JUST as they championed the restoration project from its launch 11 years ago until they passed away, John Woods and Gil Chatfield led the train through the dale on Saturday.

Their names grace plaques at the front of each locomotive, an NER P1 Class 060 No 2392 and Newcastle-built Robert Stephenson Hawthorn Austerity No 49 respectively, in honour of the effort and commitment both showed to the railway.

The men were founder members of the Weardale Railway Society - an organisation that realised the potential of the railway and lay the foundations for its restoration.

Sadly, both died before they could see their dream realised - Mr Woods passed away in 1999 and two months ago Mr Chatfield died.

Sir William McAlpine said: "Gil Chatfield and John Woods were both early stalwarts of the railway and their determination and enthusiasm for the project was invaluable."

The tribute was a surprise for Mr Chatfield's brother, John, who said: "It is a very nice tribute to Gil, it's a lovely way to show how his efforts from the early days are not forgotten.

"He would be thrilled with the reopening because it was his dream.

"There were times he lost heart and feared he would never see it happen but he was delighted in the months before his death to see it all coming together and he knew it would re-open and be a wonderful thing."

Mr Chatfield's ashes were scattered along the track during the poignant journey.

At Frosterley station the occasion was marked with the unveiling of a sculpture.

The piece of artwork was carved out of Frosterley marble extracted from a seam at the nearby Broadwood Quarry, provided by quarry owner Paul Allison and unveiled by his wife Tanya.

Sculptor Keith Murray, of Saltburn, east Cleveland, said: "The sculpture is not formal, I wanted to carve away at the marble to reveal fossils which in turn reveal the changing times of Frosterley.

"The community does not have a formal piece of sculpture elsewhere so it was wonderful to create a piece from the stone which belongs to the area and is now part of this incredible railway project."