Tourist and Enthusiast Railways

North East

Blackpool tram no.31 in the 1900s town at Beamish Museum

Lionheart (near Alnwick) to Greenrigg Bridge, about 1½ miles (2.4 km). Proposed extension to Alnmouth, a further 1½ miles (2.4 km). Standard gauge, steam or diesel hauled or diesel railcars. Operates most weekends and some weekdays, April to October, and a few days during the rest of the year.There is also 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge miniature railway at Alnwick.

Beamish Museum

Beamish (near Durham). Open air museum with a standard gauge electric tram route about 1½ miles (2.3 km) in length, a standard gauge steam hauled railway about ¼ mile (0.5 km) in length, and a working replica of an early 19th century steam hauled waggonway about 260 yards (240 m) in length. Museum open daily from mid April to late October, trams operate every day, as do one or both of the other two railways.

City of Sunderland Model Engineeering Society

Roker Park, Sunderland. Miniature railway about 300 yards (270 m) in length. 3½ in (89 mm) / 5 in (127 mm) / 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge. Mainly steam hauled. Club railway offering rides to the public Saturdays and most Sundays, May to October, daily during the Sunderland Illuminations from mid-October to mid-November.

Heatherslaw Light Railway

Heatherslaw Mill (near Coldstream) to Etal village: about 1¾ miles (2.8 km). 15 inch (381 mm) gauge. Steam or diesel hauled. Operates most days from April to December.

Lakeshore Railroad

South Marine Park, South Shields. Line about 550 yards (500 m) in length, 9½ in (241 mm) gauge. Steam hauled. Operates weekends and school holidays February to November, daily mid May to mid September, weather permitting.

Lancashire Mining Museum

Astley Green. Open air museum at with a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge railway. Current length of operating line about 300 yards (275 m), extensions proposed. Diesel hauled using former industrial locomotives.

Locomotion

Shildon. Railway museum offering rides on certain days over a 700 yard (640 m) length of standard gauge line, hauled by a replica of the Rocket locomotive

Saltburn-by-the-Sea

Miniature Railway Valley Gardens: 15 inch (381 mm) gauge line about 680 yards (620 m) in length. Diesel hauled with steam outline locomotives. Operates most weekends throughout the year, weather permitting.
Saltburn Cliff Tramway Lower Promenade to Marine Parade: the oldest surviving water-balance cliff lift in the UK, with a rise of 120 feet (37 m) at a gradient of 1 in 1.4 (71%). Track gauge 4 ft 2½ in (183 mm)

South Tynedale Railway

Alston to Slaggyford: 4½ miles (7.2 km). Possible future extension to Haltwhistle, a further 7½ miles (12 km). 2 foot (610 mm) gauge. Steam, diesel or battery electric hauled. Operates weekends and various other days, April to September. Advance booking recommended.

Stephenson Steam Railway

Stephenson Railway Museum, North Shields to Percy Main: about 1¾ miles (2.8 km). Standard gauge. Usually steam hauled. Operates Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, mid May to mid September, also Tuesdays during school summer holidays. Advance booking recommended.

Tanfield Railway

Sunniside to East Tanfield: 2½ miles (4 km), with a short branch to the principal station at Marley Hill (between Gateshead and Stanley). Standard gauge. Usually steam hauled. Operates Sundays, Bank Holidays, and some Saturdays, April to October.

Tees Cottage Miniature Railway

Tees Cottage Pumping Station, Darlington. Line about ¼ mile (400 m) in length, 5 in (127 mm) / 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge. Operates typically one weekend each month, April to November, to coincide with Pumping Station open days. Admission fee to the Pumping Station is payable in addition to train fare.

Teesside Small Gauge Railway

Preston Park, near Eaglescliffe. Line about 400 yards (360 m) in length, 5 in (127 mm) / 7¼ in (184 mm) gauge. Steam or battery electric hauled. Club Railway open to the public Sundays and Bank Holidays, Easter to October, also Wednesdays during school summer holidays.

Thorpe Light Railway

Whorlton Bridge, near Barnard Castle. Line about 770 yards (700 m) in length, 15 in (381 mm) gauge. Steam or diesel hauled. Private railway open to the public typically one Sunday each month from May to September.

Tyneside SMEE

Exhibition Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Line about 227 yards (207 m) in length, 5 / 7¼ in (127 / 184 mm) gauge; steam or battery electric hauled. Club railway open to the public typically one Sunday each month throughout the year, weather permitting.

Weardale Railway

Bishop Auckland West (near Bishop Auckland Northern Trains station) to Stanhope, 16 miles (25.7 km). Possible future extension to Eastgate, a further 6¼ miles (10 km). Possible future branch from Wear Valley Junction (between Bishop Auckland and Witton-le-Wear) to Crook, about 2 miles (3 km). Standard gauge, diesel railcars.

Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway

Queen Elizabeth II Country Park, Ashington. 2 ft (610 mm) gauge line about 1 mile (1.6 km) in length. Diesel hauled using former industrial locomotives. Not currently operating, reopening planned, unknown date.

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