The Stockton and Darlington Railway operated in north-east England from 1825 to 1863. The world's first public railway to use steam locomotives, its first line connected coal mines near Shildon with Stockton-on-Tees and Darlington, and was officially opened on 27 September 1825. The movement of coal to ships became a lucrative business, and the line was soon extended to a new port and town at Middlesbrough. Passengers were carried in coaches drawn by horses until carriages hauled by steam locomotives were introduced in 1833. The company suffered severe financial difficulties at the end of the 1840s and was nearly taken over by the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway, before profiting from the discovery of iron ore in Cleveland. The company was taken over by the North Eastern Railway in 1863, transferring 200 route miles (320 km) of line and about 160 locomotives, but continued to operate independently as the Darlington Section until 1876. Much of the original route is now served by the Tees Valley Line, operated by Northern Rail. The railway's opening in 1825 was seen as proof of the effectiveness of steam railways, and its anniversary was celebrated in 1875, 1925 and 1975.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockton_and_Darlington_Railway

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1422:

The Treaty of Melno was signed, establishing the Prussian–Lithuanian border, which afterwards remained unchanged for about 500 years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Melno

1822:

In a letter to the Paris Académie des Inscriptions et Belles- Lettres, Jean-François Champollion announced his initial successes in deciphering the Rosetta Stone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois_Champollion

1875:

The Ellen Southard wrecked in a storm at Liverpool, England; the United States Congress subsequently awarded 27 gold Lifesaving Medals to the lifeboat men who rescued her crew. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Southard

1908:

The first production of the Ford Model T automobile was built at the Piquette Plant in Detroit, Michigan, US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_T

1983:

Software developer Richard Stallman announced plans for the Unix-like GNU operating system, the first free software developed by the GNU Project. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

stile: 1. A set of steps surmounting a fence or wall, or a narrow gate or contrived passage through a fence or wall, which in either case allows people but not livestock to pass. 2. A vertical component of a panel or frame, such as that of a door or window. […] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stile

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom — go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!   --Samuel Adams https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Samuel_Adams