LNER Welcomes Launch Of S&DR200 With Drone Azuma

Five thousand people watched the All Change spectacular in County Durham, which also included a replica of Locomotion No. 1 crossing the stage as the story of two hundred years of railway history unfolded.

The show, at the Kynren site in Bishop Auckland, also featured large-scale set pieces, cutting-edge projection mapping, original music, and songs from Infant Hercules, an eighty-piece male community choir from Teesside.

The star attraction was the four hundred drones magically dancing through the sky, creating a miner’s lamp, a railway porter, an LNER Azuma, and Locomotion No 1 – the first steam locomotive to haul a passenger carrying train on a public railway in 1825.

The performance closed with the drones reappearing in the formation of the S&DR200 logo, with the illuminated Auckland Castle creating a beautiful backdrop.

Ed Turner, Senior Public Affairs Manager at LNER, said: “With the launch of S&DR200, we were thrilled to celebrate the transformative power of railways and their role in shaping our society. We’re delighted to be supporting S&DR200 throughout 2025, and the event at Kynren was an unforgettable journey through time, honouring the past while looking forward to the future of rail travel.”

Niccy Hallifax, S&DR200 Festival Director, said: “Our S&DR200 opening event was a remarkable collaboration between imitating the dog, SKYMAGIC, and the 11Arches mass choreography team, led by Rocky and Katie. This stunning performance was designed as a love sonnet to the region, showcasing the creativity and spirit of County Durham and Tees Valley.

“The event marked a major milestone for all of us as we kicked off the S&DR200 programme, a nine-month-long series of exhibitions and events across the region. We are very grateful to LNER, whose partner support was invaluable in bringing this show to life.”