The S&DR Bicentenary Celebrations
Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future
The Stockton & Darlington Bicentenary is dedicated to safeguarding the legacy of the iconic railway history of the North East and Cumbria regions. Through engaging events and educational initiatives, we aim to inspire a deep appreciation for our heritage.
What's On
.
- Mon – Sun
- Closed
Steam Gala
Come join us at Kirkby Stephen when we host a collection of visiting steam locomotives and historic rolling stock
Photographic
Exhibition
Learn about the captivating history of the S&DR in Cumbria
Other Events
There are a plethora of other things to see and do around the town throughout the anniversary weekend.
Steam Gala
23rd - 25th August 2025
Join us for a landmark celebration marking 200 years of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world’s first passenger railway. This extraordinary event will bring railway history to life with multiple visiting steam locomotives, offering regular rides throughout the gala. Explore an impressive display of historic rolling stock, featuring pieces linked to the Stockton and Darlington Railway and Kirkby Stephen East, showcasing the legacy of this revolutionary era.
In this section, you'll find information on visiting locomotives and vehicles, our event programme, other activities around the town, and useful travel details to help you plan your visit.
Visiting Rolling Stock
We are delighted to announce that the following locomotives and vehicles will be visiting Kirkby Stephen East for the gala.
"Old Gentleman's Saloon"
We are delighted to announce the first visiting vehicle for our Gala will be the "Old Gentleman's Saloon". It is believed this is the last operable vehicle built by the Stockton & Darlington Railway, specifically for the Stainmore route. We are most grateful to the owner, Chris Lawson, and the K&WVR for making the vehicle available to us.
NER Class P3 No. 2392
The NER Class P3 locomotives were designed by Wilson Worsdell to haul mineral / freight traffic. Construction began in 1906 and continued in batches. No. 2392 was the very last member of the class to be built and emerged from Darlington Works in 1923 with a number of modifications from the original design which had been updated by Sir Vincent Raven.
Reclassification and renumbering schemes saw the locomotive variously designated as LNER P3 2392, LNER J27 2392, LNER J27 5894 and finally, under British Railways (BR), J27 65894.
The loco spent much of its BR career based at York, was fitted with a saturated boiler in 1963 and her final depot allocation was to Sunderland South Dock in 1966. In September the following year, 65894 worked the last steam turn from the depot and, following withdrawal, was dispatched to Tyne Dock for disposal.
Fortunately, the loco was saved by the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group (NELPG) – being purchased for £1,400 on the 1st January 1968. Overhauled and fitted with equipment to enable the operation of passenger trains, 65894 is now based on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. She has been a regular visitor to other Heritage railways in England, Scotland & Wales. We are most grateful to our colleagues in the NELPG for making her available to visit KSE for our Gala.
British Railways Standard Class 2 No. 78018
British Railways Standard Class 2 No. 78018 was constructed at North Road Locomotive Works in Darlington. It was initially allocated to West Auckland shed on March 3rd 1954 but, a month later, it was transferred to Kirkby Stephen East (KSE) and, for the next 6 years, it worked trains over the Stainmore route.
In February 1955, it became stuck in a snowdrift at Bleath Gill, just the Kirkby side of the summit, whilst working a freight train to West Auckland. Four days later, it was rescued by sister Class 2 No. 78019 and two North Eastern Railway snowploughs, one of which, No. 18, is on display this weekend. The episode was recorded for posterity in the famous British Transport Film documentary ‘Snowdrift at Bleath Gill’ which can be viewed on ‘YouTube’ here.
78018 subsequently moved on to Chester in April 1960 and was ultimately withdrawn from traffic at Shrewsbury on the 12th November 1966.
Sold for scrap to Woodham Brothers at Barry Island in South Wales, 78018 arrived there in June 1967. Happily, rescue came in October 1978 when the locomotive was moved to what is now the Battlefield Line in Leicestershire.
However, little work was undertaken at Shackerstone and, in July 1981, 78018 returned home to the North-East following purchase by the Darlington Railway Preservation Society (DRPS).
A considerable amount of restoration work was undertaken at Darlington and, in 2012, custodianship was transferred to the Loughborough Standard Locomotive Group (LSLG) on the Great Central Railway whilst the DRPS retained ownership.
