THE historic route of the Stockton & Darlington Railway could be granted world heritage status in time to mark its 200th anniversary.

Rail enthusiasts want to ensure the famous line - the route of the world's first passenger service - is not forgotten.

A conference is to be held in Shildon, known as the cradle of the railways, next month by the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway group.

They will examine plans to mark the route’s bi-centenary in 2025.

Gaining the high profile status, which would put the historic route on a par with Stonehenge and Durham Cathedral.

The move is a key part of a rescue plan for Darlington's Head of Steam museum, which tells the story of the line, the first passenger railway route in the world.

Members of the Friends are considering an approach to The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) which grants world heritage status.

Trish Pemberton, Friends group chairwoman, said: “It’s all about preserving and protecting a highly important part of world heritage and raising awareness of the railway.

“This is exciting and it’s something that could grow and be developed as we look ahead to the 2025 celebrations.”

The Stockton and Darlington Railway carried coal from Witton Park Colliery, near Bishop Auckland, down to the ports at Stockton via Darlington.

The Friends team also wants to develop a foot and cycle path which follows the route of the original railway as far as is still possible.

Some of the line has since been built on but fans of the scheme feel that thousands of visitors would be attracted to the pathway possibly followed a special app.

The rail enthusiasts group says that the North-East economy would be boosted as the visitors would spend locally in the towns through which they passed.

Support for the Friends’ project has been given by Durham County, Stockton-on-Tees Borough and Darlington Borough councils.

Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for leisure and the local environment on Darlington council, said: “This is very much a project to be embraced.

“The railways transformed so much of the world that we have today.”

Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon is also helping the group.

The proposals are expected to cost several million pounds. Some funding has already been secured, including a £10,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with other bids planned.

Jane Hackworth-Young, the great, great grand-daughter of rail pioneer Timothy Hackworth, said: “I think it’s a world heritage site and it’s terribly important.”

There are 1,007 world heritage sites sites in the world including the six pyramids of Giza, in Egypt.

Anyone interested in helping should contact Trish Pemberton on trish.pemberton@btconnect.com