Today is the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in England. Of what relevance is this to Industrial Heritage in Ireland?
None, specifically. However, the S&DR is generally taken to be the first modern era railway in the world. Prior to the S&DR, there were multiple industrial railways, primarily connected with collieries. In addition, there were earlier railways carrying passengers, such as the Swansea and Mumbles Railway in Wales, which carried fare paying passengers as early as 1807, albeit using horse drawn vehicles. There was also the Kilmarnock & Troon Railway in Scotland in operation before 1825.
The S&DR is, however, regarded as the first railway carrying passengers, using steam locomotives, on metal rails, anywhere in the world and as such, it is generally regarded as the first railway.
From this idea, others followed, including the Dublin & Kingstown Railway, opening in 1834.