We couldn’t let the 200^th anniversary of the first railway pass by without marking it with some event, so a day at Hopetown Darlington has been arranged for you.

Hopetown Darlington, previously known as Head of Steam and formerly known as the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum, is a railway museum located on the 1825 route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which was the world's first steam-powered passenger railway.

The newly refurbished 7.5-acre museum site reopened to the public in July 2024.

The day will include a 45 to 60-minute tour of the site plus a visit led by the A1 Steam Loco Trust where one of their volunteers will show you around their premises.

To book a place, please contact Patricia Marcus

Maximum 40 places available

Meet: 10 am for registration. Refreshments are available at the café.

Start: 11am; Lunch break: 12 - 1pm; Next: 1.30 pm A1 Steam Loco Trust presentation (approx. 1 hour)

There will be time for further exploration as you wish, before you return home.

Cost: £5 pp – refreshments and lunch not included

Parking: plenty on site @ £4 all day

Train: It is on the Saltburn to Bishop Auckland line – see local timetable for more information.