TANFIELD RAILWAY TRAIN RIDES & EXPERIENCES

Join us at Tanfield Railway this May for the Great North Festival of Railways, a highlight of our Tanfield300 celebrations! Taking place every weekend throughout May 2025, this festival promises a unique experience for rail enthusiasts, history lovers, and families alike. We’re thrilled to announce that Furness 20, Britain’s oldest standard gauge locomotive will guest star on 3rd, 4th, 5th, 10th and 11th May, courtesy of the Furness Railway Trust!

Join us for an unforgettable journey on a heritage steam train with unique Victorian carriages and lovingly restored locomotives. Enjoy a 6 mile round trip through beautiful rolling countryside and a spectacular wooded valley.

Join us on 20th, 21st & 22nd June for our iconic Legends of Industry Gala, one of the premier industrial railway events in the calendar and a highlight of our Tanfield300 celebrations!

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon tea on board a Victorian carriage hauled by a vintage steam locomotive as it passes through the picturesque Causey valley on the world’s oldest railway. Includes cakes, scones and sandwiches and a full days train travel!

Embark on a unique journey through time with Tanfield Railway’s Footplate Pass Experience.

Our Diesel Driver Experiences offer you the unique opportunity to take control of one of our historic diesel locomotives, either TIC No.35, Reyrolles No.2 or Ribblesdale No.6. This is a fantastic experience for any train enthusiast or anyone looking for an unforgettable adventure.

Embark on a journey back in time with the Tanfield Railway Freight Train Guard Experience. Enjoy a round trip and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells of being a guard on our heritage freight train.

Join us this September for our Diesel Pioneers Gala, a standout event in our Tanfield300 celebrations! Taking place on the 20th and 21st of September 2025, this gala is a tribute to the industrial diesel locomotives that played a vital role in Britain’s railway heritage.

Join us for the Gan’ Canny Gala on 18th & 19th October, the perfect send-off to Tanfield Railway’s main operating season and the conclusion of our Tanfield300 celebrations. Taking place this autumn, the event is a heartfelt nod to the famous North East phrase “Gan canny, man”, bidding farewell with a celebration of the region’s rich industrial heritage.

Join us for our Freight Train Days on 30th March, 27th April, 29th June and 28th September 2025, for a unique opportunity to witness the operation of our demonstration freight train alongside our vintage passenger services.

Step aboard the Tanfield Railway’s famous North Pole Express for a steam train journey to the North Pole! Visit Father Christmas in his fireside Grotto and receive a special gift, meet the North Pole Express ticket conductor and elves, and enjoy festive refreshments and activities. Prebooking required.