AN EXHIBITION offering a fascinating insight into life at a former locomotive works has opened at a Darlington museum.

The exhibition featuring the town's North Road Works has now opened to the public at Darlington's Railway Centre and Museum.

The display is the museum's major temporary exhibition for the year and features photographs, maps and plans, as well as artefacts from the museum's collection.

The exhibition also features many personal items made by former employees, donated after an appeal published in The Northern Echo.

Heritage manager John Wilks said: "We had a good response and we got quite a few items as a result of the appeal.

"We got some candlesticks, pokers and stands, a brass teddy bear, some measuring instruments, screwdrivers and other articles that were made at the works. It has given us a nice variety of material to include."

The main part of the exhibition outlines the history and development of the works, from its opening in 1863 to its closure in 1966.

There is also an outline of some of the main industrial processes carried out at the works during repair and construction of locomotives.

Other sections of the exhibition include a North Road scrapbook, outlining significant events, including the smallest and largest locos built there, details of the first and last steam, diesel and electric locos built at the works and information on the development of the scrapyard.

The exhibition will run until November 10. For more details contact the museum on (01325) 460532.