Weardale Railway to feature on BBC’s 200 Years of the Railways
- kelseygarbutt
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Weardale Railway is set to appear in Michael Portillo’s new BBC2 series 200 Years of the Railways, airing on Tuesday 16 September 2025 at 8pm, and available afterwards on BBC iPlayer.
The programme will shine a spotlight on the heritage line’s role in the landmark S&DR200 celebrations, marking 200 years since the world’s first passenger railway, the Stockton & Darlington Railway.
Earlier this year, a replica of Locomotion No.1 arrived at Weardale Railway, where staff and volunteers worked closely with the Locomotion team on testing and trials ahead of the bicentenary run.
Claire Gibbons, General Manager at Weardale Railway, said: “It’s a real honour for Weardale Railway to be part of the BBC’s celebration of 200 years of the railways. Our staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to support the bicentenary and to see the line feature on a national platform is a huge boost. This anniversary is about honouring the past, but also about inspiring future generations to discover the magic of the railways.”
Niccy Hallifax, S&DR Bicentenary Festival Director, said: “The Stockton & Darlington Railway changed the world, and the bicentenary is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share that story.
“Weardale Railway has been a fantastic partner in bringing the celebrations to life, from planting trees and bulbs to welcoming the replica Locomotion No.1. It’s wonderful to see their efforts recognised on BBC2.”
Saved from administration in 2020 by regeneration charity The Auckland Project, Weardale Railway has since undergone major investment in its infrastructure and services to secure its future at the heart of County Durham’s visitor offer, with new experiences afternoon tea trains, gin and cheese trains and the popular Santa Express which is returning this Christmas with passengers invited to enjoy a festive train ride including a complimentary hot chocolate and cookie, and little ones will meet Santa and receive a small gift.
The feature comes as part of Weardale Railway’s wider participation in the celebrations, which has seen 200 bulbs planted at every station and 200 native trees and shrubs introduced along the route. Also in May, a 50-strong volunteer team cleared 200 bags of litter along the scenic 18-mile line.
The bicentenary is also being marked through the arts. The Mining Art Gallery in Bishop Auckland is currently hosting Fuelling the Railway Revolution, an exhibition exploring how the coal industry powered both the railways and the Industrial Revolution, featuring works by artists including Tom McGuinness and Norman Cornis - Cornish once wrote: “The railways, which are fast disappearing, are such a compelling source of pictorial art in terms of human history or any other terms for that matter.”
The Weardale Railway is part of The Auckland Project, a regeneration charity transforming Bishop Auckland into a leading visitor destination through its unique collection of heritage attractions, galleries, and gardens.
Visitors can explore Auckland Palace, the Spanish Gallery, the Mining Art Gallery and the Faith Museum, along with its extensive gardens and Deer Park.
Find out more here: https://aucklandproject.org/bishops-key/ and https://www.weardale-railway.org.uk/
