In 1841 George Hudson persuaded the shareholders in eight railway companies engaged, so far unsuccessfully, in building a line from York to Newcastle, to join together to build the section of the line from Darlington to Newcastle and an act of parliament was obtained in 1842 for that purpose. [i] The keelmen, who had previously been entirely responsible for moving coal up and down the Tyne from the pits to coal ships, were understandably opposed to any developments in the railway industry that might threaten their livelihood. [ii]

References:

[i] Oxford Dictionary of National Biography accessed 01May20
[ii] Folk Archive Resource North East http://www.farnearchive.com/detail.asp?id=H1407902 accessed 30Apr20