A Bishop Auckland gallery is celebrating 200 years of railway history through art.
The Mining Art Gallery, part of regeneration charity The Auckland Project, is marking the bicentenary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world’s first public railway to use steam locomotives, with a new exhibition opening June 27.
Called Fuelling the Railway Revolution, the exhibition explores the vital link between mining and railways that helped keep the Industrial Revolution on track.
Featuring paintings spanning two centuries by northern artists, the exhibition highlights historic works such as a depiction of Backworth’s ‘A’ Pit in North Tyneside, early steam locomotives and a rare sketch of Wylam Colliery’s experimental engines.
The pieces offer a vivid glimpse into the industrial heritage of the North East, showcasing how mining and railway technology evolved, as well as how artists depicted the groundbreaking innovations of their time.
Anne Sutherland, mining art and industrial heritage curator at The Auckland Project, said: “As the North East marks this momentous milestone with S&DR200, the Mining Art Gallery’s exhibition will serve as a powerful reminder of the region’s pioneering role in shaping the modern world.
“The Stockton and Darlington Railway was more than just an engineering marvel, it was born from necessity, and our new exhibition highlights the inextricable link between coal mining and the railways – two forces that powered the industrial age and shaped communities for generations.
“In the Mining Art Gallery, we are privileged to showcase some of the region’s outstanding artists, so future generations and visitors from other areas can learn about the culture and the difficulties faced but also how they were overcome with the quintessential Northern grit.”
Alongside historic works, the exhibition features two recent additions to the Mining Art Gallery’s permanent collection from the Gemini Collection of Mining Art.
These include Robert Soden’s striking paintings of Diesel Engine, Hendon Shunting Yard, and Coal Wagons, Level Crossing, Hendon Beach, which vividly capture the final years of Sunderland’s coal industry and the innovative methods used to transport coal to power stations in the 20th century.
Robert Soden’s Diesel Engine, Hendon Shunting Yard, Sunderland, 1992
Robert added: “When I first moved to Sunderland, I was struck by the sheer visual spectacle of the pits and the diesel engines hauling long trains of coal wagons along the North Sea coast.
“The rumble, the rattle, the foghorn and sea fret created an unforgettable atmosphere that inspired much of my work.
“I’m proud that these paintings now form part of the Mining Art Gallery’s collection, helping to tell the story of a region whose industry and innovation shaped the modern world, especially as the region marks the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.”
The exhibition runs until December 2025, with tickets available here.
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