The Stockton and Darlington Railway was opened on September 27th 1825 with the prime purpose of transporting coal from the South West Durham collieries around  Witton Park, West Auckland and Shildon to the River Tees at Stockton, for shipment to the south of England

The Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR)  was designed and set out as a 26-mile-long mainline running from the coal mines near Witton Park    to the river Tees at Stockton, via Darlington and Yarm.   Importantly for our Parish the start of this historic  journey followed Etherley Incline, now a protected scheduled monument,  from Phoenix Row to Greenfields via Low Etherley.

The Friends of Stockton and Darlington Railway is working in partnership with Durham County Council, Darlington Borough Council and Stockton on Tees Borough Council to  develop walking routes and cycling routes along the 26 miles.  The Etherley Incline Witton Park Colliery Group is working hard to ensure developments on the Incline in Etherley Parish are undertaken in a sympathetic way in order to protect the natural environment which is enjoyed by our residents and visitors alike.