78018 returned to steam in August 2016 and will shortly be withdrawn for overhaul when her boiler certificate expires.
We are most grateful to the LSLG and the DRPS for making No. 78018 available to us and it is an absolute pleasure to see her back on a section of her old ‘stomping ground’ this weekend.
Event Programme
Saturday 23rd August
9:30 – The first FREE vintage shuttle bus departs from the Auction Mart to Bus Stop A at Kirkby Stephen East (KSE), and the station opens to the public.
10:00 – Kirkby Stephen Silver Band will play for visitors.
10:30 – Mike Thompson, Project Manager of the Stainmore Railway Company, will welcome visitors and formally open the event. A two-train passenger service will then begin, operating from alternate platforms until 16:15. The new footpath and recreated S&DR signal box will also be open for visitors.
11:00 – Bus excursions to Smardale depart from Bus Stop B in the station yard at 11:00, 12:00, and 13:15, visiting Smardalegill Viaduct and the Cumbria Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve. Return buses from Smardale to KSE run at 12:15, 13:30, and 14:30 (approx. 15-minute journey).
11:30 – Bus excursions to Hartley depart from Bus Stop B in the station yard at 11:30, 12:30, and 13:45 for the Northern Viaduct Trust walk to Merrygill and Podgill viaducts. Return buses from Hartley to KSE run at 12:45, 14:00, and 15:00. This is a 2.2-mile disabled-friendly walking route back to KSE, with information points along the way. Visitors can also make this walk independently along the trackbed. A guided walk will depart at 12:45 from Bus Stop B and connect with the 14:00 return bus from Hartley.
16:15 – Last train departs.
16:45 – Last bus departs.
17:00 – KSE closes for the day.
Sunday 24th August
9:30 – First shuttle bus departs from the Auction Mart to Bus Stop A at Kirkby Stephen East (KSE), and the station opens to the public.
10:30 – A two-train passenger service begins, operating from alternate platforms until 16:15. The new footpath and recreated S&DR signal box will be open for visitors.
11:00 – Bus excursions to Smardale depart from Bus Stop B in the station yard at 11:00, 12:00, and 13:15, visiting Smardalegill Viaduct and the Cumbria Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve. Return buses from Smardale to KSE run at 12:15, 13:30, and 14:30 (approx. 15-minute journey).
11:30 – Bus excursions to Hartley depart from Bus Stop B in the station yard at 11:30, 12:30, and 13:45 for the Northern Viaduct Trust walk to Merrygill and Podgill viaducts. Return buses from Hartley to KSE run at 12:45, 14:00, and 15:00. This is a 2.2-mile disabled-friendly route back to KSE, with information points along the way. You may also walk this route independently along the trackbed. A guided walk will depart at 12:45 from Bus Stop B and meet the 14:00 return bus from Hartley to KSE.
16:15 – Last train departs.
16:45 – Last bus departs.
17:00 – KSE closes for the day.
Monday 25th August
9:30 – First shuttle bus departs from the Auction Mart to Bus Stop A at Kirkby Stephen East (KSE), and the station opens to the public.
10:30 – A two-train passenger service begins, operating from alternate platforms until 16:15. The new footpath and recreated S&DR signal box will be open for visitors.
11:00 – Bus excursions to Smardale depart from Bus Stop B in the station yard at 11:00, 12:00, and 13:15, visiting Smardalegill Viaduct and the Cumbria Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve. Return buses from Smardale to KSE run at 12:15, 13:30, and 14:30 (approx. 15-minute journey).
11:30 – Bus excursions to Hartley depart from Bus Stop B in the station yard at 11:30, 12:30, and 13:45 for the Northern Viaduct Trust walk to Merrygill and Podgill viaducts. Return buses from Hartley to KSE run at 12:45, 14:00, and 15:00. This is a 2.2-mile disabled-friendly walking route back to KSE, with information points along the way. You may also complete the walk independently along the trackbed. A guided walk will depart at 12:45 from Bus Stop B and connect with the 14:00 return bus from Hartley to KSE.
16:15 – Last train departs.
16:45 – Last bus departs.
17:00 – The event finishes.
