Historic engines come together for unique, free exhibition
A unique opportunity to see three historic engines side by side, including the original Locomotion Number 1, is coming to the award-winning Hopetown visitor attraction.
The exhibition, part of the S&DR200 festival, looks at the inspiration of steam travel and the people behind the inventions.
Railway Pioneers – celebrating the railway rockstars of the past is the first of two exciting exhibitions at the Carriage Works, Hopetown, Darlington. The exhibition runs from Friday 4 April until Sunday 22 June,
Pen-y-Darren, designed by Richard Trevithick; Steam Elephant, designed by John Buddle and William Chapman; and the original Locomotion Number 1, designed by George Stephenson, will be on show in the Exhibition Hall, showcasing the advancements of rail technology in the early 19th century as well as the engineering innovation which led to the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR).
Free tickets are available now on the Hopetown website at www.hopetowndarlington.co.uk/RailwayPioneers and should be booked in advance to avoid disappointment.
The exhibition will coincide with a range of free fun family events at Hopetown so families can spend the whole day at the attraction.
Niccy Hallifax, S&DR200 director, said: “Darlington, and particularly Hopetown, play a pivotal role in our fantastic year of celebrations. I am delighted that these three engines, which played such an important part in the story of S&DR, are being brought together in this way. The exhibition offers something for everyone, and I hope the community will come together with rail enthusiasts from across the country to celebrate Darlington’s amazing heritage.”
Railway Pioneers – celebrating the railway rockstars is just the start of the S&DR200 celebrations in Darlington. Following on from Railway Pioneers – celebrating the railway rockstars, Hopetown will be hosting STEAM to the Future between Friday 11 July – Sunday 5 October. This exhibition follows the story of the early railways and looks to the future of rail travel including the use of green technologies. Visitors will enjoy a hands on art installation by Studio Swine inspired by steam as a source of power and be invited to create a train for 22nd century using virtual reality software.
Later in the year, The Whistle Stop, a touring library exhibition, will bring together high quality reproductions of historic artefacts and documents from across the UK to showcase S&DR’s history. In September, we will welcome Ghost Train to the town centre – a free, one day festival featuring performers, live music and a procession of large stage art installations. On 27 September, a newly renovated replica of Locomotive Number 1 and the passenger carriage Experiment will travel along sections of the original S&DR line and will be cheered across Skerne Bridge, the world’s oldest railway bridge still in operation.
There are lots of other events and chances to get involved in S&DR200– visit www.enjoydarlington.co.uk or the S&DR website, www.sdr200.co.uk, to find out more and keep an eye on Hopetown, the council and S&DR’s social media.
Photo of Locomotion Number 1 courtesy of National Railway Museum