Tviff: Gala Premiere Of The First Five Miles: A Stockton & Darlington Railway Story

In commemoration of the 200 year anniversary of the birth of the railways, TVIFF produced ‘The First Five Miles: A Stockton & Darlington Railway Story’, a documentary/drama that details how the first steam powered passenger line came into being.

With new research, discussions from historians and historical re-enactments we see in detail how the pioneers approached the lines forgotten ‘First Five Miles’ from Witton Park to Shildon. Placing testimony from local historians, alongside historical re-enactments starring British acting legends Stephen Tompkinson, Bill Fellows and Michael Hodgson, this film focuses on a lesser known aspect of the worlds first passenger railway: the initial five mile journey from Witton Park to Shildon. The screening will end with a live interview and audience Q&A with filmmaker Michael Smith and Chief Feature Writer at the Northern Echo, Chris Lloyd.