New mural unveiled celebrating 200 years of railway
Stockton CouncilA new mural which tells the story of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) has been revealed.
The artwork on West Street, Yarm, is one of a series of works commissioned to mark its bicentenary, as part of the S&DR200 Festival.
The mural faces the railway viaduct in West Street car park, and is made up of eight panels which depict the emergence of steam power and its contribution to the industrial revolution of the 19th Century.
Local artists Abby and Owen, who designed the mural said it was a "huge honour" as "working-class creatives" from Stockton-on-Tees to create it.
The mural is the latest celebration of the S&DR and will leave a lasting legacy for residents and visitors to enjoy.
The artwork also links the railway story to the natural world, making reference to how trains have contributed to the scattering of seeds and pollinators, along rail corridors and via the rivers they crossed.
Stockton CouncilAbby and Owen were previously commissioned to create official artwork for S&DR200, which depicts Locomotion No.1 crossing Skerne Bridge and is displayed at Preston Park Museum.
They said this new mural allowed them to explore the story on a much bigger scale, and is the result of six months of research, sketching and planning.
They added: "The S&DR's 200-year legacy is an inspiring story of people, connection, collaboration, innovation, and so much more.
"We wanted the mural to feel like a series of windows into that remarkable human story, inviting people to pause, look closer, and connect with this story that they too are a part of."
