News Beat
New railway time capsule at Derby College features Echo
The Railway 200 capsule will be tucked away, only to be opened in 2075 for the 250th celebrations of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
Jack Pitts, of Railway 200, said: “Included in the time capsule was a copy of The Northern Echo from September 27, the day which saw celebrations across the North East, the UK and the world.
“We thought it was fitting to have an Echo in there, given your important role in the region (now and historically), and your fantastic coverage of the events throughout the year.”
Emma Roberts, programme manager for Railway 200, said: “In time-honoured fashion the capsule captures the essence of what has been an amazing celebration of rail’s transformative impact on people’s lives and livelihoods.
“We’re delighted that it will rest in an iconic building in the new home of the railway, as the city helps to shape the future of a British invention that changed the world.
“When opened, in fifty years’ time, the Railway 200 capsule will be a poignant reminder of a landmark year in rail’s continuing development.”
The capsule was officially handed over to Derby College Group on Monday, December 8, by Emma Roberts to Heather Kelly, deputy chief executive of Derby College Group.
The capsule will remain sealed until the railway’s 250th anniversary in 2075.
Inside are a letter from the Railway 200 team to the organisers of the 250th anniversary, a sealed personal letter from the Rail Minister to his successor in 2075, a commemorative coin from The Royal Mint, a selection of commemorative 200th anniversary pin badges, and a commemorative poem from the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage CBE.
Also included, along with The Northern Echo, are a train ticket and illustration from the Railway 200 exhibition train Inspiration, a Railway 200 Challenge Badge, developed for Brownies and Girl Guides worldwide, and a contribution from The Greatest Gathering, the world’s biggest rail festival, hosted by Alstom at its historic Litchurch Lane site in Derby.
Other items reflect the achievements of young talent, such as Dale Bristo’s winning entry in the Railway 200 Young Railway Photographer of the Year Competition 2025, organised by the Railway Photographic Society and the National Railway Museum.
Jack Rhodes, 19, a rail apprentice at Derby College working for Alstom, spoke at the ceremony.
He said: “As the railway looks towards its next 200 years, it will demand new skills and fresh thinking, and I’m ready to embrace that challenge.
“Railway 200 has shown me that this industry never stands still and I’m truly proud to be part of its next chapter.”
Derby was chosen as the capsule’s location in recognition of its rail heritage and future as the headquarters of Great British Railways.
Heather Kelly said: “It is an honour for Derby College Group to safeguard this time capsule at the heart of the world’s oldest rail roundhouse.
“As we mark 200 years of modern rail, we are not only celebrating a remarkable past, but we are also empowering the next generation who will shape its future.
“Our students, apprentices and industry partners are driving innovation every day, and this capsule is a powerful symbol of their ambition.
“When it is opened in 2075, I hope it shows how today’s commitment to learning, skills and collaboration laid the foundations for a greener, smarter and even more inclusive railway for generations to come.”
