Friends Of The Stockton & Darlington Railway

Free Guided Walk: Brusselton Incline Walk
2025-06-18 10:30 (Europe/London) | Adelaide Street Shildon, Adelaide Street, Shildon, DL4 1NT, United Kingdom
This walk starts in what was originally the first railway town of New Shildon, which sprang up to support the emerging locomotive works and Inclines. It will take in the remaining structures and features of the former Shildon Works buildings, the incline and the remaining S&DR structures at Brusselton. This walk is dog friendly and will call into tea rooms on route. Some mild gradients and unpaved footpaths.

Free Guided Walk: Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
2025-06-11 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-05-27 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-05-17 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-05-05 10:30 - 12:00 | Darlington Market Place Circular Benches by entrance to St Cuthbert’s Churchyard what3words ///deputy.pies.doing, Church Lane, Darlington, DL1 5QD
Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
Darlington Town Centre to Hopetown Railway Visitor Attraction.
1.5 miles (2.5 km), 1 hour 30 minutes. Mostly on pavements. Maximum group size 12. No dogs (except guide dogs). Easy to Moderate.
We will visit some of the key sites and learn about some of the people behind the birth of the world’s first passenger railway, the Stockton & Darlington Railway, which is 200 years old in September 2025.
The walk explores the origins and early years of the Railway including some significant buildings. We will also see how central Darlington has changed since 1825.
At the end of the walk you can choose to learn more about the development of the railway at the Hopetown visitor attraction (free ticketed entry). If you would like us to book this for you, please indicate using the notes field on the registration form when registering attendees.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get some exercise while discovering the rich history of the area!
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

Free Guided Walk: Pease and Backhouse - the families who brought the S&DR to life
2025-06-07 10:30 - 12:00 | Darlington Market Place Circular Benches by entrance to St Cuthbert’s Churchyard what3words ///deputy.pies.doing, Church Lane, Darlington, DL1 5QD
Pease and Backhouse – an introduction to the families who brought the Stockton and Darlington Railway to life.
Darlington Town Centre and the Quaker burial ground.
1.5 miles (2 km), 1 hour 30 mins. Maximum group size 12. No dogs (except guide dogs). Very Easy.
In Darlington’s Quaker burial ground, many members of the Pease and Backhouse families are buried. These were the characters responsible for the development of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. We will explore their stories of the origins and early years of the Railway. We will meet some of these characters, and some of their interesting and colourful family members.
All of the walk takes place within Darlington town centre. There is a particular focus on the Quaker Burial ground where there are benches to sit on.
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

June 2025 Members Meeting
2025-06-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Darlington Cricket Club, THE CLUB HOUSE Feethams South Terrace, Darlington, DL1 5JD, United Kingdom
The June 2025 Members Meeting will take place at Darlington Cricket Club on Thursday 5th June 2025 starting at 7pm.
Papers will be circulated to members in advance of the meeting.

Free Guided Walk: Shildon Circular Walk
2025-06-04 10:30 | Locomotion, Shildon, Dale Road, Shildon, DL4 2RE, United Kingdom
Locomotion, Shildon

Free Guided Walk: Preston Park to St. John's Crossing
2025-05-28 10:30 - 14:30 | Preston Park, Yarm Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3RH
The next guided walk at the Stockton end of the line is on Wednesday 28 May. Meet in Preston Park (near Butterfly World) for 10:30am. for a 3 mile linear walk to St. John’s Crossing and 5 Railway Bridges in Stockton.

Terrain is a mixture of paved and gravel paths.

Free Guided Walk: West Auckland Walk
2025-05-28 10:30 | Car Park in front of Well Cafe, 46 East Green, West Auckland, DL14 9HJ, United Kingdom
This circular tour of West Auckland will take in the historic remains of the S&DR in the village.

Teesdale Railway History Group at the Barnard Castle Meet
2025-05-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Barnard Castle, Barnard Castle
The Teesdale Railway History Group of the Friends will be taking part in the Barnard Castle Meet float parade on Monday 26th May. The parade will leave the Leisure Centre Car Park at 1pm and proceed through the town centre to Barnard Castle School. The float has been put together to the design of Catherine Yates by the group with the aid of Simon Land.