Kirkby Stephen East Site Map
Below is a simplified map of our site. Please note that on-site parking is reserved for disabled guests only. We kindly ask all other visitors to use the free vintage bus service, detailed in the 'Getting Here' section below.
Please click here to download the full event program plus useful travel information.
Getting Here
FREE Vintage Bus Service
Two vintage buses will provide a Park & Ride service between 09:30 and 17:00 on all three days of the event. These will be Maroon Single decker 1946 Leyland Tiger ‘Rosie’ & 1959 Bristol Double Decker ‘Harvey’
Please click here to download the Bus Timetable or alternatively save the picture below.
Travelling By Train
It is our intention that the free bus shuttle to / from Kirkby Stephen East will connect with the following Network Rail trains at Kirkby Stephen West Station on the Settle – Carlisle line. To be on the safe side, please view these details as both arrival and departure times.
Modern wheelchair accessible bus available by request (details on Bus Timetable document).
Travelling Photographic Exhibition
April - December throughout 2025
This will be touring the North of England throughout 2025, showcasing a collection of captivating photographs from Stainmore Railway's rich history. The exhibition tells the story of S&DR operations, and that of its successors, on the western side of the Pennines.
Throughout the anniversary weekend the travelling Photographic Exhibition will be on display in the Methodist Church Hall at 14, High Street, Kirkby Stephen, CA17 4SG.
The exhibition is open each day from 10.00 to 16.00 and admission is free.
Current dates (subject to slight changes for logistical reasons):
- Appleby Tourist Information Centre: 19–30 April
- Penrith Library: 6–30 May
- Cockermouth Kirkgate Centre: 2–15 June
- Stockton Library: 18–28 June
- Darlington Library: 14–21 July
- Ravenstonedale High Chapel / Newbiggin Public Hall: 1–10 August
- Tebay Methodist Church / Hall: 11–20 August
- Kirkby Stephen Methodist Hall & ‘The Club’: 21–27 August
- Barnard Castle (The Witham): 14–20 September
- Locomotion Shildon: 6–24 October
- Cumbrian Railways Association Meeting, Penrith: 8 November
- Ex-S&DR Loco Shed, Darlington: 21–27 November
- Richmond Station: 4 December 2025–14 January 2026
Other Events
There are a plethora of other exhibitions and events happening around Kirkby Stephen during our anniversary gala weekend in August. Like everything else on this page details can be downloaded here.
Remote Cinema - Friday 22nd
There will be a showing of the 1970 昀lm ‘The Railway Children’ at The Sports & Social Club, Market Street, Kirkby Stephen, CA17 4QN. This will be preceded by a presentation from owner, Chris Lawson, about the ‘Old Gentleman’s Saloon’, which appeared in the 昀lm and will be operating at KSE throughout the weekend. Doors open at 19.00 and the presentation commences at 19.30. After the presentation, there will be a short interval for the purchase of ice cream and drinks from the Club bar followed by the 昀lm. Admission: Adults £5 / 18 and under £3.
Railwaywomen Across The Northern Pennines - Friday 22nd to Friday 29th
There will be a small display in Kirkby Stephen Parish Church which is open daily from 9.00 to 17.00.
Stitching The Lines - Saturday 24th to Monday 25th
Quilts and other textiles made by Upper Eden needlewomen. The display also includes the Stainmore ‘Railway 200’ panel, specially created to celebrate the bicentenary of the S&DR. The Masonic Hall, North Road, Kirkby Stephen CA17 4RH. Open each day from 10.00 to 16.00 and admission is free.
Once Upon A Railway - Sunday 24th
'Just the Ticket' perform railway stories told in songs, prose and poetry. The Sports & Social Club, Market Street, Kirkby Stephen CA17 4QN. Doors open 18.30 and the show commences 19.00. Drinks will be available to purchase from the Club bar.Tickets are free, but must be booked in advance from the KSE station shop or from Anne Taylor (at41@cam.ac.uk / 017683 71518). Donations and raffle in aid of Hospice at Home and the Locomotive Conservation & Learning Trust.
A Historical Overview of Kirkby Stephen East and The Stockton & Darlington Railway
Delve into the Stockton & Darlington Railway's fascinating, yet often untold, history west of the Pennines.