To partake in the entire three day weekend programme, I had to leave home for Darlington after work on Thur 20 Nov. This involved cycling to Long Buckby for the 16.22 to Rugby, where I alighted to leave my bike in the more secure cycle storage there. Normally, I leave it at Long Buckby but, as this was for three nights, Rugby made more sense. There would also be a rail replacement bus between Rugby and Northampton on the Sunday. Bikes are not permitted on these, so I would be able to cycle home directly from Rugby instead.

Catching the next Birmingham service half an hour later, this connected with the 18.03 CrossCountry train to Edinburgh. It was reported late and departed 26 mins down. Being out of path, we lost another 14 mins by York, reaching Darlington at 21.40. Accommodation here was cheaper in the slightly out of town Premier Inn at Morton Park (about a 35 min walk from the station) than in the town centre.

Friday began with a lie-in compared to normal, then walking to town via a Greggs for breakfast. Familiar faces, including our esteemed Fixtures Secretary, were evident at Darlington station as I queued for an Off-Peak Day Return to Bishop Auckland. We boarded 156490; three members joined at North Road.

On arrival, 40 of us walked along the direct footpath (opened in 2023) to Bishop Auckland West, terminus of the Weardale Railway where their DMU (50980 / 52054) was waiting. Already, a member from North Wales was on board having bagged one of the prized front seats behind the driver, who had the blinds up (thankfully!). With everyone present, we set off. For me this was one of the reasons for coming today, as I had only ever accessed the Weardale Railway via the mainline connection, or a bus to Wolsingham (the latter in 2017, when they were only running from Stanhope to Witton-le-Wear due to a landslip).

Thus, I required the platform road and station! In bright sunshine, we had a lovely trundle to Stanhope, end of line, running via Scotch Isle Loop (the full length was new for most on the train). We noted the new Kingfisher Halt, OP 28 May 2022. Another station to do! Running initially into the normal platform at Stanhope, there was a half hour break. An on the day Adlam extra was complimentary hot drinks and cake - did our GS have five slices or was it six‽ The weather held out and it was nice and sunny. I had come in full cold weather gear (having seen a negative forecast) so, while it wasn't exactly warm, I was still feeling a bit overdressed! We ran to the current end of operations; the end of platform Stop Board.









Talking to our Editor, it was his fourth Weardale Railway trip in 2025, all with different motive power. On 31 May, it was the UK Railtours HST tour from Peterborough to Stanhope, in August a full length return trip on a Pacer for his middle son then from Carnforth to Stanhope on Sat 27 Sep (for the Stockton & Darlington Railway 200th anniversary) with steam from York and today with a first generation DMU.

Reversing out, we then nosed onto the non-preferred platform at Stanhope but not all the way, as this was blocked by a Sentinel Shunter and Mk 3 coach. Our well-presented green 2-car DMU then returned to Bishop Auckland West (running Main Line at Scotch Isle). This lovely scenic 16 mile rural line (part original Stockton & Darlington Railway) was enhanced by the sunshine. We were told to stay on while arrangements were made for us to proceed beyond the platform into the end of line headshunt and back. Afterwards, we posed for a group photo with the Weardale team, who had looked after us well.












There was time to look around the mainline booking office at Bishop Auckland staffed by a franchise, Bishop Trains. It is not unusual to be served by a teenager (under supervision), on work experience from a local school. The same unit as earlier on the 13.27 to Saltburn took our group to Shildon for a walk to 'Locomotion', effectively an annexe to the National Railway Museum. We had an hour to patronise the café and look around, including the large £8M 'New Hall' building, which focuses on freight vehicles and locos. This was, of course, the epicentre of the main Railway 200 celebrations only two months earlier.









158861 was the next Saltburn service, which we took to North Road. Here we were met by a guide at the newly refurbished Hopetown Museum for a conducted tour. The budget was £37M and a good job was done. After noting Class 37 D6898, the last loco built by Robert Stephenson & Co, Darlington in 1964, plinthed outside, we made our way to the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust Works. Members had a behind the scenes tour here, only offered to the public on selected dates. 60163 'Tornado' was present in between its railtour and heritage railway commitments. However, everyone was there to see the new build P2 Class 2-8-0 'Prince of Wales'. There has been quite good progress recently, with the wheelsets mostly complete and married up with the frame and boiler. All seems to be on track for a 2028 debut.












In the 1861 shed, we found further locomotives stored and to tick off on the stock sheet. By now it was dark and we were early on our schedule, so we made the 16.49 train from North Road to Darlington, rather than the 17.49. I had agreed to accompany Andy Bullimore and Trevor Scott to Middlesbrough for dinner in Wetherspoons. I had hoped to buy an extra Day Return ticket from the Northern ticket machine here but it was out of order! The conductor sold me one, seemingly unaware of the OOU machine. There was a plan, apart from having a decent hot dinner. I had spotted on Realtime Trains that a required Class 156 for travel, 156447 would be working the 19.57 from Saltburn. Perfect for after our meal! After an action packed day, I ended up back in Darlington around 20.50, walked back to Morton Park, looking forward to the next day at AV Dawson, the lunchtime talk, AGM and evening presentation.