A MAJOR celebration of the region's railway heritage will take place in Darlington this year despite the collapse of the planned Cavalcade of Steam.

Thousands were left disappointed when it was announced the Rail 2000 event had folded last month, but two private companies have come together to re-stoke the anniversary fires.

A Full Head of Steam, headed by Darlington businessman Brian Launder, has teamed up with Teesside firm Aria events management.

They have been commissioned by Darlington Borough Council to run the event, coinciding with the 175th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway at the end of September and beginning of October.

The festivities, taking place at the Darlington Railway Museum and sponsored by the Advertiser's sister paper, The Northern Echo, would in no way be linked to the cavalcade or its organisers.

Events would begin with a grand opening concert and fireworks on September 29 followed by live music, fun and games, steam railway rides and a craft fair on September 30 and an attempted world record "Locomotion" dance on October 1.

Steam train services may be put on between Darlington and Shildon, and vintage buses are also being considered.

Mr Launder said: "I've been fighting for 14 months now to get Darlington to celebrate the 175th anniversary."

"It all started here in Darlington and we haven't got anything to mark it. We've got a small museum and there is not even a brown sign on the motorway saying 'birthplace of the railways'."

Vincent Eckerman, director of Stockton firm Aria, said: "The objective of the event is to bring people together in a celebration of the heritage of the railways in Darlington over the weekend and to tell tourists that we have a significant railway heritage to build upon for the future."

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said: "The event will be a good boost for the town and the people living here."

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