Northern Makes History With Charity Train on Weardale Railway

A special charter service run by Northern in partnership with the Weardale Railway has raised thousands of pounds for charity while giving passengers a rare trip along a historic heritage line.

The sold-out train departed from Darlington before travelling along the 16-mile Weardale Railway and returning. Along the route it called at several stations including Newton Aycliffe, Shildon, Bishop Auckland West and Stanhope, offering passengers a chance to experience the scenic County Durham line.

More than 120 passengers travelled on the special service, which featured live music on board as well as a raffle. The event proved popular with railway enthusiasts and local supporters alike, raising more than £3,200 in total.

The money collected from the event has been donated to two local charities: The Angel Trust, based in Bishop Auckland, and 123help4familys in Stanhope.

The charter also formed part of Railway 200, a nationwide programme of events marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway.

The Weardale Railway itself first opened in 1847 and today operates as a heritage railway and visitor attraction, running trains along a 16-mile stretch between Bishop Auckland West and Stanhope. In 2020, the line was rescued from administration by The Auckland Project, which has since invested in repairs and infrastructure improvements to help secure its future.

Thomas Lascelles, who was one of the passengers, said:

“I’m a railway enthusiast and I travel all over the country by train, but I haven’t been on a charter for more than 20 years, as a lot of them are on older trains which you can’t easily get on when you’re in a wheelchair. It was a fantastic day. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. The conductor Graham and all of the staff on board were brilliant. They really looked after me and made sure the ramp was there when I wanted to get on and off the train. It was a lovely journey, with some stunning views of the countryside and wildlife, and I enjoyed chatting to everyone on board. It was a perfect day and I was so pleased to be a part of it.”

Jason Wade, a service delivery director at Northern, said:

“We’re proud to have made Northern history by running a passenger train along a preserved heritage railway for the first time. This is a huge achievement and it took almost a year of planning. I would like to thank everyone who has volunteered to help out and make this happen. It was a really enjoyable day for all of the passengers and staff on board and I’m delighted that we managed to raise more than £3,200 for two very worthy local charities.”

Claire Gibbons, general manager at Weardale Railway, said:

“We were delighted to welcome Northern onto the Weardale Railway for this landmark event. Seeing more than 120 passengers enjoying the journey, the history of the line and the atmosphere on board made it a truly memorable day. Most importantly, raising over £3,200 for two fantastic local charities shows the real difference events like this can make to our communities.”

Jane Ruffer, chief executive at The Auckland Project, said:

“Saving the Weardale Railway in 2020 was about protecting an important piece of County Durham’s heritage for future generations, and this event shows just how vibrant that future can be. It brought together partners, volunteers and passengers in a wonderful celebration of Railway 200 — while also generating valuable funds for local charities. We’re incredibly proud to see the line continuing to connect communities in more ways than one.”

Image: Northern