Full steam ahead for Stockton & Darlington 200

STOCKTON takes centre stage with a packed programme of large-scale events and railway inspired activities for all ages this weekend.

- By JOHN ROGAN

The S&DR200 Festival is celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of the modern railway - and you don't want to miss it.

One of the highlights of the S&DR200 Festival is a once-in-a-lifetime reenactment of the inaugural journey of Locomotion No.1, which took place on September 27, 1825, and covered a 26-mile journey between Shildon and Stockton via Darlington.

Two hundred years later, spectators will be able to watch a newly restored replica, pulling the passenger carriage Experiment and goods wagons along sections of the original line into Stockton on Sunday.

This will be followed later in the day by a programme of activities.

Here's your guide to everything happening in the borough for the festival:

■Locomotion No.1 is due to arrive at Stockton Station on Sunday at 10.55am, but due to demand tickets are fully booked.

You can still see Loco No.1 from the official viewing location at Rochester Road from 11.32am, where it will remain for around 40 minutes. Visitors are advised to get to Rochester Road by 11am. The train will have a fantastic, elevated position on the line and will be welcomed with a military gun salute.

No tickets are required as this viewing point is large enough to allow thousands of people to experience this special moment.

Accessible viewing of the loco will be available from the road, which will be closed to traffic. Then visitors can head to Stockton town centre where the celebrations will continue.