A piece called Time and Place was unveiled in the waiting room at Bank Top Station, Darlington, by Lord Mendoza, the chair of Historic England, who then travelled to Heighington station – the world’s oldest railway station – to reveal Motion 200 on the platform.
“Culture and heritage have been part of the railways since they first began,” he said, admitting it was the first time he had been asked to make a speech in a waiting room.
“It is brilliant that we are here to open this set of murals.”
“I have good memories of walking through the town centre and visiting Waterstones to look at the books, and Zoe Birkett is a good friend,” he said, referring to the West End singer who grew up in the town.
His piece shows a female figure caught up in a miasma of movement.
“Mary Simpson was the first woman employed by the railway at a station, and she was at first just referred to as “the woman”, which made me think about people unseen and unheard, and so I have as the centrepiece the silhouette of a woman, and she’s the catalyst for people to sit down and think while they wait.
“At stations, whether you like it or not, you are going to meet all kinds of different people, all of whom are trying to get somewhere, so railways have this rushing energy. Being in the waiting room is nice because it is asking you to pause, think, meditate.”
The Trail of Discovery will feature nine artworks along the length of the line and two sculptures at either end.
“They are about the human side, not just the technology; they are about the 200 years rather than just the railways,” said curator David Sinclair.
“It is really exciting as a curator to put art into tunnels, stations, waiting rooms and not into a traditional gallery – art deserves to be on the street or the rail for everyone to see.”
The S&DR200 project has been supported by LNER, the Railway Heritage Trust and Historic England.
“You want somewhere to be alive, and for people to come who might not otherwise come – it isn’t only the heritage railway community, it is families as well.”
The director of the bicentenary festival, Niccy Hallifax, said the works would be in place for perpetuity.
“It is really important that we have a legacy for the S&DR,” she said.
“We already have some 1970s graffiti on the line, so we came up with the concept of art lining the 26 miles. These works will become part of the computer game that is being developed by the University of Teesside, so it is also giving jobs to young people in the region.”
All the artists will be working with “young producers” – young people interested in museums and art – along the length of the line to produce more works to be added to the trail.
At Heighington station, Lord Mendoza turned to look at the derelict former pub which his organisation has given a Grade II* listed status and has hailed as the world’s first railway station.
He said: “It is typical Britain, it is so understated and so quiet, yet here is ground zero marking the birthplace of this incredible technology that changed the whole planet.
“It is a shame that it is in this condition but it is an opportunity to sort it out, and I hope it will be sorted.”
There is growing confidence behind the scenes that an announcement will be made next month about a rescue package for the empty building so it does not blight the re-enactment of Locomotion No 1’s inaugural journey in September.
