Join Tanfield Railway this June for the Legends of Industry Gala, one of the premier industrial railway events in the calendar and a highlight of our Tanfield300 and Railway 200 celebrations! Taking place on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd of June 2025, this spectacular event is a must-see for railway enthusiasts and families alike.
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.