International Early Railways Conference

The final book to be launched at our September Conference will be the 'Early Railways of Scotland' by Ed Bethune and Anthony Dawson of the 1722 Waggonway Heritage Group. The book explores the history of Scotland's railways from 1606 to the 1840s, from wooden rails and horses to iron and steam power.

We're pleased to announce that Day Tickets are now available. £50 in person, £30 online AND the price will remain fixed even after 'Early Bird Booking' endds on 1st August (next Friday).
Spaces at the Dinner are extremely limited and hotel space is also running out - book now to avoid disappointment

The third book to be launched at the conference is a recent biography of George Stephenson by Fred Hartley 'Master of these Marvels'. It takes a chronological look at George's life, and shows him to be a polymath fascinated by the world around him, and surrounded by a like-minded 'circle of genius.'

At our September Conference, Dr Michael Bailey will be signing copies of his recent books. An expanded and revised second edition of his 2014 book "Loco Motion" which charts every pre-1850 locomotive and his and Peter Davidson's archaeological and archival report on "Locomotion No. 1". 🚂

Conference Day Tickets, for both in-person and online attendance will be available shortly. Check out our website for more! www.earlyrailways.org.uk

With only three months to go until the 'Big Day' of 27 September - the bicentenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway - now is a reminder that early-bird booking ends on 31 July! We hope to also make an announcement next week about day tickets. Watch this space :-)

YouTube video by Anthony Dawson 8th Early Railways Conference

We hope your enjoy our YouTube teaser! youtu.be/-f5mhrjriI0

Our Chairman, Dr Michael Bailey MBE appears in a two-part interview Steam Railway Magazine. Part 1 in issue 569 out today! A fascinating look at his life story, and his work exploring and understanding early locomotives.

Di Drummond will examine early railways in India, particularly the role played by Lord Dalhousie; the adoption of 'broad gauge' and the unique way in which India's railways were paid for through a mix of state guarantee and capitalism.
Images: Lord Dalhousie & a contemporary print of railway travel.

Paul Dawson will take a look at an early railway in Yorkshire: the Flockton Tramway. It originates in the 1770s as a wooden railway, but is associated in later phases with what is probably the earliest surviving railway tunnel and railway viaduct, built c.1790.

Anthony Dawson will present a paper about the role played by Unitarians (eg Stephensons, Henry Booth, Charles Tayleur, James Nasmyth, Peacock) and their networks in the early mainline period. A religious minority who had a level of wealth, education, & influence which far outstripped their numbers.

Mike Chrimes will present a paper on Frederick Swanwick - one of George Stephenson's "Bright Young Things". Originally destined for the Unitarian Ministry, he became a pupil of and later personal assistant to George Stephenson. He was responsible for the Whitby-Pickering Railway and North Midland.

We're in York today at the National Railway Museum for our Committee Meeting. Whilst these can be done remotely, it's always good to meet face to face and spend time socially. Quite a full agenda but September is starting to look really exciting!

Eric Branse-Instone (Historic England) and Caroline Hardie (Friends of the S&DR) take a look at the evolution of the railway station with reference to the Stockton & Darlington Railway and other lines in Nothern England through "Trial, Error and Expediency".

Sticking with Wooden Railways (stick, get it?) Graham Boyes will present a paper about William Prosser's attempts to bring wooden railways into the steam age, for which he took out patents in 1843 and 1844. Only one was ever built, in 1865 in New Zealand where it lasted for only two years.

Ed Bethune and Anthony Dawson will share a paper exploring the archaeology and experimental archaeology of the Tranent-Cockenzie Waggonway of 1722. This was the first railway in Scotland and the earliest wooden waggonway excavated in the UK.

Dr Michael Bailey MBE and Peter Davidson will present their ground-breaking archaeological and archival study on "Locomotion". They will demonstrate that the locomotive as preserved today is the result of a Victorian restoration for display; originally had slide bars and at one point 2 chimneys

A full list of papers can be found on our website, but just to whet your appetite we'll be posting some of them here.

Dana Ashdown will be examining the novel patent boiler of Braithwaite & Ericsson, as well as Ericsson's patent "Caloric Engine" which was promoted a safer alternative to steam.

Our conference will kick off on Tuesday 23 September with a key note address given by Niall Hammond, Chair of the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, and Caroline Hardie "Not just a coal railway: re-evaluating the S&DR its ambition, achievements, and influence."

As part of the conference, delegates will enjoy a trip on the wednesday to Hopetown Museum, in Darlington to explore the recently refurbished museum which is a core part of the 'Railway Heritage Quarter'. The Museum is established in part of the North Road station, which dates from 1842.

The Conference Dinner will be held at Bannatynes, Darlington in a building which is dripping with railway history as it was once lived in by the Pease family of Quaker financiers and MP who promoted the Stockton & Darlington Railway. Gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options will be available.

Our conference in September will be hosted at the historic Central Hall in Darlington, a chandeliered, early Victorian ballroom. It is fully accessibleand the Conference will be hybrid, in-person and online.
There will be key note speach & reception (tues), dinner (thurs) and trip out (weds).

Welcome to the official Bluesky page for the International Early Railways Conference!
We will be hosting our 8th Conference in Darlington from 23-26 September 2025.
To find out more and book, visit www.earlyrailways.org.uk