Last month I gave a talk at Preston Park Museum to mark the anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, meanwhile, on the other side of Stockton my father was also talking, he contributed to the Friends of the Stockton and Darlington Railway afternoon of talks.

On the evening I met the author, Tony Stowers, for his reading of No1 in Middlesbrough Central Library, the photograph opposite shows Tony holding the new limited edition of No.1, and myself holding Lewis and No.1 his book for younger readers. Only last year I had written about this wonderful book, see – https://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/subjects/history/history-subject-community/hodder-history-blog/july-2018/no-1,

For this September’s events Tony had produced this special limited edition of No1 he had purchased the rights to use the Terence Tenison Cuneo painting entitled ‘The opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway’ which once you read the book you will appreciate how fitting the image is. Cuneo is best know as the leading painter of railways and for securing the prestigious role of official artist for the 1953 Coronation of Elisabeth II.

Whilst talking with Tony he mentioned an aspect he had not considered before, namely the purpose of the Yarm branch line, he’d begun to think about this after reading my fathers biography of Benjamin Flounders – How Durst he do that 

On the day the journey started at Brusselton at eight o’clock in the morning.  The locomotive pulled thirty-four wagons in total, twelve loaded with coal and flour, the other twenty-two carrying upwards of four hundred passengers.  The train covered the eight miles into Darlington in little over an hour.  At Darlington more waggons were added and more passengers boarded, until there were more than six hundred people, included Mr. Meynells’ band, which played at every prestigious event.  The train at times reached fifteen or sixteen miles an hour, but it took almost three hours to reach Stockton, mainly due to a very long delay at Yarm, where the coal wagons were uncoupled. 

How Durst He Do That: the Life of Benjamin Flounders Esq – Jim Fox (page 33)

What was the purpose of ‘a very long delay at Yarm,’ ? It was difficult to say as the Yarm junction mostly overlooked in modern histories of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. I searched a number of my books and then online for any reference to Yarm on 27th September 1825 and came away with little more than passing mentions to the individuals from yarm and the 1925 plaque, I therefore went to the source of the passage, my father.

In the 1875 book, Jubilee Memorial of the Railway System. A History of the Stockton and Darlington Railway and a Record of Its Results, J S Jeans writes:

Stockton was reached in three hours and seven minutes after leaving Darlington, including all stoppages, and one of unusual length at Yarm, where some coal waggons were left, the distance between the two towns being close on twelve miles. All along the line of route, the fields, lanes, and bridges were covered with spectators; and when the procession arrived within a few miles of Stockton, it was joined by a large number of horses, vehicles, and foot-passengers. (page 71)

I’ll be the first to admit that the reference is rather short, but as the book is renowned for being a classic and is highly detailed; it relies heavily upon S&DR documentation, I am inclined to conclude that this account is pretty reliable. What caught my eye however was the rest of this passage, especially the ‘joined by a large number of horses, vehicles, and foot-passengers.’ part for passage, for this brought me back to the cover of No1, and the choice of the Cuneo painting, which shows No1 surrounded by a large number of horses, vehicles, and foot-passengers.

Men such as my ancestor, Benjamin Flounders, were in essence practical businessmen, the cheif objective of the S&DR was to transport coal from the South Durham coalfields, mostly to the port of Stockton, but as it was used locally it was also transported to the larger urban districts; Darlington and Yarm. On top of this the simple spectacle of coal waggons being uncoupled, transported and unloaded would interest a huge number of people, bringing publicity. I’m not saying the stop at Yarm was a publicity stunt, after all the whole day was a publicity stunt, but it is clear that the future operation of the Railway was being demonstrated, the directors were showing people the practical benefits the Railway would bring, drumming up business. What is especially pleasing is the way I have come about this understanding, I have seen how History and historical fiction are created; the use of evidence to verify a statement, the careful selection of information, and then the interpretation and use of that information, which has advanced my understanding.