Step back in time and celebrate over 300 years of railway heritage at the Great North Festival of Railways hosted at the iconic Tanfield Railway. As part of Railway 200 and Tanfield300 celebrations, we’re inviting you to experience a truly spectacular event that honours the rich history and legacy of the world’s oldest railway.
Join us for an unforgettable month as we showcase visiting locomotives, Victorian carriages, and intensive timetables that bring steam train travel to life. Whether you’re a railway enthusiast, history lover, or simply looking for a fun family day out, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
Thrilled to announce that Furness 20, Britain’s oldest working standard gauge locomotive will guest star on 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th and 10th May, courtesy of the Furness Railway Trust!
Tanfield Railway, operating between Sunniside in Gateshead and East Tanfield in County Durham, is the world’s oldest railway, dating back to 1725. It is now a 3 mile volunteer-run heritage line that operates steam and diesel hauled trains, offering visitors a journey through centuries of railway history. As well as preserving an important collection of North East locomotives and rolling stock, the railway is home to the historic 1854-built Marley Hill engine shed and the renowned Causey Arch, the world’s oldest surviving railway bridge.
Tanfield traces its history back to over 100 years before the Stockton and Darlington Railway, when it was originally built as a waggonway to transport coal from the North East’s rich coalfields to the River Tyne. Using wooden rails and horse-drawn waggons, it was a pioneering development in railway history, laying the groundwork for future advancements in rail transport.