Preserved Railways of the North East: Northumberland and County Durham

The North East of England has a long history of coal mining, ship building and heavy industry, set against the beautiful landscapes of Northumberland and Durham. Today volunteers work on the heritage lines in the region to showcase all aspects of the railways in this rich and varied area. The Aln Valley Railway is working to restore the branch line from the main line at Alnmouth to Alnwick, bringing tourists from the ‘Coast to the Castle’. North Tyneside Steam Railway operates on the old test track for the Tyne and Wear Metro system and incorporates the Stephenson Museum, whilst the South Tynedale Railway aims to replace the standard track from Alston to Haltwhistle with a narrow-gauge line running through the glorious North Pennines. The Heatherslaw Light Railway, the result of one man’s passion for trains, can also be found in Northumberland. Though not a heritage line, it can claim to be the most northerly steam line in England. In County Durham the Weardale Railway has restored the track from Bishop Auckland to Stanhope and runs a regular DMU service for locals, which enables access to the National Rail network.

These lines are explored here through stunning photographs that capture a bygone age in a range of settings, both pastoral and industrial.