(Above) From left to right: Mark Allatt (A1 Trust), Dr Keith Bartlett (North East Manager of Heritage Lottery Fund), Sir William McAlpine (Chairman of Railway Heritage Trust), Councillor Nick Wallis. Courtesy visitTeesvalley.

There are games such as ‘guess the job’, a two-train race game, moving 3D interactive features about how locomotives work, and on how to build a railway. There is also a new café, a children’s playroom and dressing up areas.

The launch weekend included live music from the Rhythm Kings, Cockerton Silver Jubilee Band, Buccherini Strings, Copperhead, North Tyneside Steel Band and 10th Avenue Street Band.

There was also entertainment from trapeze artists, street theatre companies, stilt walkers, face painting, character guided tours and story tellers.

“We’ve been looking forward to the launch of Head of Steam for sometime and I think visitors will like what they see,” explained Nick Wallis, Darlington Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Leisure.

“It combines the history of railways with the latest technology to provide an entertaining and educational experience.”