Tanfield Railway
Volunteer-run heritage steam railway on a line dating from 1725, with Victorian carriages, an 1854 engine shed and a locomotive collection.
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Over het museum
The Tanfield Railway runs along the route of a waggonway that dates back to 1725, a century before the Stockton and Darlington Railway, and it describes itself as the world's oldest railway. The line was built to carry coal from the collieries of the Tanfield area to the River Tyne for shipment, using the latest engineering of its day. Near the line is Causey Arch, built in 1727, which is described as the oldest railway bridge in the world.
Today the railway is rebuilt and operated by volunteers and presents the railway heritage of the North East. Visitors ride in Victorian-era carriages pulled by restored steam locomotives, among them engines built by Tyneside firms such as Robert Stephenson and Company. The carriages are similar to those that carried miners to and from work, and goods waggons recall how coal travelled from the Great North Coalfield to the wider world.
The railway's base is the Marley Hill site, where the engine shed was built in 1854 and is the oldest engine shed in the world still in use. Visitors can see the shed, the carriage shed and the yard on most operating days. Trains run on a three-mile line between Sunniside in Gateshead and East Tanfield in County Durham, with stations at Andrews House, Causey Arch and East Tanfield, and a full round trip takes about an hour.
Hoogtepunten
- Steam trains on a line dating from 1725
- Marley Hill Engine Shed, built in 1854
- Victorian-era carriages and restored locomotives
- Causey Arch, the oldest railway bridge, near the line
- Day Rover ticket allows unlimited travel for the day
- Dogs travel free
Vaste collectie
- Marley Hill Engine Shed and steam locomotives – The 1854 engine shed, the carriage shed and a collection of steam and diesel locomotives, carriages and waggons from the North East coalfield.
Toegangsprijzen & kortingen
| Volwassenen | £ 16,22 |
|---|---|
| Met korting | £ 14,31Seniors aged 60 and over |
| Kinderen & jongeren | gratisgratis t/m 4 jaar · Children aged 4 and under travel free but must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Senioren | £ 14,31Ages 60 and over. |
| Mensen met een beperking | –begeleider gratis · One carer travels free when accompanying a disabled visitor, who needs an age-appropriate ticket; proof of carer status may be asked for. |
| Afternoon Tea Train Ride | £ 40,28For ages 5 and over; includes cakes, scones and sandwiches and a full day's train travel. |
| Diesel Driving Experience | £ 157,50For ages 21 and over; 30 minutes. |
A Day Rover ticket allows unlimited travel on the day, and passengers may join or leave at any station. Booking online saves 10% on adult and senior tickets. Visitors with a valid bus ticket for the day get 25% off. A Tanfield Unlimited Ticket gives unlimited travel for 12 months, excluding premium, evening, Halloween and Christmas events. Special event trains such as the North Pole Express cost extra and need pre-booking.
Toegankelijkheid
- Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
- Lift: geen informatie
- Aangepast toilet
- Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
- Hulphonden welkom
- Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
- Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
- Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
- Audiodescriptie: geen informatie
A wheelchair-accessible compartment with ramp access is usually available on operating days but cannot be guaranteed, so visitors should contact the railway beforehand; it is not available on days when Marley Hill car park is closed. The railway runs through open countryside, with rough and sometimes slippery paths, slopes, gaps and steps. Accessible toilets with baby changing are at Andrews House, East Tanfield and the Marley Hill carriage shed. There are no toilets on the trains. Dogs, including assistance dogs, are welcome.
Kinderen & gezin
Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen
| Bezoekduur | ca. 60 min. |
|---|---|
| Toegang kinderen | gratis t/m 4 jaar |
- Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
- Verschoonruimte
The steam train ride is marketed as family-friendly, and children aged 4 and under travel free. Seasonal events such as the North Pole Express and Story Time with Mrs Claus are aimed at children. Baby changing units are at Andrews House, East Tanfield and the Marley Hill carriage shed.
Bereikbaarheid & parkeren
Met het openbaar vervoer
Andrews House (bus X30, X31, X32)
Go North East buses X30, X31 and X32 from Newcastle, Gateshead and Stanley stop at the Andrews House entrance from Monday to Saturday, and the X30 runs hourly on Sundays. The nearest main line stations are Newcastle Central and Durham.
Met de auto
Gratis parkeren
Free car parks are at Andrews House and Marley Hill (NE16 5ET) and at East Tanfield station (DH9 9UY); the Andrews House car park is open from 09:00 to 17:00 on operating days. There is no parking at Sunniside station. A free countryside car park near Causey Arch is a 5 to 10-minute walk from Causey Arch station.
Marley Hill and Andrews House are just off the A6076 between Stanley and Sunniside, west of the A1. East Tanfield station is on the road linking the A6076 with Tanfield village. Use NE16 5ET for Andrews House and DH9 9UY for East Tanfield.
Route plannenService & horeca
- Café
- Restaurant: niet aanwezig
- Museumwinkel
Volunteers run light refreshments at Andrews House station and hot food, breakfast, cakes and sandwiches at the East Tanfield tea room, both open 10:00 to 16:30 on operating days. A small gift shop is at Andrews House. Toilets are at both stations.
Evenementen & zaalverhuur
- Ruimtes te huur
- Privéfeesten
Train carriages can be hired for private events, and the site is available for TV and film hire.
Aanvragen & detailsJe bezoek plannen
| Goed om te weten | A full round trip takes about 60 minutes, but the ticket is valid all day. Trains are normally steam hauled, but a diesel locomotive may be used when no steam engine is available. Marley Hill Engine Shed has public access, and the carriage shed is open on most operating days. Experiences such as footplate rides and diesel driving can be booked. Steam locomotives can have hot surfaces and loud, sudden noises. |
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