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History Overseas

The first passenger railway service

Britain is currently commemorating 200 years of railways with a series of events having taken place this year, arising out of the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, which will occur on 27th September.

However, this was not the first railway in Britain/globally as many mineral tramways predated this. In addition, there was at least one passenger service that predated the S&DR, which was the Swansea & Mumbles Railway in Wales, also known as the Oystermouth Tramway.

The line was built to primarily carry limestone from Mumbles to Swansea, however, a horse drawn passenger service commenced in March 1807.

The BBC has an article going into the details.