THE STORY of Darlington's rail heritage could transform it into a world-class tourist attraction, aimed at boosting the town's economy.

The £3m, five-year plan to transform the town's North Road railway centre and museum will try to bring the past to life for thousands of visitors.

Coun Stella Robson - who chaired Tuesday's joint meeting of environment and lifelong learning scrutiny committees - declared: "At last. Many of us know we have this great treasure in Darlington and haven't exploited it. We are now taking a huge step forward."

The 19th century station building already houses many important exhibits including George Stephenson's Locomotion and Derwent; the nationally important Ken Hoole collection of documents relating to the history of North-East railways and John Dobbin's famous painting of the £5 note Skerne Bridge.

When finished it will incorporate:

l a Victorian cobbled street with shops and houses;

l a Victorian goods yard and shed will be set out with engines and coaches;

l an exhibition gallery showing the impact of the railway on the social and industrial history of the town;

l a railway toy gallery in the shape of a doll's house;

l a sculpture park bringing together artefacts from elsewhere in the town;

l exhibitions of industrial life in Hopetown carriageworks.

Dr Stuart Nichols, heritage manager, said the plans would virtually double the size of the museum and enable it to display collections it was unable to use at the moment.

The intention was to work in partnership with Shildon, Stockton and the National Railway Museum to develop the visitor potential at all three heritage sites.

"I feel the enormous potential has never been exploited. It is a fantastic site.

"We want to tell the story of the people who dedicated their lives to the building of the railways.

"We have eight or nine old railwaymen's ashes sprinkled on the site because they were apprenticed there and had such an affection for it."

Coun Robson said: "There are a few old railwaymen knocking around Darlington who haven't yet got to the ashes stage. I hope you can retrieve from them some of their very interesting stories, before they die. I hope you will be able to do some archive records to add to the collection."

Coun Pat Buttle said she would like an in-depth look not only at how local families built and subsequently made their fortunes from the railways, but also how they got the money in the first place. "It was not always something to be proud of."

She also hoped community writing groups could work with the museum on the project.

Coun Veronica Copeland said she had visited France's national railway museum and Darlington history was given a big section there.

"So you have already got international links going there."

The meeting backed the plans and releasing £100,000 council match funding towards an application to the heritage lottery fund, which could secure £375,000.