s were
afterwards painted on her side, with the motto "Periculum privatum
utilitas publica." Such was the sole passenger-carrying stock of the
Stockton and Darlington Company in the year 1825. But the "Experiment"
proved the forerunner of a mighty traffic: and long time did not elapse
before it was displaced, not only by improved coaches (still drawn by
horses), but afterwards by long trains of passenger-carriages drawn by
locomotive engines.

"The Experiment" was fairly started as a passenger-coach on the 10th
October, 1825, a fortnight after the opening of the line. It was drawn
by one horse, and performed a journey daily each way between the two
towns, accomplishing the distance of twelve miles in about two hours.
The fare charged was a shilling without distinction of class; and each
passenger was allowed fourteen pounds of luggage free. "The Experiment"
was not, however, worked by the company, but was let to contractors who
worked it under an arrangement whereby toll was paid for the use of the
line, rent of booking-cabins, etc.

The speculation answered so well, that several private coaching companies
were shortly after got up by innkeepers at Darlington and Stockton, for
the purpose of running other coaches upon the railroad; and an active
competition for passenger traffic sprang up. "The Experiment" being
found too heavy for one horse to draw, besides being found an
uncomfortable machine, was banished to the coal district. Its place was
then supplied by other and better vehicles,--though they were no other
than old stage-coach bodies purchased by the company, and each mounted
upon an underframe with flange-wheels. These were let on hire to the
coaching companies, who horsed and managed them under an arrangement as
to tolls, in like manner as the "Experiment" had been worked. Now began
the distinction of inside and outside passengers, equivalent to first and
second class, paying different fares. The competition with each other
upon the railway, and with the ordinary stagecoaches upon the road, soon
brought up the speed, which was increased to ten miles an hour--the
mail-coach rate of travelling in those days, and considered very fast.

Mr. Clephan, a native of the district, has described some of the curious
features of the competition between the rival coach companies:--"There
were two separate coach companies in Stockton, and amusing collisions
sometimes occurred between the drivers--who found on the r