The first public railway to use steam locomotives was opened between Stockton and Darlington in September 1825. The year 2025 therefore marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway. Please see the website Railway 200 for information about how this anniversary is being commemorated nationwide.
The Friends of Handforth Station are developing several events to help celebrate Railway 200. These include:
- An exhibition of rail-related poems, going on display now (mid March) on the concourse of Handforth Station. It is hoped that at least one of the poems penned by a member of FoHS will be displayed at a number of stations on the Crewe to Manchester line.
- A stall at Handforth’s VE day celebrations on Saturday 10th May. The stall will include a display entitled “The Role of Handforth’s Military Railways During World War Two”. The display will focus on RAF 61MU and the army branch line to Hall Road.
- A joint “Open Day” with Handforth Model Engineering Society who run the miniature railway in Handforth’s Meriton Road Park. This will occur on Saturday 17th May.
- A “Rail Ale Trail”, planned in conjunction with other Station Friends groups. It is anticipated that the Trail will open in the Summer.
- A new stainless-steel “Railway 200 screen” to match the current “Millennium Screen”. It is hoped that the pupils in local schools will help with the design of this screen.
Donations received at any of the above events will go to Alzheimers Research UK, the official charity of Railway 200.