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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Alan Dotchin Blog
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250926
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250927
DTSTAMP:20260419T160719
CREATED:20250909T191024Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250927T124708Z
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SUMMARY:Hopetown Darlington - S&DR200 Festival
DESCRIPTION:S&DR200 Festival\n\n\nS&DR200 is a 9-month international festival taking place across County Durham and Tees Valley in 2025\, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR). \nThis 26-mile journey on the S&DR between Shildon and Stockton via Darlington on 27 September 1825 transformed how the world traded\, travelled\, and communicated. \nThe S&DR200 Festival will present a series of free large-scale outdoor spectacles\, events\, exhibitions and new art commissions in the public spaces\, libraries and world-class museums of County Durham and Tees Valley from March to November 2025. \nUseful Links \n\nHopetown Darlington\nS&DR200 Locomotion No1 viewing points times and ticket info\n‘It’s terrific to remind the world it all started here’\nS&DR200: Here’s everything you need to know to have a fun-filled festival!\nS&DR 200 (Team Valley)\nThe Duke of Edinburgh Visits County Durham and Tees Valley as Part of S&DR200 Anniversary Celebrations\nA festival celebrating the birth of the modern railway\, March to November 2025\nOnce in a lifetime” re-enactment of Locomotion No.1’s first journey – plans announced to mark highlight of S&DR200 Festival in Stockton\nAnniversary Journey 1825 to 2025\nMap of all the best places to see Locomotion No1 on its journey\nLocomotion\nRailway 200\nSocial Media\n\nS&dr200\nsdrfestival\nHere we go. The replica of Locomotion No.1 has been taken on a test run at the Locomotion museum in Shildon\, today\, ahead of a weekend of\n\n\nYouTube\n\n\nLocomotion goes Mainline | Stockton & Darlington Bicentenary – Day 1: Shildon – 26/09/25\nS&DR200 Anniversary Journey – Friday
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/hopetown-darlington-sdr200-festival/
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250926
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250928
DTSTAMP:20260419T160719
CREATED:20250831T184307Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250909T190501Z
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SUMMARY:Titans of Steam Gala
DESCRIPTION:TITANS OF STEAM GALA \nLegends of the railway  \nAs part of this year’s S&DR200 celebrations\, Hopetown Darlington will be front and centre of the festival as the home of the modern railway plays host to a free-to-visit thunderous gathering of iconic steam legends. Standing proudly side by side\, each locomotive is a roaring monument to Britain’s engineering might. \nFrom the nimble BR Standard Class 2 78018 to the stalwart NER T2 2238 (Q6 63395)\,the line-up is a masterclass in steam power. The elegant LNER P3 2392 (J27 65894) brings the charm of the North Eastern Railway\, while the mighty – and legendary – A3 Class 60103 (Flying Scotsman)\, A1 Class 60163 (Tornado) and the A4 Class 60007 (Sir Nigel Gresley) steal the spotlight with their speed and majesty. \n\n\n\nTitans\nDates attending\n\n\nFlying Scotsman\n20/09/2025 – 21/09/2025\n\n\nSir Nigel Gresley\n23/09/2025 – 28/09/2025\n\n\nTornado\n20/09/2025 – 05/10/2025\n\n\n\nPlease scroll down to find details of when other locomotives will be visiting us. \nThis is more than a line-up – it’s a living\, breathing pageant of steam where history hisses\, whistles wail\, and the spirit of the rails roars once more. \nExperience a close up view of the elegant LNER P3 / J27 and mighty NER T2 / Q6 within our site alongside the mighty Class 37 D6898. Marvel at Flying Scotsman\, Sir Nigel Gresley and Tornado in light steam from our purpose built viewing area looking across the railway line. \nWe will also be holding separate footplate tours where you can step aboard Flying Scotsman\, Sir Nigel Gresley\, Tornado\, and British Standard Class 2. You’ll also benefit from workshop Tours of Darlington Locomotive Works (home to The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust) to see LNER P2 Class 2007 Prince of Wales under construction\, and the 1861 Shed (home to Darlington Railway Preservation Society and the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group) where you can see NER Class E1 (J72 69023) under restoration. Experience a truly unforgettable heritage day out. \nA number of these locomotives took part in the cavalcade which celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1975 and their appearance at S&DR200 will echo that engineering might seen 50 years ago. \nRound out your visit to Titans of Steam with a visit to the A1 Darlington Locomotive Works and the 1861 Shed – tap the buttons below for more info. The workshop below the gallery is open to the public on the first and third Saturday of each month. Meet in the Viewing Gallery (accessed from with Hopetown Darlington) at 11am or 1pm to join one these free workshop visits. \n\nDelivered by: Darlington Borough Council\, Durham County Council & Stockton Borough Council. \nMajor Funders: Arts Council England\, Tees Valley\, Funded by UK Government  \nWith thanks to:\nThe A1 Steam Locomotive Trust\nDarlington Railway Preservation Society\nNorth Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group\nNational Railway Museum/Science Museum Group/Locomotion\nSir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust \n\nThe line up may be subject to change due to operational and volunteer availability reasons.
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/titans-of-steam-gala/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250926T113000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250926T130000
DTSTAMP:20260419T160719
CREATED:20250909T190354Z
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SUMMARY:Titans of Steam: Footplate Tours
DESCRIPTION:A truly unique opportunity for an intimate encounter with some of the most iconic locomotives* in the UK today. \nVisits begin in the Viewing Gallery at Darlington Locomotive Works\, accessed from within the Hopetown Darlington site. \nYou will travel the short journey to The 1861 Shed by bus and will be met by a guide to complete a footplate tour BR Standard Class 2 78018 (and other locomotives if available). \nYou will then be taken back to Darlington Locomotive Works to take part in a footplate tour of A3 Class 60103 (Flying Scotsman)\,A1 Class 60163 (Tornado) and the A4 Class 60007 (Sir Nigel Gresley). \nThese three titans will be here on the following dates:\nFlying Scotsman: 20/09/2025 – 21/09/2025\nSir Nigel Gresley: 23/09/2025 – 28/09/2025\nTornado: 20/09/2025 – 05/10/2025 \nYou will then head back onto the Hopetown Darlington site to view the remaining locomotives\, including the NER Class T2 63395 / LNER Q6\, the NER Class E1 69023 / LNER J72 and mighty Class 37 D6898 (plus more!) \nPlease allow 90-120 minutes for the tour\, and ensure you arrive at Hopetown in plenty of time to cross the site ready for your Footplate Tour experience. \nPlease note that these tours involve lots of walking\, climbs into and out of a mini bus\, and steep\, physical climbs up to the locomotive footplates (driver’s cabs) and back down again. \nDelivered by: Darlington Borough Council\, Durham County Council & Stockton Borough Council. \nMajor Funders: Arts Council England\, Tees Valley\, Funded by UK Government \nWith thanks to:\nThe A1 Steam Locomotive Trust\nDarlington Railway Preservation Society\nNorth Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group\nNational Railway Museum/Science Museum Group/Locomotion\nSir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust \nThe line up may be subject to change due to operational and volunteer availability reasons.
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/titans-of-steam-footplate-tours/
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