The Birth of the Modern Railway: An illustrated talk by Les Turnbull

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This year, it’s been almost impossible to miss the excitement around the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Many say it marked the birth of the modern railway – but is that really true?

There’s a strong argument that the railway system we know today actually began elsewhere, especially on Tyneside. And who better to explain this than Les Turnbull – the leading expert on the history of coal mining and railways in the North East, and the author of many books on the subject.

During his talk, Les will introduce us to William Thomas, the mining engineer who managed the Montagu estates in Denton. Thomas’s forward-thinking ideas about railway development played an important role in shaping the modern system we use today.

This event is organised by St James’ Heritage & Environment Group in partnership with the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers.