Produced by the Shildon Heritage Alliance CIC in association with the Brusselton Incline Group and Shildon Railway Institute this short film explores the story behind the Brusselton Incline and the part it played in the story of the Stockton and Darlington Railway from its inception up until the time the Incline ceased to be used having been superseded by alternative routes passing under Shildon through the Prince of Wales Tunnel from 1842 onward.
This film was made, at no cost to the Brusselton Incline Group by volunteers in and around Shildon, to mark the 195th Anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway on 27th September 1825 (and the five-year point to the steam passenger railway Bicentenary which will be on the 27th September 2025)
When the Bicentenary arrives, this region, from Witton Park and Etherley right through to Stockton on the mouth of the River Tees, will hopefully be the focus of some considerable attention as we commemorate the influence that the North East of England had over the worldwide development of public railway systems. In the build-up to this momentous celebration as many of us as possible should understand and champion the railway heritage of our area. 2025 will be a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to have towns like Shildon recognised for the part they played, and use that opportunity to ensure as positive a future from that legacy which began with coal and has led right up to the present day where Hitachi continues to build passenger trains on our doorstep at Newton Aycliffe.
This is a cause that the Brusselton Incline Group, the Shildon Heritage Alliance CIC and others are committed to, and it's never too late to be part of the movement.
If you want to know more about the railway heritage of this area take a look at the following online resources:
https://www.sdr1825.org.uk
https://brusseltoninclinegroup.webs.com
Or look up the Brusselton Incline Group on Facebook
The Shildon Heritage Alliance CIC is the not for profit company created by the Save Our Stute Campaign to restore Shildon's famous Railway Institute building, the most recent home of the world's first railway institute organisation. See www.shildonrailway.institute for more details of that.