Heritage Weekends

Welcome to the all-new Heritage Open weekends at Hopetown Darlington. On the first full weekend of every month the doors to Darlington Locomotive Works and the 1861 Shed are opened for you to engage with Darlington’s pioneering and ongoing railway engineering. They’re free to visit and each month will engage with a different railway-related theme. Enjoy interactive demonstrations, practical activities, engineering talks, and hands-on experiences as you explore the workshops, chat with friendly volunteers, and stop by the merchandise stand for souvenirs to take home.

See locomotives under restoration, speak with dedicated volunteers and witness the ongoing construction of the UK's newest locomotive. Future weekends will see talks and lectures by visiting professionals and more 'hands on' experiences, including painting and using tools.

The theme for February is Homegrown Heritage.

Discover the proud history of Darlington's locomotive building past. Find out where the locomotives across our site were built, how and why they were built, and learn about the ongoing efforts to preserve them. View the UK's newest locomotive under construction and find out all about Tornado which was built right here in Darlington and launched in 2008.

February's workshop will have three distinct experiences for all to enjoy:

• Pit Walks - Join Terry and Richie as you take a journey into a railway pit. Booking information coming soon.
• Ring Locomotion No.1's bell - Head to the 1861 Shed and take a turn ringing the bell. How loud can you go?
• Join Charles or Terry at 11am or 1pm for the TEL (technology, engineering and locomotives) Talks - an engaging, family-friendly tour about Homegrown Heritage. 

These experiences are also free of charge, however, donations are most welcome to help us bring more experiences to you.

Finally, this weekend will also see the launch of the A1 Trust's fundraising campaign for a new crane. The crane is needed to help lift locomotive boilers and heavy railway equipment. Find out more on your visit!

The weekends are broken down into two distinct days:

Saturday: Family Fun Day

Saturdays are the family fun days. Bring the whole family for a lively day of railway-themed adventures. Alongside the experiences listed above, an exciting trail guides young explorers to uncover items and discover the history of locomotives and engineering practices.

Sunday: Railway Heritage Day

Sunday offers a deeper dive for those with a passion for engineering, locomotive history, and heritage railway preservation. The experiences listed above are still on offer, and make sure to pick up information leaflets and learn more about how to get involved with the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, Darlington Railway Preservation Society and North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group through volunteer and covenant signup opportunities.

Heritage Weekends are brought to you by Hopetown Darlington, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust / The P2 Class Locomotive Company, Darlington Railway Preservation Society, North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group and the S&DR26 Miles Team.

Please note

• Entry to the Locomotive Works and 1861 Shed is from within Hopetown Darlington’s grounds. Head to the Goods Shed to begin your journey.
• Your Heritage Weekend ticket is valid all day, so you can arrive and leave at any time during the day. If you wish to visit both the Saturday and the Sunday, you will need a separate – free – ticket for each day.

Have a marvellous time!