Programme Revealed for Railway’s Bicentenary

Locomotion is on track for an action-packed 2025, as the nation marks the North East’s seminal role in railway history.
In early April, an iconic statue of Robert Stephenson, owned by Network Rail, will be installed at the museum, returning the legendary railway pioneer to the region where he made his name. The 8ft 10in bronze figure stood outside London’s Euston station from 1871 to 2020, when it was removed for redevelopment and restored to its original condition by HS2. Locomotion are delighted to welcome the statue during this historic year, with visitors able to view it at the museum from 8th April.
A new exhibition, Railway Firsts, opened at Locomotion in February, spotlighting pivotal moments that shaped the railways and our history through signalling-themed pop-up displays. Discover famous and unexpected firsts, from pioneering feats of engineering to the railway’s impact on our holiday habits – and even the world’s very first fixed train toilet.
The museum will also run an expanded schools and family programme through 2025, with hands-on activities, STEM workshops and storytelling sessions. Over the Easter break, activities will focus on ‘movement and journeys’, while learning activities over the early May Bank Holiday weekend will be themed around ‘trailblazers of the S&DR’.
From June – December, the Young Railway Photographer of the Year exhibition will be on display, showcasing the artistic flair and passion for rail of the UK’s brightest young photographic talent.
Locomotion’s summer festival returns for a second year from 19th July – 31st August, with steam rides, a pop-up beach – and a residency from the legendary Flying Scotsman (26th July – 25th August), offering a mix of rides and static display. Full details and ticketing will be released later in the year.
The world’s first fare-paying passenger rail journey took place on the Stockton and Darlington Railway line, a section of which Locomotion sits alongside, on 27th September 1825.
Across 26th, 27th and 28th September, a recreation of the first fare-paying passenger journey will take place, when a newly renovated replica of Locomotion No. 1 runs on sections of the original S&DR line over three days. The engine will bypass Locomotion on 26th September.
Locomotion is also a partner in Railway 200, the nationwide celebration of the bicentenary of the railways. The Railway 200 touring exhibition train, Inspiration, will be stationed at Locomotion from 20th September – 1st October, including over the anniversary weekend.
Curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum, Inspiration will visit over 60 destinations, telling the story of the past, present and future of the railways through interactive exhibition carriages, with a mission to promote careers in rail.
In October, West Side Story, a major new touring exhibition that explores the story of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, will arrive at Locomotion.
The Brick Alley LEGO user group will return for another weekend of creativity in November, featuring astonishing railway scenes created from LEGO and interactive building activities.
Locomotion is home to the largest collection of historic locomotives undercover in Europe, including Stephenson’s Rocket, the 1955 prototype diesel-electric, Deltic, and a host of historic vehicles built at the legendary Shildon Works.
The collection will be bolstered with special line-ups of loaned rail vehicles that tell the story of the past, present and future of the railways over the late May bank holiday, over the summer festival and again in September, with full details set to be released later in the year.
Photo credit: James Glossop and Science Museum Group.