Held by: Working Class Movement Library.

International Transport Workers’ Federation: Reports on Africa, 1952-1975: The International Transport Workers’ Federation was founded in London in 1886 by European seafarers and dockers’ union leaders who realised the need to organize internationally against strike breakers. In 2001 it is a Federation of 570 trade unions in 132 countries, representing around 5 million workers. The ITF represents transport workers at world level and promotes their interests through global campaigning and solidarity. It is dedicated to the advancement of independent and democratic trade unionism, and to the defence of fundamental human and trade union rights. It is opposed to any form of totalitarianism, aggression and discrimination. Held by: Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library, University of London.

Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) 1861-2018: The Engine Drivers’ and Firemen’s United Society was founded in 1865 and claimed a membership of over 10,000 by 1866 when they made initial demands for a 10 hour day and payment of overtime as well as an increase in pay. With the establishment of the ASRS in 1872, there was some dilution of membership but the ASRS was regarded as too conciliatory and eventually the demand for a more militant and focused union led to the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen which was formed in Leeds in February 1880. Held by: Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick.

Engines and Industry

Photograph: Steam Engine “Lady of the Lake” at Crewe: The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) 7 ft 6 in Single 2-2-2 class was a type of express passenger locomotive designed by John Ramsbottom. The class is better known as the Problem class for the first locomotive built, or the Lady of the Lake class for the example that was displayed at the International Exhibition of 1862. The first examples were built shortly after the acquisition of the Chester and Holyhead Railway by the LNWR, and primarily saw use on the Irish Mail route from London to Holyhead. They were the first locomotives to be fitted with water scoops, which could refill the tender from water troughs between the tracks without stopping. Item (photograph) held by: Archifau Ynys Môn / Anglesey Archives.

Dinorwic Quarry Records (1809-1970): Slate quarrying at Dinorwig, Caernarfonshire, dates back to the 18th century. In 1787, Thomas Assheton-Smith (1752-1828) of the Faenol estate, leased his workings to the Dinorwig Slate Company, a partnership of two solicitors, Ellis and Wright, and Mr Bridges, a merchant. By 1809, only Wright remained, but he was joined by Hugh Jones, a Dolgellau banker, and Assheton-Smith himself. In 1824, the Dinorwig Tramway was opened, and the Padarn Tramway in 1843, allowing greater amounts of slate to be transported to Port Dinorwic on the Menai Strait. Railways to Porth Penrhyn and Y Felinheli, Caernarfonshire, were completed by 1852. Held by: Gwynedd Archives Service – Caernarfon Record Office / Gwasanaeth Archifau Gwynedd, Archifdy Caernarfon.

William Jack Collection: William Jack worked for the Chatterley Whitfield Colliery Ltd, 1928-1957. His family connections with the Chatterley firm go back to 1870. Jack wrote a history of the colliery, History of Chatterley Whitfield Railways. William Jack photographed and also collected photographs of North Staffordshire collieries, railways and mineral workings. Held by: Keele University Archives and Special Collections.

Fiction and Film

The Railway Children: Production photographs from The Railway Children by E. Nesbit which was performed at the York Theatre Royal from 17th August-16th September 1989. Also photographs taken at the North Yorkshire Railway, Pickering. Also a letter regarding acquisition of props from the Vintage Carriages Trust. Forms part of the collection Post-1945 York Theatre Royal Archive. Held by: York St John University Archives and Special Collections.

Papers of Brian Tinley Shepherd Simpson (1936-1963): Brian Tinley Shepherd Simpson (1912-1997), was a priest of the Scottish Episcopal Church, and was Canon of St John’s Cathedral, Oban 1978-80. He retired in 1980, thereafter being Honorary Canon of Oban Cathedral until his death on 10 February 1997. The collection comprises his voluminous correspondence, and wealth of material, including photographs and correspondence with the Rev. W. Awdry, author of Thomas the Tank Engine stories, relating to his passionate interest in railway transport. Held by: University of St Andrews Special Collections.

‘Orient Express’ (1991-2007), part of the Gavin Mark Stamp Archive: Gavin Mark Stamp (1948-2017) was a British architectural historian, writer, journalist, and campaigner. Stamp presented a number of television programmes for Channel 5, including a five-part architectural travel series ‘Gavin Stamp’s Orient Express‘, in which he travelled by train from London, via Vienna to Istanbul. The show examines art and architecture alongside the cities’ historical and political contexts, to present how the history of Eastern Europe is told through its buildings. WagTV produced the series with Steven Green as Director, and Eliya Aman as Producer. The series was filmed between 12 Jun-15 Jul 2006, and aired on Channel 5 in 2007. Held by: Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art.

Photographs from Alfred Hitchcock’s film The Lady Vanishes, starring Michael Redgrave and Margaret Lockwood (1938): 1 folder of material, part of the Sir Michael Redgrave Archive. (1890-1996). Michael Redgrave was born on 20 March 1908, the child of actors Margaret (Daisy) Scudamore and Roy Redgrave. He studied at Cambridge University before becoming a teacher of modern languages at Cranleigh School, Surrey, where he spent much of his time directing and acting in amateur dramatic productions. His professional acting career began at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1934, where he met and married actress Rachel Kempson. Redgrave moved into films in 1938, starring in Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes. Held by V&A Theatre and Performance Collections.

More train-related collections!

The Great Train Robbery, 1963: material consists of manuscripts, typescripts, correspondence, press cuttings and list of banknotes recovered. Forms part of the Lord Edmund-Davies Papers (1908-1992) reflecting his career as a barrister and High Court judge, including papers deriving from court cases in which he was involved, 1936-1983; including the Great Train Robbery and the Aberfan Disaster Tribunal, 1966-1967, 1974. Held by: National Library of Wales / Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru.

Records of the Railtrack Private Shareholders Action Group (RPSAG, 2001-2006): RPSAG was formed at a meeting of Railtrack shareholders on 19 October 2001. The RPSAG website stated that the mission of the group was to ‘obtain a fair and just settlement for the 255, 000 private shareholders of Railtrack who lost millions when their company was forced into administration by the government’. Railtrack was a group of companies that owned track, signalling, tunnels, bridges, level crossings and stations that made up the British Railway System. It was placed into railway administration under the Railways Act 1993 on 7 October 2001 following an application to the High Court by the then Transport Secretary Stephen Byers. Held by National Railway Museum Archive.

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