A New Home for the Trust

Timelapse Showing Progress - December 2022

By summer 2023 we will have a brand new, purpose-built locomotive works within the Darlington Railway Heritage Quarter (“DRHQ”).  Owned by Darlington Borough Council and funded by the Council as well as TVCA and Central Government grants, the £4.5m building will provide many of the facilities that we require for building and operating our steam locomotives.  For the new building to reach its potential, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has agreed to contribute to the project. This will ensure that the site has a main line rail connection, running track, inspection pits and more.  Such features will future-proof the activity of the Trust.  Our contribution to the overall scheme will ensure a long term home for the Trust at a 'Peppercorn' rentfor many, many years to come.

There will be three phases for fundraising, the first for the running line, allowing movement around the site and live steam rides.  On the eve of the Stockton and Darlington bicentennial, we ask that you consider supporting this project as its legacy will live on to ensure the future of new build steam in Darlington and ensuring that the DRHQ functions as a live steam destination for the UK, as well as a national & international visitor centre. 

Support the Trust in laying the track required for moving our locomotives in, out and around the site.

A "permanent way gang" is a long standing term for track workers and engineers, and honouring that tradition, we ask you to make a contribution to join our P-Way Gang. 

Our commitment to our new premises includes providing & laying the track for our elements of the site and ensuring its connection to the Network Rail infrastructure.  To that end we acquired around 1,100m of sleepers last year which at Ferryhill awaiting transfer to Darlington.  In addition, we recently acquired 375 sleepers from Nexus which were delivered to the site this summer.

In parallel, the Trust negotiated with Network Rail to buy 3,600m of rails (1,800 linear metres of track) cascaded from the Northumberland Line Project renewal programme and which will deliver the plain line requirements of the site at a favourable price.  Not a moment too soon, as in August 2022 Willmott Dixon, the DRHQ build contractor, will be laying the rails into the floor build.  For this reason, we ask for your support right away.

To cover the cost of materials and transport we are looking to raise £75,000. Any contributions are welcome, but for full club membership the minimum donation is £500, with £750 sponsoring a full 60ft rail with your name going next to that section on the track plan displayed in the new building.