North Road Station Museum
Explore the story of Darlington’s pioneering progression of rail transport in the early 19th century in a museum housed in a Grade II* listed Victorian station.
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Join Georgie and Stephen on a vivid journey through passenger rail travel, travelling across continents and through time - from 1825 to the present day and into the future!
From Locomotion No.1's first steam hauled passenger railway journey right here in Darlington to the Japanese bullet train and the Eurostar - see the impact Darlington's pioneering past has had on societies and cultures across time and around the world.
Located on the platform at North Road Station Museum, Experiment! is an extraordinarily vivid immersion into passenger rail travel.
Buckle in for North East England's only railway-themed simulator-style ride, which involves moderate rocking and tilting motions.
Each ride can accommodate nine people. Passengers in groups of ten or more will use multiple ride slots and may share it with people outside their group.
All under-12s must be accompanied by an adult.
The ride is suitable for children aged 3+, but we ask that parents/carers are confident participating children will be able to follow safety instructions. We would also advise that the ride is a multi-sensory experience, which some younger children may find very stimulating.
All passengers must be at least 0.8m (80cm) in height to join the ride.
Unaccompanied under-17s must be at least 1.2m in height.
Filming of the experience is strictly prohibited. Mobile phones are to be turned off and stored in the assigned storage area near the ride.
You are welcome to take photos before entering the pre-show.
You must follow all of the ride operator's instructions at all times.
Anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be refused entry to the ride, and no refunds will be issued.
All loose items, including articles of clothing, bags, mobile phone and sunglasses must be safely stored in the assigned storage area near the ride.
Keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times. Please read the safety information before at the entrance of the pre-show.
The ride is fitted with a bar which must be able to close correctly for the ride to operate. Passengers unable to fit in the seats with the bar closed correctly will not be able to participate.
Any passengers neglecting or disobeying safety instructions will be refused entry or asked to leave the ride, and no refunds will be issued.
If a passenger is unable to use the ride due to a failure to read the terms and conditions, a refund will not be issued.
Experiment! is unsuitable for:
Due to the nature and restrictions of the ride, each timeslot can accommodate one passenger who uses a wheelchair.
The wheelchair user must be able to self-transfer from their chair and onto the ride. Assistance from a designated carer is permitted, however, Hopetown Darlington staff cannot help wheelchair users transfer to the ride. Wheelchairs cannot be accommodated on the ride itself. If there is more than one person in a group who uses a wheelchair, the group will have to split to use multiple timeslots.
If more than one wheelchair-using person is booked onto a timeslot, we may allocate your group a different timeslot. You will be informed of this by phone or at the Welcome Desk, and we will endeavour to give you as close an alternate timeslot as possible.
Explore the story of Darlington’s pioneering progression of rail transport in the early 19th century in a museum housed in a Grade II* listed Victorian station.
Standardisation of time is all down to the expansion of the railways!
Is it a locomotive or is it a train? There's a lot of terminology in the railway world so let us explain the difference between a train and a locomotive.
How we moved star exhibit Derwent from the track to the platform in North Road Station Museum.
Make your child's birthday one to remember by hosting their party in our railway-themed outdoor adventure play park