John Dean – Crime Writer

As someone who used to be heavily involved in the cultural scene in the south Durham town of Darlington, with a particular interest in railways, I reckon that this event should be excellent, helped by the atmosphere of the unique venue.

Revenge on the Railways: A Murder Mystery Evening will take place in Hopetown, the expanded railway museum managed by the borough council

The year is 1925. Steam commands the rails, silk and scandal drift through the station air, and linger just beyond the gaslight. At Hopetown Darlington, the golden age of rail travel becomes the stage for a night of scandal, suspense and shocking intrigue. Beneath the gleam of polished brass and the hum of anticipation lies a web of tension between passengers, staff… and someone with murder on their mind.

As the organisers say: ‘This is no ordinary engagement. You are not merely in attendance – you are drawn into the affair itself. As dusk falls, the station opens its doors after hours, and you shall find yourself at the very heart of the drama. You may question those whose stories sit rather uneasily upon them. You may wander the shadowed platforms in pursuit of clues. You may uncover secrets long buried within these walls. And you shall piece together the evidence… provided you can trust what you hear. The truth is there to be found, but it will not give itself up lightly.’

You can find out more, and book your places for the event (£27.50 per person),  which will be staged at 5.45pm on August 14 at Welcome to Hopetown Darlington

The site’s history is fascinating. The original North Road Station opened in 1842 on the route of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. It was the only railway station in Darlington until 1887 and North Road Station’s significance gradually declined throughout the 20th Century. The station building received Grade II* recognition by Historic England on 28 April 1952.

My father, Stan, was part of the team of volunteers who saved the station, which was regularly vandalised, and in the 1970s, the station was purchased by a consortium consisting of the local council and tourist board, Darlington museum’s service and local businesses. By then, it was seldom used as a station.

It was transformed into a railway museum – originally called North Road Station Museum – which was opened in 1975 by the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh as part of celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (I wrote its first official history).

The museum was refurbished in 2007, and reopened in 2008 as the Head of Steam – Darlington Railway Museum.

After securing £35 million of funding, between 2022 and 2024 the museum, and surrounding heritage buildings, were transformed into a new visitor attraction, Hopetown Darlington. The name takes inspiration from the old Hopetown foundry works associated with the railways. Features from the museum are joined by new attractions spread over a 7.5 acre site and incorporating other heritage railway buildings showcasing Darlington’s history.