Newcastle's Railway Heritage, talk by Les Turnbull

In 2025 it was almost impossible to avoid the hype about the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. This is said to have marked the birth of the modern railway - but is this really true?

There is a strong case to be made that the railway system, as we know it today, originated elsewhere, notably on Tyneside. Who better to explain the history of its origins in the wagonway's and early railways in our area than Les Turnbull, our greatest expert on the history of coal mining and railways in the northeast, and author of many books on these subjects?

As part of his talk, Les will introduce us to the mining engineer William Thomas who oversaw the Montagu estates in Denton. His innovative ideas about the future of railways were influential in promoting the development of the modern railway system.

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Host or Publisher Newcastle Libraries