Northumbria Police firearms officers swapped the streets for the railway as Weardale Railway played host to a specialist armed response training exercise.
The railway welcomed firearms recruits to its Stanhope site, where its historic carriages were transformed into a realistic training environment for officers preparing to respond to a range of potential incidents.
Rather than carrying visitors through the Durham Dales, the carriages became the setting for a series of operational scenarios designed to put the recruits’ training and decision-making into practice in an unfamiliar environment.
The exercise came after Northumbria Police approached Weardale Railway several months ago to explore whether the heritage attraction could support its armed response training programme.
Course instructors subsequently visited Stanhope to assess the site and carriages, working with the railway team to identify how a range of training scenarios could be safely accommodated.
On the day, recruits were given a full site safety briefing and orientation of the carriages by the Weardale Railway team before the specialist training exercise got underway.
Claire Gibbons, General Manager at Weardale Railway, said: “It was certainly a little different to our usual day at Weardale Railway, and we were pleased to be able to support Northumbria Police with this important training.
“Our carriages provided the officers with a realistic environment in which to carry out a number of scenarios, while allowing the training to take place safely and away from the public.
“Weardale Railway is an important part of the local community, so it was great to see our facilities being put to use in a completely different way.”
Chief Inspector Gemma Calvert, of Northumbria Police’s Firearms Support Unit, said: “Our firearms officers regularly undertake training exercises to ensure they are prepared to respond effectively to a wide range of incidents and keep our communities safe.
“Training in different and realistic environments is an important part of that preparation, and Weardale Railway provided an excellent setting for officers to put their skills into practice across a number of scenarios.
“We’d like to thank the team at Weardale Railway for their support and for allowing us to use their facilities.”
Spanning 18 miles from Bishop Auckland to Eastgate, and operating 16 miles between Bishop Auckland West and Stanhope, Weardale Railway is a heritage line that connects communities while celebrating County Durham’s rich railway history. The railway offers a range of visitor experiences, including driver days, heritage journeys and educational visits, supporting tourism and preserving the area’s railway heritage.
The Auckland Project rescued the railway from administration in 2020 and has invested significantly, funding essential repairs and infrastructure improvements. Weardale Railway now offers a wide range of heritage services and events, including afternoon teas, gin and cheese trains, family events and the popular Santa Express which will be returning this winter.
Weardale Railway is part of The Auckland Project, the regeneration charity transforming Bishop Auckland into a leading visitor destination through its unique collection of heritage attractions, galleries and gardens.
Visitors can explore Auckland Palace, the Spanish Gallery, the Mining Art Gallery, Faith Museum, alongside meticulously restored gardens and the historic 150-acre Deer Park.
Find out more at www.aucklandproject.org and www.weardale-railway.org.uk.
