S&DR200 Official Stockton to Darlington Event Photographer

The eyes of the world were on Stockton and Darlington for the 200th anniversary of the world’s first passenger railway. For nine months during 2025, the S&DR200 international festival celebrated the birth of the passenger railway and I was delighted to be the Festival’s only official photographer. I have immense pride in my home’s railway heritage and it was a privilege to photograph on multiple occasions, including the big finale weekend in Stockton on Tees.

Royal Assignment at Shildon, Locomotion Museum. Photographing HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

The festival recreated the inaugural journey of Locomotion No. 1, a 26-mile trip between Shildon and Stockton, via Darlington and I worked closely with the Festival organisers to be fully across the multi-day, multi-venue brief. My first assignment was at Shildon’s Locomotion museum, where I photographed HRH The Duke of Edinburgh as he joined the crew on the Experiment carriage for a train ride.

Editorial Photographer in Darlington: Capturing the Skerne Bridge Historic Crossing

Next stop the following day was Darlington’s Hope Town museum. The replica locomotive set off to cross the historic Skerne Bridge (the oldest railway bridge in continuous use). The atmosphere was incredible with thousands of spectators at designated viewing areas along the route. It really felt a special event! I also photographed the ‘Ghost Train: The Departure’ procession at the County Durham museum.

Editorial Coverage of the Stockton Finale: Documenting the Historical Procession to Rochester Road

The nine-month festival came to an end with a huge final day. The replica locomotive made the final part of the journey to Stockton Railway Station before making its way past the official viewing area at Rochester Road where a huge crowd had gathered to see it pass, accompanied by a military gun salute and brass bands. I had to make sure I was always in the right position to get the perfect shot. It was a once in a lifetime event.

Editorial Photojournalism at Stockton Riverside: The South Paw Dance Company and Ghost Train Spectacle

The curtain came down on the Festival on Sunday with a day of free events on Stockton High Street and at an open-air specatcle. There was large-scale theatre performance by The South Paw Dance Company who used contemporary dance and theatre to tell the story of railway pioneers such as George Stephenson and Edward Pease. Stockton Riverside became a huge outdoor stage after ‘Ghost Train: The Arrival’.

Photographing the Night-time Spectacular: Locomotion No. 1 Light Show and Stockton Fireworks.

The event featured a reimaging of Locomotion No. 1 with six illuminated carriages travelling along a giant 12 metre high structure with live music, projection, performers and a huge firework display which lit the Stockton sky with a rainbow of colours.

It was an unforgettable weekend for everyone involved and the tens of thousands of visitors who came to be part of the celebration. It really was all aboard for festival fun and a wonderful way to put Stockton and Darlington on the international map!

• Project Title: S&DR200 International Festival Coverage (200th Anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway)
• Photoshoot Location: Photograph venues across County Durham and Teesside, including Shildon (Locomotion museum), Darlington (Hope Town museum and Skerne Bridge), and Stockton-on-Tees (Stockton Railway Station, Rochester Road, Stockton High Street, and Stockton Riverside).
• Client Brief: Serve as the festival’s exclusive official photographer to capture key celebration. The assignment required full coverage of the multi-day, multi-venue finale weekend, replicating the 26-mile inaugural journey of Locomotion No. 1. Key tasks included documenting VIP attendance (HRH The Duke of Edinburgh), public spectators along the route, the “Ghost Train” processions, community celebrations (military salute and brass bands), and the closing open-air contemporary dance and theatrical light show.
• Delivery: A comprehensive, high-stakes photographic archive documenting a once-in-a-lifetime international historical event, delivered to festival organisers for media, historical preservation, and for future promotional use.

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