Monday is the 200th anniversary of one of the most important events in local railway history which took place in a kebab shop ON the evening of April 19, 1821, two strangers approached the front door of Edward Pease s home in Northgate, Darlington. They came from wildest Northumberland and had set off early that morning by horse for Newcastle. At Newcastle, they caught a stagecoach bound for Stockton by nip – tipping the driver rather than paying the fare. From Stockton, they walked 12 miles across farm and field, following the path that was proposed for the Stockton and Darlington Railway, until they came to Mr Pease s home on the northern edge of town.