All Aboard for S&DR200

2025 is shaping up to be a BIG year for railway enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone who loves a good spectacle!

The Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) - the railway that kick-started the modern rail revolution, is celebrating its 200th anniversary with an epic, nine-month-long international festival across Durham and the Tees Valley (March – November 2025). Trust us, you won’t want to miss it!

Kick-Off with a Show Like No Other

The S&DR200 festival launches on Saturday 29 March 2025 with All Change, a breathtaking open-air performance in Bishop Auckland at the home of Kynren. Picture this: dazzling projections, 400 drones lighting up the night sky, and 100 live performers from the local community bringing railway history to life in an unmissable 25-minute show.

Created by award-winning performance company imitating the dog and featuring SKYMAGIC’s legendary drone displays (the same team behind the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and London’s New Year’s celebrations), it’s set to be a night of pure magic.

Tickets are limited, so don’t delay book your tickets today!

Festival Highlights – Something for Everyone!

From March to November, the S&DR200 festival is pulling out all the stops. Whether you’re into locomotives, art, history, or just want a great day out, there’s something for you. 

All dates are subject to change, please check directly with venues before visiting. 

Railway Firsts at Locomotion, Shildon - 15 February - 31 December 2025
An exhibition highlighting trains, objects and innovations, both famous and unexpected, that have shaped the railways. The exhibition will spotlight the pivotal innovations and unexpected ‘firsts’ that shaped the railways and our history, presented through a series of eye-catching pop-up displays, as visitors journey through the museum.

Unveiling of Robert Stephenson statue – March date TBC
The iconic statue of Robert Stephenson, previously sited at London Euston station, will be unveiled at Locomotion thanks to Network Rail. Father and son team George and Robert Stephenson built Locomotion No. 1, the famous steam locomotive for use on the Stockton & Darlington Railway.

The Whistle Stop - 25 March - 25 November 2025
This bespoke library exhibition will start in Stockton-on-Tees and tour libraries across the region. The Stockton and Darlington Railway’s history will be showcased using high-quality reproductions of important artefacts and documents found and brought together from archives across the UK.

Railway Pioneers at Hopetown Darlington - 4 April – 22 June 2025
An exhibition looking at the engineering innovation that inspired Stephenson, the father of the railways, leading to the opening of Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825. The exhibition looks at the inspiration of those involved, how it developed and what inspired them. 

Three iconic locomotives will be on display:
● Pen-y-Darren, designed by Richard Trevithick, 1804
● Steam Elephant, designed by John Buddle and William Chapman, 1815
● Locomotion No. 1, designed and driven by George Stephenson on the first S&DR journey, 1825

All Change! at The Story, Durham, 25 May 2025 - 26 January 2026
This exhibition explores the social impact of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in the 200 years after 1825. An exhibition of letters, diaries, court papers, and other day-to-day records, highlighting the impact of the Stockton & Darlington Railway on the socio-economic fabric of the region and the daily lives of the people who lived there.

Celebrating our railway heritage at Locomotion, Shildon, 24 May - 1 June 2025
A week-long celebration of the history of railways featuring a line-up of steam locomotives that were built or worked in the North East, as well as family activities and steam train rides.

The S&DR Discovery Trail – Opening June 2025.
Follow the original 26-mile route of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, from Witton Park to Stockton, on a new walking and cycling trail packed with history!

● Discover key heritage sites, including Heighington Station (world’s first train platform) & Skerne Bridge (oldest railway bridge in continuous use).
● Spot stunning murals and artwork by local & international artists, celebrating 200 years of railway history.
● Play an interactive treasure hunt game (voiced by Steph McGovern), featuring augmented reality, live podcasts & locomotive-building challenges.

Fuelling the Railway Revolution at the Mining Art Gallery, Bishop Auckland, 27 June - December
This special exhibition explores the inextricable link between coal mining and the railways. Coal fuelled iron, iron made rails, rails moved coal - the great engineering cycle at the heart of the Industrial Revolution.

Uncover the story through the work of artists who witnessed this social and technological transformation, including Thomas H. Hair, and those who have been inspired by it since.

Young Railway Photographer of the Year exhibition at Locomotion, Shildon, June - December
Organised by the National Railway Museum and The Railway Photographic Society, the exhibition will feature the winning entries from a competition to find the UK’s most promising young railway photographers.

STEAM to the future at Hopetown Darlington, 11 July – 5 October
An exhibition reflecting on the history of steam railways and how the rail industry is gearing up for a second revolution driven by the growing green technologies sector in Teesside. It will feature an immersive installation by Studio Swine, inspired by steam as a source of power, and the chance to create a train for the 22nd century using virtual reality software. 

Summer Festival at Locomotion, Shildon, 19 July- 31 August
Head down to Locomotion for a summer of fun. There will be opportunities to play on the pop-up beach, enjoy a passenger ride on the steam train and take part in a varied programme of daily activities.

Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Summer – November, dates TBC
Raby Castle will celebrate the year with stories associated with 19th-century inventions, including the reactions of landowners and farmers to trains, as well as how travel evolved into a privilege for the upper classes from their collections.

S&DR200 Fringe, various locations, August - November 2025
S&DR200 Fringe Festival will give communities and art organisations the chance to celebrate this special year in their own unique way. The Fringe includes a series of walks by the Friends of Stockton & Darlington Railway, events along the newly opened S&DR Discovery Trail, and other exciting events at towns across the region as part of the Fringe Calendar.

Tracks of Change at Preston Park Museum, Stockton-on-Tees, Summer and Autumn, dates TBC
Following a major redevelopment, Preston Park is unveiling its brand-new exhibition space with Tracks of Change, a series of exhibitions exploring the legacy of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.

● Corridors by Rebecca Louise Law – A breathtaking installation of suspended, locally grown flowers, celebrating how railways connect habitats across the countryside. 
● All Aboard! – A hands-on, interactive experience designed for little engineers! Kids can turn wheels, shovel coal & pump pistons in a giant replica train, discovering the magic of railways through play.

Ghost Train at Darlington town centre 20 September and Stockton Riverside 28 September
The Ghost Train is a two part outdoor performance featuring performers, live music and a procession of large-scale art installations representing some of the world’s most important inventions.

S&DR Anniversary Journey 1825-2025, various locations, 26, 27 and 28 September
A newly renovated replica of Locomotion No. 1 and the passenger carriage 'Experiment' will travel along sections of the original S&DR line, cheered on by spectators along the route.
Spectators will be able to see the train at designated locations and enjoy an accompanying programme of very special commissioned events and happenings organised along the route for all to enjoy.

Dressed for Departure: Fashion in the Age of Rail at The Bowes Museum, 25 September - 26 January 2026
An exhibition showcasing historic fashion, toys and artworks that reflect on how the railway reshaped lives and culture. Highlights include the world’s first toy train set owned by ‘Father of the Railway’ Edward Pease, garments worn at key moments in the region’s railway history and artworks that capture its journey through the picturesque landscapes of Teesdale.

Rail Futures at Locomotion, Shildon, 18 September - 1 October
A mobile exhibition train that looks at the railway and freight industry, showcasing how rail transport can help address future challenges posed by climate change, while also highlighting the job opportunities within the sector. Vehicles representing the next generation of rail travel in the UK will also be on display.

WOW North East (Women of the World) International Festival at Gala Durham, 17 - 18 October
The first ever Women of the World Festival in the North East of England will be packed with unmissable talks, commissions and performances, celebrating achievements and stories from women, girls, and non-binary people. 

Find out more about all the events happening this year at the S&DR200 International Festival on our dedicated page >