Hello, it's Steph McGovern here, journalist and TV presenter. But more importantly, I'm a Boro lass. I'm a girl who grew up in Teesside.

Now, when people think about our region, they often think about its beautiful countryside, or our impressive cathedrals and stunning castles. Some might think of the warm welcome we're renowned for too.

However, it's also home to what is possibly one of the biggest game changers in modern society. I am, of course, talking about the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

The S&DR was a really important railway that changed the way the world moved goods and people. This was the world's first modern railway.

It was the early 1800's and Britain was starting to come up with lots of cool, new inventions across the country. Coal was at the centre of society and a big part of people's lives. It was used for cooking and heating, and with the growing use of steam-based engines, it had started to become an essential part of our future.

The development of coal mining in southern County Durham led to many discussions on how to effectively transport the coal to where it was needed. At the centre of these debates was whether it would be better to use a railway or a canal with many cases being made for both. There was lots of disagreement, and no actual progress was made.

Then, enter the Father of the Railways, Edward Pease. Pease was a woollen manufacturer from Darlington who decided to take charge of the situation.

He took it upon himself to invite various business owners to a meeting to properly discuss their options. Pease also hired the engineer, George Overton, to decide which option was better, and to plan the route.

Overton chose a horse drawn railway.

The committee set up a company and sold shares to raise money to build the line.

For years, the railway faced lots of opposition. They struggled to get bills approved through parliament, and needed more and more money to prove the railway could be funded.

An angry Earl of Darlington even attempted to bankrupt the railway because the line was going to run through his land where he enjoyed fox hunting.

Despite all the challenges, the railway survived, and in 1821, an Act of Parliament finally allowed the railway's construction.

At this time, Edward Pease had recently become inspired by George Stephenson to use steam locomotives to haul the coal. A change like this meant a new act of Parliament and even more funding. Despite this, Pease invested much more of his personal funds in order to see the use of steam engines.

Pease hired George Stephenson to be the S&DR's engineer. Stephenson revised George Overton's design to make it work for locomotives. He straightened it and shortened the line by using steep slopes hauled by two stationary engines built at the peaks of Etherley and Brusselton.

On the 27th of September 1825, the S&DR made its first ever journey. waggons filled with coal were hauled by horses and the engine houses on the inclines from Phoenix Row all the way to Shildon.

When the waggons reached Shildon, they were detached from the incline and coupled up with the steam locomotive, 'Locomotion No.1'.

Locomotion left Shildon with 36 waggons filled with coal, flour and people; a feat that would never have been possible before steam locomotives hit the scene.

By mid 1850, the S&DR, had demonstrated the profitability of railways.

By sharing its experience with visiting engineers and railway promoters, it helped spread the concept of railways across Britain and the world. The S&DR clearly inspired the first steam-hauled railways in many countries across Europe and the Americas.

The most common rail gauge in the world is the same as the British standard gauge, established by none other than the S&DR.

A significant proportion of the S&DR's original line remains part of the modern rail network, including Skerne Bridge, which is the world's oldest railway bridge still in use, as well as Heighington Station, the world's earliest railway station.

The S&DR was a revolutionary approach that would forever change the way the world thought about transportation. It was the first time people had travelled in such a way. Its legacy can still be seen and felt today. And it all started right here in the North East of England.