Countdown to S&DR200 celebrations in September
Excitement is building for S&DR200's celebrations across County Durham and Tees Valley as the festival counts down to the Stockton & Darlington Railway's 200th anniversary on 27 September 2025.
The festival is unveiling a week of unmissable spectacles that will celebrate the region and its historic legacy. This highly ambitious project - five years in the making - centres around the newly restored replica of Locomotion No. 1, accompanied by the passenger carriage Experiment and traditional coal waggons. Over three days (26, 27 and 28 September 2025), the replica engine will run on sections of the original Stockton & Darlington Railway line, cheered on by thousands of spectators along the route.
There will be a number of designated locations to safely view the engine on its journey, and spectators are reminded to act responsibly and not trespass on the railway to view the engine outside of the designated locations.
Spectators will also be able to enjoy a specially curated cultural and historical programme which includes a series of unique commissioned events, performances, and activities for all ages, taking place at key points along the journey. In addition, exhibitions will be held across the region's museums, offering even more opportunities to explore and celebrate.
The inaugural journey of Locomotion No. 1 on the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825 represented a major turning point in history, and two hundred years later, visitors will be able to take part in S&DR200's special festivities marking this extraordinary milestone.
The Stockton & Darlington Railway was established as a 26-mile-long mainline to transport coal and other mixed goods from the mines of south Durham to the River Tees at Stockton, via Shildon, Darlington and Yarm. The first steam locomotive to run on the line was called Locomotion No. 1. The key figures of the Stockton & Darlington Railway included investors and company directors Edward Pease, a retired wool merchant from Darlington, his son Joseph Pease and Jonathan Backhouse from the Darlington bank of the same name and leading engineers of the time George Stephenson and Timothy Hackworth.
From March this year, S&DR200 has rolled out a packed programme which continues until the end of the year with exhibitions, outdoor performances, new art commissions and events geared towards people of all ages. There are many ways to make the most of a visit to County Durham and Tees Valley and the anniversary celebrations as a family. This autumn, visitors can also explore a whole host of indoor and outdoor activities and expect one-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Hopetown Darlington, Locomotion in Shildon (part of the Science Museum Group), and Preston Park Museum in Stockton-on-Tees are three attractions situated on the original S&DR route. Alongside The Story in Durham City, they make up the festival's major museum partners.
S&DR200 is being delivered by Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. Major funders include Tees Valley Combined Authority, Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England and Heritage Railway.
S&DR200 is partnered with Network Rail and Railway 200, a year-long campaign celebrating 200 years of the modern railway. Sponsors include LNER, Hitachi, Amazon UK and Caswell's Group.
ANNIVERSARY JOURNEY
S&DR200 celebrations will include a re-enactment of the first journey on the S&DR, taking place on 26, 27 and 28 September 2025. A newly restored replica of Locomotion No. 1 will run on sections of the original Stockton & Darlington Railway line between Shildon, Darlington and Stockton over three days. Spectators will be able to see the train at designated locations.
The final leg of the Anniversary Journey, from Darlington to Stockton, is not yet confirmed. S&DR200 is working with colleagues at Network Rail to resolve technical and timetable challenges. We hope to be able to confirm the full plan in the coming weeks.
STEAM
Enhancing the Anniversary Journey, Southpaw Dance Company will present STEAM at Shildon Hackworth Park and Stockton High Street. STEAM explores the remarkable ingenuity and determination of figures such as George Stephenson, the "Father of Railways", and Edward Pease, the daring investor who envisioned a new era of commerce and connectivity. Through a blend of contemporary dance, compelling narrative, and striking visual elements, the production captures the essence of an era where steam power began to shrink the world. Further activity is planned, including brass band performances.
Performance times:
· Saturday 27 September, 12:30 and 13:00, Shildon, Hackworth Park
· Sunday 28 September, 14:00 and 16:00, Stockton High Street
HOW TO BOOK TICKETS FOR THE ANNIVERSARY JOURNEY
There are multiple official viewing points along the 26-mile route over the 3 days for visitors to see Locomotion No. 1. To ensure a great visitor experience for everyone, access to two designated viewing locations will require tickets. These locations are Locomotion on Friday and Hopetown on Saturday.
In Stockton-on-Tees, the official public viewing locations are expected to include Rochester Road, Roseworth and Stillington, but planning for this part of the journey has not yet been finalised. No tickets are required for these areas as the viewing points are large enough to welcome a significant number of visitors.
Tickets for Locomotion and Hopetown viewing can be booked here.
ANNIVERSARY WEEK PROGRAMME
This series of celebratory journeys is bookended by a whole week of activities across County Durham and Tees Valley at Preston Park Museum, Hopetown, Locomotion, The Story, The Bowes Museum, among other locations.
Darlington Town Centre
Ghost Train: The Departure
20 September 2025
Created and Produced by Avanti Display Ltd and Walk The Plank
Ghost Train is a two-part outdoor performance taking place in Stockton and Darlington. The procession will begin in Darlington Market Square, where a replica of Locomotion No. 1 will be installed on a large plinth, its cogs and wheels moving as they did 200 years ago. The locomotive will lead six large-scale structures, each mounted on a customised Nissan Micra, through the town. Performers travelling with the convoy will bring each moving structure to life using sound, music and mechanical inventions, marking a journey that highlights some of the world's most significant innovations as it travels to Hopetown.
Locomotion, Shildon
Rail Futures: A look at the future of rail in the UK
20 September - 1 October 2025
A chance to visit Inspiration - Railway 200's unique exhibition train. An iconic travelling visitor attraction that showcases 200 years of railway innovation - past, present, and future - combining with hands-on fun learning and career-focused activities across three immersive and eye-catching carriages, curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum.
