As the comprehensive restoration and building work, made possible by National Lottery players, continues apace at the unique Midland Railway roundhouse, further details of the exciting events planned for the much anticipated relaunch of Barrow Hill Roundhouse in September 2017 have been released and tickets are now on sale.
To cope with demand, the Grand Reopening Gala originally planned to take place over two days will now start on Friday 22
nd September, continuing on Saturday 23
rd and Sunday 24
th September.
The three day celebration will mark the reopening of Barrow Hill Roundhouse following the completion of the £1.2 million restoration project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The gala will star two icons of steam,
Tornado and the National Railway Museum’s A3 No. 60103
Flying Scotsman. This will be the first visit to the Roundhouse by
Flying Scotsman since a BR Open Day in 1974. It will also be the first opportunity for many to get up close to the locomotive alongside her sister East Coast racehorse, 100mph
Tornado, against the unique and authentic backdrop of the Roundhouse. Entry to the event will include a train ride behind these locos.
Doors open at 09:00hrs and the event closes at 17:00hrs. Last entry is 15:00hrs.
Ticket prices: Adults - £22.00
Children (16 and under) - £11.00
Family (two adults and two children) - £53.00
Tickets are available from
www.seetickets.com. Please note that tickets for this event will not be available to buy on the day.
Tickets are now also on sale for “Down the Line”, a professionally produced play commissioned as part of the celebratory events to mark the reopening of Barrow Hill Roundhouse and supported by The Arts Council. There will be three performances on the evenings of Thursday 21
st, Friday 22
nd and Saturday 23
rd September.
The show will involve a cast of professional actors and hundreds of local people, including a community choir and Ireland Colliery Chesterfield Brass Band. The audience will be an integral part of the play as they follow the drama in and around the Roundhouse building. The Roundhouse team is delighted to announce that the play will include guest appearances by
Flying Scotsman and
Tornado. The play tells the story of Barrow Hill from the coming of the railways to the present day and our guide is a fictional Site Foreman, 'Shunter', whose family have lived in the area for generations. Doors open at 18:30hrs, performances commence at 19:00hrs and finish at 22:30hrs.
Ticket prices: Adults - £13.20
Children (16 and under) - £6.60
Tickets are available from
www.seetickets.com.
Unfortunately
Rocket, previously announced as another visitor to the Roundhouse in September, is no longer able to attend the celebrations but the Roundhouse team are in the final stages of negotiating the appearance of another locomotive and an announcement is expected soon. In the meantime, the HLF funded restoration project continues on time and to budget.
Mervyn Allcock, General Manager of Barrow Hill Roundhouse commented “The team has been working really hard to make sure everything is ready for September. The new extension will certainly grab the attention of our visitors as they arrive for the relaunch celebrations but the Roundhouse itself will continue to offer its atmospheric glimpse into the past as we celebrate the history and the future of this historic building.”