Stephenson Steam Railway
Railway museum and heritage steam railway in North Shields with George Stephenson's locomotive Killingworth Billy and free museum entry.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum stands on a corridor of former coal waggonways that once carried coal from Northumberland collieries to the River Tyne. A stationary rope-haulage engine known as the Middle Engine gave Middle Engine Lane and the museum site their name. The route later became part of the Blyth & Tyne Railway and, in the 1970s, the test track for the Tyne and Wear Metro, which left behind the railway workshops at Middle Engine Lane.
Volunteers began preserving local railway heritage in the 1970s. The group that became the North Tyneside Steam Railway Association moved to Middle Engine Lane in 1981 and worked with North Tyneside Council and Tyne & Wear Museums to create a working steam railway rather than a static display. By 1989 volunteers had relaid a line from the museum to Percy Main, and the first passenger trains ran in 1991.
Today the museum is managed by North East Museums on behalf of North Tyneside Council. It displays locomotives, rolling stock and exhibitions on George and Robert Stephenson in North Tyneside, the Blyth & Tyne Railway, the Tyne and Wear Metro and the area's colliery lines. The best-known exhibit is Killingworth Billy, built by George Stephenson in 1816 and the third-oldest surviving steam locomotive in the world. Heritage trains run on selected days along a four-mile return route, and a woodland walk has been created on the former industrial land.
Highlights
- Killingworth Billy, built by George Stephenson in 1816
- Heritage steam and diesel train rides on selected days
- Surviving Tyneside Electric carriage No 3267
- Interactive steam engine Clio for visitors to drive
- Woodland Walk with an art and heritage trail
Permanent exhibition
- Museum displays and locomotives – Exhibitions on George and Robert Stephenson in North Tyneside, the Blyth & Tyne Railway, the Tyne and Wear Metro and the colliery lines, with historic locomotives and rolling stock.
- Founded
- 1982
- Operated by
- North East Museums (for North Tyneside Council)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Visitors who can show evidence of a disability (for example Blue Badge, Freedom Pass, DLA or PIP letter dated within two years) can bring one carer free of charge. |
|---|---|
| Heritage train ride, adult | £9£11 with an optional donation |
| Heritage train ride, concession (60+ and under 21s) | £7£9 with an optional donation |
| Heritage train ride, child aged 4 and under | free |
Museum entry is free and donations are welcome. Charges apply for heritage train rides. Trains do not run on Saturdays. Rides are operated by volunteers and are subject to the availability of a locomotive and crew.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is all on one level, with a short gentle ramp from the car park, automatic doors at the entrance and some uneven floor areas where rail tracks are embedded. The trains cannot be used in a wheelchair because the carriage doors are only 55 cm wide; wheelchair users must be able to transfer themselves onto the carriages. A wheelchair can be borrowed from the museum shop. There is an accessible toilet with baby changing at the entrance; the nearest Changing Places toilet is at Rising Sun Country Park. Induction loops are in the learning room and at the museum shop. Two accessible parking bays are close to the entrance path. Assistance dogs are welcome in the museum.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
Family-friendly events run through the season, including Easter and Christmas train rides. The museum has an under-5s area with dress-up, signals, a clock-setting game, a sensory board and a train puzzle, and an interactive engine called Clio that visitors can drive. Children aged 4 and under ride the heritage trains free. Breastfeeding is welcome.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Cobalt South · 4-min walk
The museum is one and a half miles from Percy Main Metro station. Bus 19 runs from Percy Main Metro station, bus 42 from Wallsend Metro station and bus 310 from Haymarket Bus Station to Cobalt South, a four-minute walk from the museum.
By car
Free parking
Free car park next to the museum entrance, reached from Middle Engine Lane, with two accessible bays and four bays for parents with toddlers. The car park is gated and only open during museum opening hours.
- Accessible parking
The museum is signposted from the A19/A1058 junction, behind Silverlink Retail Park and next to the Blyth & Tyne cycle route.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
The Waggonway Tearoom is open on selected days during the running season. There are indoor and outdoor picnic areas and a gift shop at the museum entrance.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
The railway can be hired for corporate or private use, including photo shoots and filming.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The heritage train journey is a four-mile return trip of about 35 to 40 minutes. School workshops are available through the learning team. |
