Railpen supports Shildon Railway Institute tea dance to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway

The event, supported by the Trustee of the railways pension schemes and Railpen, brought together retired railway workers, their families, and the wider Shildon community. Guests enjoyed live music from Leeds-based swing ensemble The Little Big Band, alongside tea, cakes and traditional sequence dancing that evokes the spirit of Shildon in previous years. 

Colleagues from Railpen and our charity partner, the Railway Benefit Fund (RBF), were also on hand to serve tea, chat with guests, and lend support throughout the day. The partnership with RBF, announced earlier this year as part of the Railway 200 celebrations, highlights Railpen’s commitment to the people who form the heartbeat of the UK’s railways. 

Speaking at the event, Mick Cash, Trustee Director, RPTCL and Non-Executive Director, Railpen, said: “This year, we’re marking 200 years since the Stockton & Darlington Railway opened, a moment that sparked the railway revolution and saw Shildon become the UK’s first railway town. 

“But the real story of the railway is written by its people who’ve kept Britain moving. That’s why it means so much to us to support events like this, which honour community, connection and heritage – all of which are so important to the future of rail.” 

The Shildon Railway Institute, established in 1833, is aid to be the world’s oldest surviving railway institute. It has been a cornerstone of community life for nearly two centuries, providing education, culture and social connection for railway workers and their families. Hosting the tea dance was a way of celebrating this legacy while shining a light on the importance of keeping traditions alive for future generations. 

For Railpen, the event also highlighted its own deep connections to the railway industry. Formed in 1965 as the pensions office for the British Rail Pension Scheme, Railpen has grown into one of the UK’s largest and most established pension funds. Today, Railpen manages over £34bn of assets on behalf of more than 350,000 members, the vast majority of whom work – or have worked – in the rail industry. 

Railpen’s origins in Darlington’s historic Stooperdale offices, built in the early 1900s by North Eastern Railway’s chief architect Sir William Bell, reflect the company’s long-standing ties to the heritage of rail. Stooperdale played a pivotal role in locomotive construction, engineering and railway administration – reminding us that rail’s history has always been shaped by the people who dedicate their lives to it. 

For Railpen and the Trustee, Railway 200 is not only a chance to celebrate engineering achievements but also an opportunity to recognise the workers – past, present and future – whose contributions have shaped rail’s success and continue to keep Britain moving. Through events like the Shildon tea dance, Railpen is reaffirming its purpose: to put members first by securing their futures, celebrating their contributions, and supporting the communities where they live and work. 

Watch highlights from the Shildon Railway Institute Tea Dance here: https://youtu.be/cAyitxKs2hc

Joining in with the fantastic celebrations of Railway200, Railpen has come together with Railway Benefit Fund, Railway Children, Railway Mission and Railway Housing Association to form #BeyondTheTracks200 to mark the railway’s social legacy. Find out more: https://www.beyondthetracks200.co.uk/ and/or follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyondthetracks200