A night to remember on the Stargazing Train

4 November 2026

Blog by Claire Gibbons, General Manager at the Weardale Railway

The Weardale Railway welcomed visitors aboard its Stargazing Train on 28 October 2026, bringing together the magic of heritage rail travel and the wonder of some of the North Pennines’ darkest skies.

Originally inspired by the North Pennines National Landscape over recent years, the railway has continued to develop its programme of special events and experiences, giving people new reasons to discover Weardale and enjoy this remarkable landscape.

The Stargazing Train has become a distinctive part of that programme, attracting 40 visitors this year, including families, astronomy enthusiasts and people simply looking for a memorable night out. Running the event has deepened our own appreciation of the night sky, too. We have learned more with every journey, while seeing first-hand how shared experiences like this can inspire curiosity and connect visitors with both the railway and the landscape around it.

The idea is simple: combine an atmospheric evening train journey with the chance to explore the night sky. After weeks of planning by our railway team and the Bishop Auckland Astronomical Society (BAAS), guests were welcomed aboard before travelling through the dale to the stargazing location. BAAS volunteers shared their knowledge, guided observations and helped visitors use telescopes/binoculars, and some visitors brought their own telescopes and smart phones with stargazing apps. Their enthusiasm made astronomy feel accessible to everyone, whatever their age or experience.

On a clear night, the lack of light pollution can reveal a sky filled with stars, constellations and, depending on conditions, some of the planets and the moon. The reaction is often one of surprise: visitors look up and realise just how much is hidden by brighter town and city skies. This time, despite a little cloud cover our guests especially enjoyed the moon and Saturn. When cloud made viewing more difficult, BAAS kept the evening engaging with guests proving that there is always something new to discover. Everyone enjoyed hot drinks and chocolate biscuits and all the children received space themed goody bags.

Feedback has been extremely positive. One visitor told us, they had really enjoyed it and looked forward to sharing the knowledge and activities with the local cub scout group, while a younger guest said, “the night had been epic.” Comments like these capture what makes the Stargazing Train so special: the excitement of a journey, the expertise of our partners and the unforgettable experience of looking up together.