The opening of the Stockton and Darlington

[Harlesden]

With the US being the only country, as far as I know, using the term "railroad", I was astonished and slightly disturbed to find an old picture on the web referring to the "Stockton and Darlington Railroad".
I cannot make out the year in the caption, but maybe a sharp eyed fellow member can judge if the year shown for the opening is historically correct.
http://www.sdrm.org/history/timeline/stk-dar1.jpg

 

[Bevan Price]

Date seems to read either 1815 or 1845, but both would be incorrect - it opened in 1825.

 

[caliwag]

I have a completely wrecked copy of Tomlinson's, The North Eastern railway...Its Rise and development. Published 1914 but with loads of early prints, maps and documents...from early 19thC. Nowhere is there a mention of 'railroads'. So I can only guess you are viewing some sort of American document. Worth getting hold of a copy from abebooks if you're curious!

 

[Darren R]

I've read contemporary reports from the early days of railways in the UK: use of the word "railroad" was not uncommon at that time, especially in newspapers and journals. The word "railway" was the one used in the Parliamentary Acts though.

 

[martinsh]

And of course "tramroad" was popular for waggonways connecting to canals

 

[Bright Boy]

In my readings I seem to recall that the Stockton Darlington Railroad was the term used by the company itself in the planning stages, and changed to Railway when it got approval from parliament, but I could be mistaken??