Free Guided Walk: The Fighting Cocks Line
2025-05-24 11:15 - 14:30, 2025-04-21 11:15 - 14:30 | entrance to Middleton St George Play Park and Field ///validated.unwind.expert, Station Road, Middleton St George, DL2 1JD, United Kingdom
The Fighting Cocks Line
Middleton St George to Darlington
5.5 miles (8.5 km), 3 hours 15 mins Maximum group size 20. Mostly along off-road paths. Dogs on leads (this is a shared use route on the National Cycling Network). Moderate (level gradient but stamina required). Stout footwear recommended.
This walk follows the trackbed of an original section of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, looking at the development of railway infrastructure and the industries which grew up along the line.
The walk begins in Middleton St George village and ends at the Hopetown Railway Visitor Attraction, next to North Road station in Darlington.
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

Free Talk: "Timothy Hackworth's Institute" - with Dave Reynolds
2025-05-21 19:00 | Shildon Railway Institute, Shildon, DL4 2JJ, United Kingdom
As we’re into the Stockton & Darlington Railway Bicentenary year, we’re teaming up with the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and Jane Hackworth-Young to present a series of talks at Timothy Hackworth’s own Institute.
Dave Reynolds is Chair of Shildon Railway Institute and the author of “An Insatiable First – 190 Years of Shildon Railway Institute” a well researched history of Hackworth’s pioneering organisation.

Free Guided Walk: Allens West to Stockton Walk via Preston Park
2025-05-21 10:30 - 13:30 | Allen’s West Station, Eaglescliffe, TS16 0FE
A linear walk from Allen’s West Station to St. John’s Crossing & coal staithes, Stockton via Preston Park & Yarm Road curve.
Meet at Allen’s West Station for 10:30am.
Distance about 5 miles.
Terrain is a mixture of paved and gravel paths with a short path across a grassed area.

Shildon History Day
2025-05-17 13:00 - 16:00
Join us on Saturday 17th May between 1pm and 4pm at Shildon’s historic Railway Institute for our How the Railways came to Shildon History Day. Featuring model railway displays and a range of stalls selling food, books and memorabilia. There will be history talks taking place throughout the afternoon from a number of speakers.
Tickets are £5 and available by emailing Margaret Fenwick at matfen@live.co.uk or John Raw at jraw2883@aol.com or on the door.

Free Guided Walk: Haggerleases Branch Line Walk
2025-05-14 10:30 | Outside the Manor House Hotel, West Auckland, Front Street The Green, West Auckland, DL14 9HW, United Kingdom
An 8.2 mile long walk from The Manor House Hotel in West Auckland along the historic Haggerleases Branch as far as Ramshaw and return. This easy going walk will finish at the historic manor house hotel where refreshments are available to purchase at the conclusion of the walk.

Free Guided Walk: Black Boy Incline Walk
2025-05-07 10:30 | By Waggon at the bottom of Cheapside, Shildon, 1 Cheapside, Shildon, DL4 2HW
This 4.2 mile circular walk around Shildon will take you around the Black Boy inclines of the S&DR. Dog Friendly

Free Guided Walk: Teesdale Railway Walk
2025-05-03 10:30 | Teesdale Leisure Centre Carpark, Teesdale Leisure Centre, Stathmore Road, Barnard Castle, DL12 8DS, United Kingdom
This approximately 2.5 mile circular walk takes you on a tour of the industrial past of this important rural market town. It will explore how it became a transpennine railway hub after a long battle with the Duke of Cleveland for it to have a railway connection at all. Learn about how the railway affected the town’s industry, helped save lives and to become a holiday destination.
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

May 2025 Members Meeting
2025-05-01 19:00 - 21:00 | Darlington Cricket Club, THE CLUB HOUSE Feethams South Terrace, Darlington, DL1 5JD, United Kingdom
The May 2025 members meeting will take place at Darlington Cricket Club at 7pm on Thursday 1st May 2025.
Papers will be circulated to members in advance of the meeting.

Free Guided Walk: St John's Crossing to Eaglescliffe Guided Walk
2025-04-30 10:30 - 13:30 | Stockton Town Hall, High Street, Stockton-On-Tees, TS20 1DR
A linear walk from St. John’s Crossing to Eaglescliffe Station via Site of 1830 S&DR Suspension Bridge & Preston Park.
Meet at Stockton Town Hall for 10:30am.
Distance about 3.5 miles.
Terrain is a mixture of paved and gravel paths with a short walk next to the River Tees under the A66 and 2 railway bridges.

Free Guided Walk: North Road Railway Station to Fighting Cocks Walk
2025-04-30 10:00 | North Road Station Entrance, Station Road, Darlington, DL3 6ST, United Kingdom
This 6 mile easy going walk will start outside North Road Station and finish at Fighting Cocks with a return by Train from Dinsdale Station to North Road Station. Dog Friendly

Free Guided Walk: Yarm Branchline Circular Walk
2025-04-23 10:30 - 13:30 | Allen’s West Station, Eaglescliffe, TS16 0FE
A circular walk along the original S&DR Yarm Branch Line from Allen’s West Station into Yarm, returning via Yarm Road & footbridge across the original Leeds Northern Line.
Meet at Allen’s West Station for 10:30am.
Distance about 4 miles.
Terrain is a mixture of paved and gravel paths.

