After the passing of the Act the proprietors of the railway hesitated for a time, in some doubts as to whether they had, in fact, got what they wanted. Even though local ideas were now agreed, the hard work was just about to start. Edward Pease and his team had to convince the public and Parliament that the Stockton to Darlington Railway was a feasible and practical idea.

Fortunately for Pease and his team, they weren't the only people interested in the success of the railway project. On the evening of the same day that the Railway Act was passed by parliament, two men arrived at the house of Mr Pease in Darlington. Edward Pease's assistant John Dixon had invited the two men, both from the Killingworth area, to meet with Mr Pease to discuss the implementation of the planned railway. Before arriving in Darlington, both men had walked the proposed route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. The first man, Nicolas Wood, was a viewer at Killingworth Colliery, the second, was an engine-wright at the same place, his name was George Stephenson.

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The colliery manager, Mr Lambert, had recommended both of them. Stephenson was a firm believer that locomotive power should be the adoptive form of transportation on the line as opposed to horse drawn wagons for the tram road idea. Stephenson even invited Pease to view his steam locomotives in action on Tyneside. From that day, Pease knew that Stephenson was the man for the project and the two of them built up great respect and friendship for each other.

Shortly after their meeting, Stephenson was asked to conduct yet another survey to see if anymore improvements could be made to Overton's original report. In early 1822, Stephenson was appointed engineer to the railway on a basic annual salary of £300. Below is a map of George Stephenson's and George Overton's proposed routes.

Construction of the line began on 13th May 1822; however, the first rail wasn't laid until 23rd May. It was a big occasion; local dignitaries and workmen met at Stockton Town Hall and marched to St John's Well (now Bridge Road) were Thomas Meynell, chairman of the company, laid the first rail. As Meynell was fixing the lines in place, a gun salute was fired and 'God Save The King' was played.

Pictured right is a painting depicting the laying of the first rail at St. John's Well.

For many months, Stephenson was still expressing is strong opinions that steam locomotive power should be used on the line, as no decision had been firmly agreed. Pease being a man of his word, made a trip to Killingworth to see Stephenson' locomotives in action. Pease was invited to ride on a train that was pulling loaded wagons, and from that moment he knew that steam locomotion had to used on the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Pease promptly applied to Parliament to amend the Railway Act to include 'locomotive or moveable engines to facilitate the carriage of goods, merchandise and passengers.'

It now became Stephenson priority to concentrate his efforts on the building of high precision steam engines for use of the line. Edward Pease agreed with these plans and together with fellow committee member Thomas Richardson, formed a locomotive building company with George and his son Robert. The new company, Robert Stephenson & Company, built a small factory on Forth Street in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The first order was for stationary engines to be built at the Etherely and Brussleton inclines in County Durham. On 16h September 1823, the Stockton and Darlington Railway Company placed an order for its first two steam locomotives.

On 1824, George Stephenson became heavily involved in the development of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway and whilst Stephenson was out of the North East, another recognised local engineer, Timothy Hackworth, was brought into supervise the work being carried out at the Forth Street factory. In early 1825 the line construction was nearing an end and George Stephenson strongly recommended that Hackworth was appointed the company engineer. The committee agreed, and Hackworth started his duties on 13th May 1825 at a salary of £150 per annum with a house provided.

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Click here for more details on the Timothy Hackworth Museum

In early September of 1825, Locomotion No.1, built by Robert Stephenson & Company at the Forth Street factory, was transported from Newcastle on three trolleys to an assembly point at Aycliffe Lane in County Durham.