Hopetown Darlington

Located on the 1825 route of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (the world's first steam-worked public railway), Hopetown Darlington is devoted to the area formerly served by the North Eastern Railway, with particular reference to the S&DR, and the railway industry of Darlington. Exhibits include Stephenson's 'Locomotion No. 1', built for the opening of the S&DR, and 'Derwent', the earliest surviving Darlington built locomotive, on loan from The National Railway Museum Collection. A range of smaller items including station and lineside signs, uniforms, furniture, tableware and paintings, complements the larger exhibits. A dedicated research centre, The Ken Hoole Study Centre, has an extensive collection of documentary material, photographs, plans, books and periodicals. We also look after Piercebridge Roman Fort.