Preserving North East Industrial Railway Heritage on the World’s Oldest Railway
Heritage Steam Train Rides have finished for 2025, and the railway is now closed as we prepare for our North Pole Express trains (fully booked). East Tanfield Tea Rooms will remain open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 9.30am – 2.30pm. Our next train operating day will be our Mince Pie Specials on 27th, 28th & 31st December. Click here to find out more.
ENJOY BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE TRAIN RIDES AND EXPERIENCES AT TANFIELD RAILWAY
We celebrate our 300th birthday during 2025 #tanfield300
WHAT’S TO SEE AND DO AT TANFIELD
Step inside Marley Hill engine shed, the world’s oldest working engine shed
Take a walk across Causey Arch, the world’s oldest railway bridge
Experience the sights, sounds and smells of an industrial railway in North East England
CREATE MORE MEMORIES WITH OUR UNLIMITED TRAIN RIDE TICKET
For a one-off price, you can enjoy train rides along the world’s oldest railway for 1 year from the time of purchase, including day time events.
Price Starts at £40
LEARN WHY OUR VISITORS KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE!
★★★★★
A super afternoon with my 84 year young parents enjoying a delicious afternoon tea and riding in the Director's Carriage for the 6 mile journey. Staff were friendly, helpful and welcoming. Susan waited on us with lots of historical knowledge about the railway and plenty of humour. Thoroughly recommend.
– Ian P • Tripadvisor
Had a really lovely time, we enjoyed an afternoon tea on a steam train, great value as you can spend the whole day getting on and off the train for one price. I wish we had more time to spend there. All the people involved are lovely and really friendly and full of knowledge and they are all volunteers. Really worth a visit.
– Sandra L • Tripadvisor
Would highly recommend afternoon tea :-) The food was beautiful and the service onboard was brilliant. Afternoon tea on the train was something I'd never done before but would definitely do again in the future.
– Louise G • Tripadvisor
Absolutely brilliant family experience. The train is very authentic and all run very well by the volunteers. Great price of £30 for 6 people in a carriage. Lovely touch getting a hot drink at the midway point. Will visit again and next time try the 1st class and cream tea experience.
– Josie G • Tripadvisor
Worth a visit, well run by hard working volunteers. One line you can spend as much or little time as you wish, well run cafe at one end of track, very reasonable prices.
– Christine M • Tripadvisor
A must if you want to experience train travel as it would have been in the late 1800s. We were hauled along by Twizell, she was made in Newcastle in 1891. Great place, engines / sheds / stations and bridges. Staff dressed up add to the theatre. Cafe and toilets. Great walks through the woods at Causey Arch.
– Michael J • Tripadvisor