Darlington Locomotive Works

See live engineering in action!

Cross the bridge from Foundry Green and over the live railway line to visit the high-level viewing gallery in Darlington Locomotive Works, home to The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. From here you can watch staff and volunteers of the Trust build the UK's newest steam locomotive, the P2 class No.2007 Prince of Wales, in the workshop below.

Did you know? When launched, Prince of Wales will be the most powerful steam locomotive on the UK rail network.

Workshop visits

The workshop below the gallery is open to the public on the first and third Saturday of each month. Meet in the Viewing Gallery (accessed from with the Hopetown Darlington site) at 11am or 1pm to join one these free visits to the workshop.

During your visit you can expect:

• to get up close to the P2 Class Prince of Wales (under construction)
• receive updates from The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust on Tornado, Prince of Wales and other projects
• discover what goes into building a steam locomotives, how they are built, where parts come from and how they are designed
• to view historic name plates and railway artefacts
• to catch up with dedicated volunteers and enthusiasts
• receive updates on the laying of the new railway track between DLW, 1861 Shed and the Tees Valley railway line

The 1861 Shed (sometimes known as North Road Locomotive Works) also opens to the public on the same Saturdays and can be combined with a visit to Darlington Locomotive Works.

Tie in a workshop visit with a free visit to S&DR200 presents Railway Pioneers to see the original Locomotion No.1 back in Darlington. 

No need to book, pick up your free site admission on the day.