A charity service on the Weardale Railway was announced in January, scheduled to run on 22nd February.

The one-off service saw a Northern Class 158 run on the heritage railway and was a sold-out success.

120 people boarded the service, which set off from Darlington and completed a return trip, calling at multiple stations along the way.

The service raised £3,200 for two local charities, The Angel Trust and 123help4familys.

 “I’m a railway enthusiast and I travel all over the country by train, but I haven’t been on a charter for more than 20 years, as a lot of them are on older trains which you can’t easily get on when you’re in a wheelchair.

“It was a fantastic day. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. The conductor Graham and all of the staff on board were brilliant. They really looked after me and made sure the ramp was there when I wanted to get on and off the train.

“It was a lovely journey, with some stunning views of the countryside and wildlife, and I enjoyed chatting to everyone on board. It was a perfect day and I was so pleased to be a part of it.”

Thomas Lascelles, who was one of the passengers