Beamish Museum is set to reopen Rowley Station for the first time in four years.
This comes as part of the nine-day Festival of Transport at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North.
The event promises a blend of novelty and nostalgia, bringing back steam-hauled passenger train rides at the station corners of the museum.
This is the first time train rides have been available at the museum since 2020.
The festival rolled across the County Durham, open-air museum from May 24 to June 1, reviving transport traditions with a variety of vehicles, both visiting and from the museum's own celebrated collection.
The highlight of the event is the much-awaited launch of passenger train rides at Rowley Station.
These will be pulled by the vintage steam locomotive, the Manning Wardle 'Sir Berkeley,' along the demonstration line.
This will be the Victorian engine's first outing since 2020.
Paul Jarman, director of development – transport, industry and& design said the initiative had been met with keen anticipation.
He said: "We’re really looking forward to the Festival of Transport and welcoming visitors back to ride on the trains at Rowley Station again.
"The absence of a working passenger train at Rowley Station has been keenly felt since the operation was suspended at the point of the museum’s closure due to the COVID-19 restrictions five years ago."
He added: "The revival of Rowley Station and the short demonstration railway will no doubt be very popular, we hope that visitors will enjoy Rowley Station as an operating exhibit once again."
Alongside the steam train rides, the festival includes a transport quiz to test visitors' knowledge.
A showcase of vintage and veteran cars and motorcycles from the Beamish fleet and guests também enlivens the festivities.
For more traditional entertainment seekers, Beamish Museum offers a recreation of the Grand cinema from Ryhope in Sunderland.
Inside, visitors can enjoy nostalgic screenings, including a Sunday, May 31 performance of the 1953 classic The Titfield Thunderbolt.
These cinema screenings are ticketed separately from the festival.
The museum encourages visitors to roam beyond Rowley's bustling station festivities.
Explore the sprawling Georgian house and gardens, engage in Edwardian shopping, and treat yourself to traditional fish and chips.
The museum's 1940s farm and 1950s cinema offer immersive experiences for all tastes.
In a nod to future transport enthusiasts, Beamish Museum plans more activities throughout the summer holidays.
Rowley Station will operate each weekend throughout the holiday period.
October half-term also promises more railway-themed fun from October 25 to November 2.
The resurgence of Rowley Station and the launch of the Festival of Transport coincide with Beamish Museum being shortlisted for the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025, the world’s largest museum honour.
Beamish is one of five finalists, and the winner will be announced in June.
For festival tickets and more information, visit the museum's website.
Festival of Transport tickets are included within the museum admission.
This is free for Beamish Unlimited Pass holders and Friends of Beamish members.
The pass allows you to pay once and visit free for a year.
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