Quick Details
Adults
Ages 16-59
£ 19.08
Seniors
Ages 60+
£ 17.17
Children
£ 5.30
Infants
Ages 4 and under • Must be accompanied by an adult
Carers
Free travel when accompanying a disabled visitor • Disabled visitor will require an age appropriate ticket • Please bring proof
Say Goodbye to the Season in True North East Style!
Get ready for an incredible weekend of steam, heritage, and non-stop action! Our Run It Gala on 17th & 18th October is the perfect send-off to our main operating season, bringing together an extraordinary collection of rail and road steam to close out the year in style.
Event Highlights
Recreating Lost History: Visiting Star No. 68029
For one weekend only, we are bringing a long-lost piece of regional history back to life by recreating 1940s-built steam locomotive No. 68029—a full 63 years after it was scrapped!
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The History: Originally built as a World War II ‘Austerity’ locomotive and classified by LNER as a ‘J94’, No. 68029 worked across the North East. In 1962, it was borrowed by the National Coal Board to haul tens of thousands of tons of coal along the historic Bowes Railway system designed by George Stephenson in 1826.
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The Recreation: Thanks to the Roger Hibbert Locomotive Collection CIO and the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire, identical surviving locomotive Robert (currently masquerading as 68067) is visiting Tanfield to assume No. 68029’s identity for this special event. This recreation also marks the 200th anniversary of the influential Bowes line!
Full Steam Ahead: 7 Locomotives in Steam
Visiting star No. 68029 will join all 6 operational steam locomotives from our home fleet. An intensive timetable will be in operation across both days, featuring:
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Frequent passenger services running along our scenic line.
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Demonstration freight and coal trains recreating authentic industrial scenes.
Road Steam & Vintage Attractions
The action extends beyond the rails! Across the site, visitors can enjoy:
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8 Miniature Traction Engines & 2 Full-Size Traction Engines in steam.
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Displays from the Chester-le-Street Model Engineers.
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Vintage bus shuttle services provided by the North East Bus Preservation Trust operating between East Tanfield and Marley Hill.
Plan Your Visit
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Historic Sites: Explore the world’s oldest working engine shed at Marley Hill, marvel at Causey Arch, and soak up the atmosphere of a true industrial working railway.
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Food & Refreshments: On-site catering and tea rooms available at East Tanfield station and Andrews House station throughout the weekend.
- Train Timetables: Saturday 17th October & Sunday 18th October
Book Online & Save 10%!
Don’t miss the region’s ultimate end-of-season steam spectacle! Secure your tickets in advance online to save 10% compared to on-the-day prices.
Locomotives in Action (subject to availability)
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Joicey Collieries No.3, Twizell, built in 1891 by Robert Stephenson & Co at Forth Banks in Newcastle
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Stanley (later N.C.B No.1 & No.32), built by Andrew Barclays Sons & Co, Scotland in 1920
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Keighley Corporation Gas Department No.2 built by R & W Hawthorn Leslie & Co in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1911.
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Sir Cecil A Cochrane. built in 1948 by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Ltd in Newcastle for Redheugh Gas Works in Gateshead.
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National Coal Board No.49 was built in 1943 by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Ltd in Newcastle for the War Department, later moving to the NCB's Backworth system and surrounding collieries in Northumberland.
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Horden was built in 1904 for the large Horden Colliery in County Durham. It later worked at the nearby Shotton Colliery and ended its career here. By the end of its days at Shotton, it was in quite a rundown condition. In 1972, it was used to push fellow Shotton Colliery loco ‘Stagshaw’ onto its low loader when it was leaving the colliery for preservation at Marley Hill, the place where Horden itself would end up 8 years later.