Lucy Jessop from Historic England explores the remarkable story of Shildon, a once-rural village that transformed into a powerhouse of railway innovation and industrial growth. Charting Shildon's journey from its humble beginnings to becoming a key hub of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, Lucy brings to life the people, places, and pioneering spirit that shaped the town. She delves into the arrival of George Stephenson, the construction of the world’s first passenger railway line, and the ripple effects of coal, locomotives, and engineering excellence that placed Shildon at the heart of a global transport revolution.

Sam Slatcher is an independent recording artist, singer-songwriter, and community arts facilitator. Passionate about working in community and encouraging storytelling, Sam's work takes him across the North East to capture stories through music. Since 2019, Sam has been curating, directing, and facilitating songwriting workshops for various creative projects across the North East with Citizen Songwriters, a social enterprise Sam set up that brings people together through songwriting to create original songs about people’s stories and the places that matter to them.

Join Caroline Hardie as she uncovers the untold stories of the remarkable women who helped shape Britain's pioneering Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) in the 1820s. With over 11 years of research into the railway's history, Caroline brings to light the overlooked contributions of widows and single women who invested in, funded, and even operated early passenger services at a time when women had virtually no legal or economic power.

Lizzie Lovejoy is a Darlo born Poet, Performer and Picture-Maker. They've spent their life listening to peoples words, and now Lizzie translates local narratives into creative works. Working across the North, from the Scottish Borders tothe Humber, Lizzie's home is their inspiration because the North is a tale worth telling and contains so many stories worth hearing. Lizzie was awarded NEVisualArtist of the Year 2023and has performed to thousands at national festivals.

Join journalist and storyteller Chris Lloyd from The Northern Echo as he dives headfirst into the fascinating, quirky, and often surprising tales of the Stockton & Darlington Railway—the world’s first public railway to use steam locomotives.

Marcus Jecock of Historic England takes us deep into the industrial heartland of early railway innovation with the story of the Shildon Coal Drops — a striking reminder of the age when coal powered not just homes and industry, but the very movement of people and goods across England.