A MONTH-LONG series of events dedicated to railway enthusiasts is to be staged over the coming weeks.

Railway Sidings is a celebration of County Durham's railway heritage taking place at Clayport Library in Durham City, starting on Saturday, January 31.

A layout by Shildon Model Railway Club, including model steam engines, gets the exhibition rolling from 10am to 3pm, along with railway-themed photographs by Durham Photographic Society.

Railway Film Snippets with film historian David Williams, follows on Sunday, February 1 at 2pm. Places are free but should be booked in advance with the library on 0191 386 4003.

Other free events throughout February include talks on unsung railway heroes, the Bowes Railway of today, stories, craft activities, a railway walk and researching railway ancestors.

The Art of Locomotive Designs exhibition provided by Durham County Record Office will be on show throughout the month in the reference library, while on Sundays, stories and crafts on a railway theme will run from 2.30pm on a drop-in basis.

Other events in the series include: * Saturday, February 7 - Railways at War: Our Unsung Heroes, an illustrated talk by Tony Attle from Locomotion at 2pm.

* Sunday, February 8, The Bowes Railway As It Is Today, a talk by John Young at 2pm.

* Saturday, February 14, Steam Trains to Quiet Lanes, a talk by Dave Liddle, Countryside Ranger at 2pm.

* Tuesday, February 17, Stories and crafts on a railway theme, free drop-in at 2.15pm.

* Wednesday, February 18, railway craft activity. Design a poster for the opening of the Darlington & Stockton Railway. Free drop-in for children aged five and over at 2pm.

* Friday, February 20, Darlington: Birthplace of a Railway Town, talk by Bill Ferguson at 2pm.

* Saturday, February 21, Railway Ancestors, researching through material held at the Head of Steam, Darlington Railway Museum. Free drop-in from 10am to noon and 1pm to 3pm.

* Sunday, February 22, Why Does the Mainline Bend? a talk by local historian, David Butler at 2pm.

* Friday, February 27: Meet "Francis Horne", a Victorian Navvy, as he entertains children from St. Joseph's School. Free drop-in at 10am.

* Saturday, February 28: Free two mile railway walk led by David Butler around Durham City looking at what remains of its railway heritage. Meet outside Clayport Library at 1.30pm.

* Every Sunday throughout February: stories and crafts on a railway theme. Free drop-in at 2.30pm.

For further information, including prices, contact the library on 0191 386 4003.