Ghost Train Spectacle Steams into Darlington and Stockton next month!
Final preparations are under way ahead of S&DR200 Festival's epic outdoor event 'Ghost Train'which will steam through Darlington and Stockton this September. This two-part outdoor performance, created and produced by Avanti Display Ltd and Walk the Plank, is part of the regional celebrations marking 200 years since the world's first passenger railway journey.
The event begins with Ghost Train: The Departurein Darlingtonon Saturday 20 September. A theatrical reimagining of Locomotion No. 1will be installed on a large plinth in Darlington Market Square, its cogs and wheels moving as they did 200 years ago. Across the afternoon six large-scale structures - each mounted on customised Nissan Micras -will bring to life through performance, music, sound and feats of engineering, some of the most significant inventions of the last 200 years. There will be performances across the afternoon in the town centre, and then the parade is at dusk. At 7pm, Locomotion No. 1 will steam to life - fuelled by 'coal of the future' made by 900 primary school children from across Darlington - and lead our carriages on a magical procession to Darlington's flagship attraction Hopetown.
The journey will reach its thrilling conclusion with Ghost Train: TheArrival in Stockton on Sunday 28 September, where an epic outdoor performance will unfold on StocktonRiverside at 7:30pm. Featuring a reimagining of Locomotion No. 1 and six illuminated carriages, the after-dark show includes a specially composed musical score by Sarah Llewellyn, live music, projection, and a community cast of national and local performers, including performance students and local volunteers from across Darlington and Stockton. It tells the human story of this industrial revolution and explores the impact it had on the region. The performance will combine storytelling, music, and physical theatre with fire, and pyrotechnic effects. The event will also bring a weeklong of anniversary events to a close with a spectacular finale.
Over the last year Avanti have been working with the Northern School of Art across four departments with student from all three years. The students have helped create costumes and props for the show, while Graphic Design students have produced colourful banners that will appear throughout Darlington and Stockton. Ten Performing Arts students will also take to the stage in the Stockton performance.
Imaginative model railways designed by students will be showcased in the iconic Binns shop window ahead of the parade.
Niccy Hallifax, S&DR200 Festival Director said
"This is a special moment for the region and Ghost Train is the result of a fantastic collaboration between Darlington and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Councils. With Stockton's reputation for outdoor arts through SIRF and the creative vision of Avanti Display and Walk the Plank, these two unique shows create a celebration that truly honours the anniversary. It's a bold, imaginative tribute to our shared heritage and community, and we can't wait to welcome audiences to experience it"
"The S&DR200 commission was won by Avanti, and we saw it as an opportunity to bring together a team of artists with an incredible connection to the history of outdoor arts in the UK and beyond and connect them with emerging artists and young people from the region. We are delighted to be delivering it with Walk the Plank who bring years of expertise in the creation of accessible large-scale events, and we are looking forward to presenting our ambitious project for the people of Darlington and Stockton" Bill Palmer, Creative Director, Avanti Display
"We're delighted to be partnering with Avanti Display and S&DR200 on this ambitious and exciting commission. It's a fantastic opportunity to mark this significant anniversary with a bold production that brings together engineering, innovation, pyrotechnics, performance and live music. We're equally excited that this project is able to inspire the next generation of creators and inventors. It's a privilege to celebrate the North East's extraordinary history of invention while investing in the ideas and talent that will shape what comes next." John Wassell, Walk the Plank Co-founder and Creative Producer
S&DR200 is being delivered by Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council, and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and the Ghost Train events are part of a wider programme of celebrations during the S&DR200 Anniversary Weekend (26-28 September), including:
· The Anniversary Journey: From the 26 - 28 September a replica of Locomotion No. 1 and the 'Experiment' carriage will travel sections of the original 1825 route.
· STEAM by Southpaw Dance Company: A high-energy dance performance on Stockton High Street at 2pm and 4pm on 28 September.
· 1825 Green: A day of community activities and entertainment in Stockton leading up to the Ghost Train finale.
· Titans of Steam Hopetown Darlington running 20 September - 5 October 2025 A line-up of the nimble 78018 BR Standard Class 2 to the rugged 62005 LNER K1 and the freight-hauling 63395 LNER Q6, the line-up is a masterclass in steam power.
More events listed in notes to editors and for full event details and updates, visit www.sdr200.co.uk.
