Overview

• Prince Edward joined the launch at Locomotion in Shildon and took a short ride in the carriage Experiment, with TV engineer Guy Martin among the crew.
• Organisers reported heavy turnout, including an estimated 15,000 people along the Shildon–Darlington route and about 3,000 inside the museum, with traffic congestion around Shildon.
• The 1975-built replica, newly restored and modified for mainline use after extensive testing, covered sections of the original line and arrived at Hopetown in Darlington.
• Network Rail urged spectators to use designated viewing areas and not trespass, emphasizing safety as crowds gather along active railway corridors.
• Weekend plans include multiple crossings at Darlington’s Skerne Bridge on Saturday and a Sunday leg toward Stockton, with a mix of sold-out ticketed areas and open viewing points such as Hartburn Fields and Rochester Road.