London Photo Gallery - Art Exhibitions & Special Events

Railway 200 (July 2025)

Modern railways were born on September 27, 1825 when a steam-powered locomotive travelled 26 miles between Shildon, Darlington, and Stockton.

To celebrate 200 years of modern railways, a special exhibition train, in partnership with the National Railway Museum, is travelling around the country. "Inspiration" is expected to make 60 stops until summer 2026, visiting Euston station between July 12-15, 2025 at platform 16. 4 carriages will display various exhibits with 1 being a locally-designed one customized depending on where the train is on display.

The railroads have made a huge impact on our daily lives. In the 1830s, every town had its own local time based on sunrise and sunset. The railways needed a standard time measurement to run safely. In November 1840, Great Western Railway became the first to tell all its stations to synchronize with London, and by 1847, Greenwich Mean Time became the standard time for railways in the country.

More about the exhibition : click here

Walk to the far end of the train to start the tour, which begins with a few historic items about the railways in Britain. The first railway photograph shows Linlithgow station in 1845, just 4 years after photography was invented.

The first railway timetable from 1839 is the creation of English cartographer George Bradshaw.

Hi-vis were first used in the 1960s to easily spot railway workers and improve safety. They were first trialled in Glasgow.

14-year old John Backhouse described the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825 by sketching the first service (replica).

The next cars are interactive exhibits with many designed to cater for children's interest.