A NEAR 200-year-old notebook penned by the “Father of the Railways” detailing his plans for the world’s first passenger locomotives has been rediscovered after spending decades in the dust and shadows.

The yellowed pages of the book that belonged to George Stephenson reveal his grand blueprint for the redesign and budget for the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which laid the foundations for the industrial revolution.

The notebook, dated 1822, is set to go on display to the public after being unearthed among 20,000 documents by John Page, a records assistant at Network Rail’s archive in York.

Mr Page had been searching for documents in the archive’s deeds room in April when he came across Stephenson’s work.

The records assistant said: “Because it is a historical document it would never have been loaned out or requested as it didn’t impact the running of the railway so since the 1950s, it has sat on a shelf unnoticed amongst hundreds of other packets.

“I was looking for a deed for one of our internal colleagues and purely out of curiosity decided to look through the packets, and there it was, and what a thrill it was to find.”

The rediscovery means members of the public will be able to see the notebook for the first time in celebration of the 193rd anniversary of the opening of the world-famous Stockton and Darlington Railway.

The pages of Stephenson’s report includes a survey of fellow engineer George Overton’s original 1821 line and the amendments he recommended to it.

The treasured document will be on display in the National Railway Museum in York until late December as part of the Highlights exhibition in the Great Hall.

The exhibition features paintings, medals, handcrafted models and other significant artefacts, many of which are on display for the first time.

Sir Peter Hendy CBE, chair of Network Rail, said: “George Stephenson’s original survey of the Stockton and Darlington Railway ushered in the railway age, not only in Britain, but around the world.

“Network Rail is delighted and proud to have found this astonishing artefact, and very pleased to have it displayed by our friends at the National Railway Museum.

“Then, as now, railways were essential to creating economic growth, jobs and housing.”

The 12ins by 12ins notebook is bound in its original form and is written in ink with pencil annotations. It was signed by G Stephenson at Killingworth Colliery on January 18, 1822.

Catherine Robins, interpretation developer at the National Railway Museum, said: “I would like to thank Network Rail for the opportunity to display this notebook alongside other significant items from the collection.

“This is a rare and historic document which includes many new and interesting details which help bring the story of the railway’s early years to life.”