Free Guided Walk: Pease and Backhouse - the families who brought the S&DR to life
2025-04-18 10:30 - 12:00 | Darlington Market Place Circular Benches by entrance to St Cuthbert’s Churchyard what3words ///deputy.pies.doing, Church Lane, Darlington, DL1 5QD
Darlington Town Centre and the Quaker burial ground.
1.5 miles (2 km), 1 hour 30 Mins. Maximum group size 12. No dogs (except guide dogs). Very Easy.
In Darlington’s Quaker burial ground, many members of the Pease and Backhouse families are buried. These were the characters responsible for the development of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. We will explore their stories of the origins and early years of the Railway. We will meet some of these characters, and some of their interesting and colourful family members.
All of the walk takes place within Darlington town centre. There is a particular focus on the Quaker Burial ground where there are benches to sit on.
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

Free Talk: The S&DR: Recovering the Timothy Hackworth Deficit
2025-04-16 19:00 | Shildon Railway Institute, Shildon, DL4 2JJ, United Kingdom
Hackworth’s engineering prowess and ingenuity brought the power needed to accomplish and underpin the ever-expanding enterprise that was the S&DR.
His contribution, talent and ingenuity played a vital part in the early days from 1827 to 1840; something that has been left standing neglected on the sidings. Time for a reckoning up; a recovery of the deficit that has left in the affairs of the S&DR.
Mike Norman’s background in IT was at the forefront of the technology of the Information Revolution, and he now draws on that experience in defining the pioneering key developments of the steam locomotive. He is the author of ‘It Wasn’t Rocket Science’ – a biography of the life and times of Timothy Hackworth which, set during preparations for the 1893 Columbian Exposition held in Chicago, is told through the eyes of a grandson.
Pre-booking is not required for this event.

Free Guided Walk: St Helen Auckland Railway Walk
2025-04-16 10:25 | St. Helen Auckland parish church, Manor Road, St. Helen Auckland, DL14 9ER, United Kingdom
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

Free Guided Walk: Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
2025-04-12 10:30 - 12:00 | Darlington Market Place Circular Benches by entrance to St Cuthbert’s Churchyard what3words ///deputy.pies.doing, Church Lane, Darlington, DL1 5QD
Why the Railway came to Darlington (daytime walk)
Darlington Town Centre to Hopetown Railway Visitor Attraction.
1.5 miles (2.5 km), 1 hour 30 minutes. Mostly on pavements. Maximum group size 12. No dogs (except guide dogs). Easy to Moderate.
We will visit some of the key sites and learn about some of the people behind the birth of the world’s first passenger railway, the Stockton & Darlington Railway, which is 200 years old in September 2025.
The walk explores the origins and early years of the Railway including some significant buildings. We will also see how central Darlington has changed since 1825.
At the end of the walk you can choose to learn more about the development of the railway at the Hopetown visitor attraction (free ticketed entry). If you would like us to book this for you, please indicate using the notes field on the registration form when registering attendees.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get some exercise while discovering the rich history of the area!
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:
Darlington Town Centre to Hopetown Railway Visitor Attraction.
1.5 miles (2.5 km), 1 hour 30 minutes. Mostly on pavements. Maximum group size 12. No dogs (except guide dogs). Easy to Moderate.
We will visit some of the key sites and learn about some of the people behind the birth of the world’s first passenger railway, the Stockton & Darlington Railway, which is 200 years old in September 2025.
The walk explores the origins and early years of the Railway including some significant buildings. We will also see how central Darlington has changed since 1825.
At the end of the walk you can choose to learn more about the development of the railway at the Hopetown visitor attraction (free entry).
Don’t miss this opportunity to get some exercise while discovering the rich history of the area!
This is a ticketed event and requires the registration form completing for each person attending by pressing the book this event button and following the instructions on the form:

Free Guided Walk: Walk from Eaglescliffe Station to St. John's Crossing
2025-04-09 10:30 - 13:30 | Eaglescliffe Station
A linear walk from Eaglescliffe Station to St. John’s Crossing & coal staithes, Stockton via Preston Park & Yarm Road curve.
Meet at Eaglescliffe Station for 10:30am.
Distance about 4 miles.
Terrain is a mixture of paved and gravel paths.

April 2025 Members Meeting
2025-04-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Darlington Cricket Club, THE CLUB HOUSE Feethams South Terrace, Darlington, DL1 5JD, United Kingdom
Our April 2025 members meeting will take place on Thursday 3rd April at Darlington Cricket Club starting at 7pm.
Papers will be circulated to members in advance of the meeting.

Free Guided Walk: Gaunless Bridges Walk
2025-04-02 10:25 | Car Park in front of Well Cafe, 46 East Green, West Auckland, DL14 9HJ, United Kingdom
