The Quest for Speed on the UK's Railways Talk

Join North Staffs Community Rail Partnership for a series of guided walks, talks and exhibitions celebrating Railway 200 and taking place during Heritage Open Days.

A major factor in attracting customers (passengers) to travel by train is speed, to get from A to B faster, resulting in shorter journey times. The Quest for Speed on the UK's Railways is a fully-illustrated talk about how UK railway engineers designed locomotives and trains to run at ever-faster speeds, from George and Robert Stephenson’s Locomotion No. 1 steam locomotive, to today’s international high-speed Eurostar trains which run on UK soil. 2025 is the 200th anniversary of the world’s first passenger train - from Stockton to Darlington - and is being celebrated throughout the railway industry.

Robin Mathams (a retired industrial training consultant) is a railway enthusiast with a keen interest in how railways have evolved. He is joint historian of the Trent Valley Railway History Project which is researching the Trent Valley Railway, the section of the West Coast Main Line between Stafford and Rugby. He is a member of the Sutton Coldfield Railway Society, and the London & North Western Railway Society.

The talk will take place at Stafford Station and will last approximately 1 hour 15 mins with some additional time for questions. Places are free but admission is by ticket only as numbers are limited.

This event is supported by North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership and Avanti West Coast.