Inspiration to Visit the Weardale Railway

We are delighted to announce the Weardale Railway will be hosting Inspiration. This is a free, interactive exhibition train, which is touring Britain as part of Railway 200 - the national celebration marking 200 years since the birth of the modern railway.

Inspiration is a year-long, 60-stop tour of Britain and will be on display at Stanhope Station for a week in June from Tuesday 8th June until Sunday 14th June. To date over 90,000 visitors from across the country have enjoyed Inspiration's interactive exhibits and fascinating stories.

Co-curated with the National Railway Museum, the exhibition train brings the story of the railways - past, present and future - to life through immersive displays, personal stories and hands-on experiences. It uses rare artefacts and fascinating facts to explorer how railways transformed the world. It includes hands-on engineering challenges and a whistle-stop tour of interesting, and lesser-known, careers on the railways. Visitors have described it as "unique", "extremely interesting" and "really well curated".

Claire Gibbons, the general manager at the Weardale Railway, said "We're delighted to welcome the Inspiration train to the Weardale Railway for what will be one of its final stops.

"As a railway rooted in our community and ongoing development - whether that be volunteering opportunities, career progression or training - this is a fantastic opportunity to connect people of all ages with the story of rail in a fun and interactive way, and to inspire future generations across Weardale and beyond."

Thousands have already visited the Inspiration train at during stops at local railway sites including Darlington, Shildon and Newton Aycliffe during Hitachi Rail's open day.

Emma Roberts, the Programme Manager for Railway 200, said "Railways are one of history's most important inventions and inside this train you can explore the story of rail in a fun and family-friendly environment.

"Inspiration has already travelled thousands of miles across Britain – from Scotland to Southampton – and we are hugely excited to welcome locals aboard on the Weardale Railway."

Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy said: "I'm proud to be celebrating our heritage as the birthplace of the modern railway; to this day our railway network is the backbone of our economy, driving economic growth, jobs and homes.

"With this train, we're not just looking to the past, we are inspiring the diverse next generation of engineers, drivers, conductors and technicians, and shining a light on what the railway is delivering today."

Railway 200 celebrates two centuries since the world's first steam-powered, fare-paying passenger journey on a public railway - a moment that changed the world forever. Nationwide celebrations took place throughout 2025, showcasing how the railway shaped Britain and the world and how its pioneering pedigree continues today and is shaping tomorrow. The Railway 200 exhibition train Inspiration tours until June 2026. It was supported by a £250,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and rolling stock company Porterbrook funded its eye-catching livery.

For more information and to book your tickets please click here. Tickets are free, however they must be booked in advance as there is limited availability.