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Original Text (Annotation: EPW010136 / 433383)
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The Stockton and Darlington Railway was built to carry coal from west Durham to the River Tees at Stockton. This photograph shows the Stockton where the coal was transferred to ships at staithes roughly opposite the end of Wharf Street This comment's pin marks the approximate position of the original end of the line in 1825 at Cottage Row, just to the north of Moat Street. An extension along the riverside to Silver Street opened the following year. The railway was extremely successful, which caused problems because coal was delivered to Stockton quicker then boats could take it away. Larger ships were unable to navigate the Tees as far as Stockton and the situation was not resolved until 1830 when the coal traffic was diverted along a new line from Bowesfield Junction to new deep-water docks at Middlesbrough. The line along the quayside was then mainly used for miscellaneous freight to and from the warehouses and wharves along the route, a service which continued until closure in 1967.
Horse-drawn vehicles resembling stage coaches fitted with flanged wheels provided passenger services along this route for a while; after the opening ceremony locomotive haulage was reserved for coal traffic. No stations were provided and coaches stopped to allow passengers to disembark and board at convenient places, usually where the line crossed a road and often near hostelries. The original terminus for passengers was at Cottage Row and further stops were provided on the 1826 extension at the Fleece Inn (the end of Castlegate), the bottom of Black Lion Yard and finally the Custom House Tavern at the end of Finkle Street. This situation continued until 1833 when a new station near to St John's Well was opened and locomotive hauled passenger trains were introduced. '
