A statue of Robert Stephenson has gone on display at the Locomotion Museum at Shildon in County Durham to mark 200 years of the British passenger railway.

The historic bronze statue of Robert Stephenson has been in the care of HS2 since it was removed from the piazza at London Euston Station in October 2020.

Since then, HS2 has kept it in safe storage but has now agreed with Network Rail and the Science Museum Group that it should be on display at Locomotion Museum for the next 10 years.

The statue is roughly twice life-size and was commissioned by the Institution of Civil Engineers. It was erected at London Euston Station in 1871, four years after the death of its Italian-French sculptor, Carlo Marochetti.

After some conservation work and cleaning, the statue was fixed into place outside the museum and will be on public display from Wednesday, 9th April, opposite Gaunless Bridge, which was designed by Robert’s father, George, in 1823, and restored and installed at the museum last year.

The loan of the statue coincides with Railway 200, which celebrates 200 years of the modern railway and recognises the achievements of George and Robert Stephenson.

Father and son George and Robert pioneered the first public railway, which linked Stockton and Darlington in 1825 and passed through Shildon, now recognised as the first railway town and a fitting place for the statue to be displayed.

Robert Stephenson is one of railway history’s most influential engineers, and his legacy is deeply connected with Shildon, the world’s first railway town.

Having his statue on display alongside the pioneering locomotives and engineering marvels he helped to inspire will contribute to Locomotion’s status this landmark year in railway history.

“We’re thrilled that this important piece of our railway heritage will be on display at the Locomotion Museum during this significant anniversary year. Historic England has worked with HS2, Network Rail and local partners to ensure this Grade II listed statue is properly cared for while temporarily away from Euston. The move to Shildon – the world’s first railway town – creates a meaningful connection between this historic monument and the birthplace of passenger railways. This collaboration showcases how we can protect our heritage while making it accessible to new audiences, before the statue returns to take pride of place in the redeveloped Euston station.”

Tom Frater, North East and Yorkshire Regional Director at Historic England