The inspiring story of how the Darlington and Stockton Railway changed our world for the better is one many people in the North East have likely heard many times before.
You hear about George Stephenson and Edward Pease – the fathers of the Darlington and Stockton Railway that will this year mark its 200th anniversary with a string of celebrations.
The Experiment! ride at Hopetown, Darlington. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) But, Hopetown’s newest attraction that opened a few months ago lets you experience the story of the railway in a whole new way.
Located at the heart of the museum, you can find the Experiment! ride in the Goods Shed – tucked away in the far right corner. You’re greeted by the welcome desk – where you can purchase a ticket for £5 or scan a pre-paid QR code.
After that, you’re taken into a sort of waiting room where a quick safety briefing informs you of the rules and safety expectations. It’s here that you’re introduced to two characters who are set to take you chugging through time on Experiment! – wacky sibling duo Georgie and Stephen (catch the clever reference?).
It’s explained that Stephen’s floating carriage is your transport through time – you and your fellow riders are the test group to go from Locomotion 1 to the present and beyond.
After your briefing it’s time to get securely seated in the carriage in a separate room – which sits nine people. As you walk in, you are surrounded by a screen set up in a U formation, making you feel truly immersed.
The entry to Experiment! at Hopetown, Darlington. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) Then, it was finally time to begin. I must say, I didn’t know what to expect but I can tell you that I was thoroughly impressed.
From George Stephenson to a fictional Darlington in 2325, you are taken from the very beginning of rail travel to the modern day and everything in between.
Whether you’re looking at Skerne Bridge as the first passenger carriages chug across or underground in the Eurotunnel in the 90s, Experiment! is a magnificent display of how our region truly changed the world.
Small gusts of wind blow across you as the carriage moves up, about and around in time – with the projection that aptly shows how the railway became a global phenomenon across to Saltburn for seaside trips in the 1800s to the effortless 300mph bullet trains in Japan.
What makes Experiment! so beautiful is that it is the story of our region, the story of the railway as you have never seen it before.
Hopetown, in Darlington. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) Whether you’re aged five or 55, I think it’s well worth paying for as you visit the museum and is bound to be a hit with youngsters.
I clearly wasn’t alone in my positive experience, either. Two of my fellow riders Christine Roe, 54, and Stephen Gordon, 55, travelled from Stockton to the museum for the afternoon.
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They told me they were thoroughly impressed with the ride and would recommend to all – they added that they particularly enjoyed parts of the ride where the carriage was joined onto the train on the screen.
Overall, I’d encourage anyone to try Experiment!. It is not just a fantastic display of Darlington’s rail prowess but is a fun experience that can be enjoyed by all ages.
If you do one thing at Hopetown, have a ride on Experiment!. It culminates everything the museum exhibits, stands for and more.
It is, in my opinion, Hopetown’s new crown jewel that will only shine brighter as more people appreciate it.