Heritage Weekends

Engage with Darlington’s pioneering and ongoing railway engineering

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.

Next month's theme: Restoring the Replica

Step inside the 1861 Shed this May and get hands‑on with history in the making.

After stealing the show during S&DR200, our 1975‑built replica is back in the shed for some well‑earned TLC. This is your chance to see what it really takes to keep a legendary locomotive in working order... up close, noisy, and fascinating.

For a limited time, the replica will be opened up for restoration, lifting the lid on the craftsmanship, care and clever engineering behind its future journeys. From freshly revealed components to behind‑the‑scenes stories, it’s locomotive restoration like you may never have seen before.

Make sure to pop into the Merch Shed in Darlington Locomotive Works to browse exclusive items, gifts, and railway‑themed treasures.

More activities are being planned and we'll be able to reveal these soon, stay tuned.

Perfect For families, enthusiasts, students, and anyone who’s ever looked at a locomotive and wondered, “How does that work?”

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

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!

This event includes site admission. You do not need to add a seperate site admission ticket.