Tanfield Railway In Colour The Preservation Years

2025 is the Tanfield Railway’s 300th anniversary, having been originally constructed as a waggonway to carry coal from the North Durham coalfields to the River Tyne. By the 1960s it was in the hands of British Railways before volunteers took over early the following decade. Since then the heritage railway has developed as a centre for the preservation of industrial locomotives, which operate over a 3-mile section from East Tanfield to Sunniside. Notable locations along the route include Causey Arch, the first bridge built to carry a railway in 1726, and Marley Hill, the oldest continuously operating engine shed, built in 1854. Although built for the transportation of coal, passenger trains now run regularly for visitors on Sundays, between March and October. Demonstration coal trains and an annual gala weekend also feature. All these events are possible due to the efforts of a dedicated group of volunteers of all ages who ensure that traditional skills are passed from one generation to the next