For more information: https://railway200.co.uk/inspiration/
Stockton & Darlington Railway Anniversary Celebrations
26-28 September 2025
Locomotion will be hosting a whole weekend of celebrations and free family activities, including waving off the replica Locomotion No.1 on the first stage of its historic anniversary journey with music and street entertainment. Throughout the weekend, there will also be a host of free family craft activities, train rides and of course, the chance to view the original Locomotion No. 1.
· Next Generation Loco line up - Explore the future innovations in passenger and freight rail with a line up including the Class 93 Tri-mode locomotive, the sustainable Revolution VLR and the UK's first digital iwagon.
Hackworth Park, Shildon
Anniversary picnic
Saturday 27 September 2025.
Performances of STEAM, the newly commissioned piece by Southpaw Company, will be the highlight of an afternoon of live music and entertainment. There will also be fantastic performances from The Auckland Shanty Singers, Easington Brass Band, Sam Slatcher, and the Railway Institute Singers, as well as entertainment from The Bubble Whisperer and Sense-O-Matic. There will also be drop-in craft activities, vintage funfair rides and side-stalls.
Entry is free and no tickets are required. Hackworth Park is just a short walk from Locomotion, so rail enthusiasts are welcome to enjoy all that is to offer there before heading to the park for an afternoon of railway-themed fun.
Stockton Riverside
Ghost Train: The Arrival
28 September 2025
An epic outdoor performance that features a reimagining of Locomotion No. 1, accompanied by six illuminated carriages. The after-dark show includes a specially composed musical score, live music, projection, and a 75-strong cast of national and local performers. It tells the human story behind the birth of the passenger railway and explores the impact it had on the region. The performance will combine storytelling, music, and physical theatre with fire, water and pyrotechnic effects.
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY THIS WEEK
Raby Castle
Coal, Canals and Carriages: The Story of Raby and the Railways
1 June - 30 November 2025
The Mining Art Gallery, Bishop Auckland
Fuelling the Railway Revolution
27 June - 21 December 2025
Preston Park Museum, Stockton-on-Tees
S&DR200 presents: Tracks of Change
Autumn 2025
Following a major redevelopment, Preston Park Museum will open its new exhibition space with Tracks of Change, a series of exhibitions exploring the impact and legacy of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. The transformation of Preston Park is being funded after Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council secured £20 million of funding for work in Yarm and Eaglescliffe from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
· Corridors by Rebecca Louise Law- A stunning new installation by internationally acclaimed artist Rebecca Louise Law. (Opens Saturday, 13 September)
· Memory of a Journey - Throughout 2025, community groups, school pupils, and care home residents across Tees Valley and County Durham have been involved in a mass participation art project decorating peg dolls, representing their favourite train journey. Thousands of the designs will be showcased in this unique exhibition. (Opens Saturday, 13 September)
· All Aboard- A new interactive exhibition specially created for children. Little engineers will be able to get hands on with wheels to turn, coal to shovel and pistons to pump in a giant replica train. (Opens Saturday, 13 September)
· Gateway to the World- A collection of nationally significant paintings will go on display together for the first time at Preston Park. (Set to open in Autumn 2025)
Hopetown Darlington
Titans of Steam
20 September - 5 October 2025
A line-up of the nimble 78018 BR Standard Class 2 to the freight-hauling 63395 LNER Q6, the line-up is a masterclass in steam power. The elegant 65894 LNER J27 and stalwart 63395 LNER Q6 bring the charm of the North Eastern Railway, while the mighty 60163 Tornado and the legendary 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley steal the spotlight with their speed and majesty. Titans of Steam will also feature the Great Eastern Railway Coffee Pot Steam Locomotive - first time running in steam since 1948.
The Bowes Museum, County Durham
Dressed for Departure: Fashion in the Age of Rail
25 September 2025 - 26 January 2026
Please find the latest S&DR200 programme listings linked here and online: www.sdr200.co.uk
S&DR200 is funded by Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. Other major funders include Arts Council England, Tees Valley Combined Authority, North East Combined Authority, and The National Heritage Lottery Fund. Other sponsors are LNER, Hitachi Amazon UK, Caswell's, and Hampton Hilton.
From 2018 to 2023, the Stockton & Darlington Railway was part of Historic England's Heritage Action Zone programme. The scheme aimed to rejuvenate and restore the historic birthplace of the modern railway system, developing its potential to deliver economic growth, social regeneration and environmental benefits, as well as securing the line's long-term management as a world-class visitor attraction.
QUOTES
S&DR200 Chair of the board and Director of Community Services, Environment and Culture at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Reuben Kench said: "The opening of Stockton & Darlington Railway led to the birth of the modern railways, which went on to change the world. As a board, our ambition is that the S&DR200 Festival continues to help transform the region, and that the 200th anniversary celebrations highlight the remarkable legacy of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. It has been incredible to see the overwhelming support that the local community has shown for S&DR200 and the energy it has generated across the region. We always knew what a remarkable legacy the Stockton & Darlington Railway has, but this year has highlighted that no matter where you're from, whether down the road from Darlington or on the other side of the world in Australia, our rich history continues to draw a crowd. We are grateful for the ongoing support of our three local authorities, Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. We would like to thank all our partners who are helping to make the anniversary celebrations a once-in-a-lifetime experience for people across the region and further afield. We would also like to thank our funding partners to date, in particular Arts Council England, Tees Valley Combined Authority and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, who have recognised that this festival and the ambitions it is setting out for the future are of national and international significance."
Managing Director of International Railway Heritage Consultancy and Chair of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, Steve Davies MBE said: "The railways are central to our lives and hold a special place in our collective memories. We hope that the 200th anniversary celebrations mark the extraordinary achievements of the early Stockton & Darlington Railway pioneers and what their ideas and engineering skill signified for the community and country as a whole."
