LEGENDS OF INDUSTRY GALA

Celebrate Industrial Railway Heritage at its Finest!

Join us this June for the Legends of Industry Gala, one of the premier industrial railway events in the calendar and a highlight of our Tanfield300 celebrations! Taking place on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd of June 2025, this spectacular event is a must-see for railway enthusiasts and families alike.

We are pleased to announce our guest star locomotive…. East Hetton, National Coal Board No.54, returning to Country Durham after nearly five-decades. With thanks to A.Boyce/P.Burke and Appleby Frodingham Railway – Scunthorpe for the hire of East Hetton NCB No.54.

Join us for an unforgettable weekend as we showcase a visiting locomotive, Victorian carriages, demonstration freight trains and an intensive timetable that will bring steam train travel to life. Whether you’re a railway enthusiast, history lover, or simply looking for a fun family day out, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

Event Highlights

Immerse yourself in the golden age of industrial railways with:

• SIX home fleet steam locomotives operating alongside guest star Andrew Barclay, No.54 (subject to availability).
• Line-ups of three Andrew Barclay locomotives from County Durham; home fleet locos Stanley and Horden, alongside visiting locomotive NCB No.54.
• An intensive train timetable, providing non-stop action across the weekend.
• Every child visiting Marley Hill Welcome Building or East Tanfield Station will receive a complimentary Edmundson ticket and a Tanfield300 flag.
• Stunning photographic opportunities at historic sites like Marley Hill engine shed and Causey Arch.
• Visit the Sunderland and District Classic Car Club at Marley Hill.
• Join one of our knowledgeable guides on a tour of Marley Hill Engine Shed.

East Hetton, National Coal Board No.54

East Hetton, National Coal Board No. 54 was bought from the Scottish locomotive builder Andrew Barclay in Kilmarnock to work at East Hetton colliery, near Kelloe. East Hetton colliery was one of the oldest in East Durham, being sunk in 1836. Heavy coal trains had to be hauled from the colliery to a connection with British Railways near Ferryhill some three and a half miles away. Apart from a couple of short spells on loan at nearby Trimdon Grange colliery during the 1960s, East Hetton, National Coal Board No. 54 spent two decades pulling coal trains from East Hetton.

November 1972 the locomotive moved over to the Durham coast and Blackhall Colliery for a few weeks, before moving again to Thornley coal washery that December. The following March it went back to East Hetton Colliery. Finally, it arrived at Fishburn Coke Works in May 1974. But when the works switched to using hired-in diesel locomotives in 1976, (Now numbered, No. 22) East Hetton, National Coal Board No. 54 was left without work. It would have been cut up for scrap were it not for preservationists from the Yorkshire Dales Railway.

Our Legends of Industry Gala is a unique opportunity to see East Hetton, National Coal Board No.54 work back in County Durham.

Plan Your Visit
Event Dates:

• Friday, 20th June 2025
• Saturday, 21st June 2025
• Sunday, 22nd June 2025

Train timetables will be released very soon.

Tickets & More Info: Tickets on sale now, save 10% vs the on the day price by booking online – check our website and social media for event updates and timetable information.

Don’t Miss Out!

The Legends of Industry Gala is a unique opportunity to experience history in motion, celebrate the power of industrial innovation, and enjoy a fantastic day out with friends and family.

Save the dates, and join us for an unforgettable journey through industrial railway heritage this June!

Part of the Tanfield300 Celebrations

As we commemorate 300 years of Tanfield Railway, this year’s Legends of Industry Gala promises to be a celebration of industrial railway heritage like no other. Witness the machines that powered Britain’s industrial revolution in action!