Explore 300 Years of Railway Architecture at Tanfield Railway’s Heritage Open Days 2025

Tanfield Railway, the world’s oldest railway, is delighted to announce its Heritage Open Days 2025 programme, taking place on Sunday 14, Thursday 18, and Sunday 21 September, from 10.30am to 4pm. Entry is free of charge, offering visitors the chance to discover over three centuries of railway heritage and industrial ingenuity.

This year’s national Heritage Open Days theme is “Architecture”, inviting visitors to explore the buildings, bridges, and structures that surround Tanfield Railway, uncovering the stories, makers, and materials that shaped them. From grand monuments to modest working buildings, the theme focuses on:

• Buildings and Structures – from Gibraltar Bridge and Andrews House Station to the historic Marley Hill sheds and workshops.
• Makers and Materials – the people who constructed them, using bricks, stone, timber, iron, and other materials.
• Design and Construction – how the railway’s buildings and infrastructure have been created, adapted, and rebuilt over time.

What’s On

Creative Activities (Sundays 14 & 21 September)
Local artists will host drawing workshops in Marley Hill Carriage Shed, inspired by the shapes and colours of Armstrong Whitworth-built diesel locomotive D21.

Guided Tours: From the 1700s to the Future
Walking tours will uncover centuries of railway architecture and construction, visiting:

• Gibraltar Bridge
• Andrews House Station
• Marley Hill Carriage Shed & 5-road storage shed
• Plans for future developments
• The 1854 Marley Hill Engine Shed – the world’s oldest working engine shed, explored through its original design and major reconstructions in the 1930s and 2020s.

On the Footplate
Climb onto the footplate of a locomotive and learn about the role of the driver and fireman, alongside the controls that power these machines.

Children’s Activities
Young visitors can enjoy hands-on activities, including:

• Draw Your Own Engine Shed – design your railway building using traditional or modern materials.
• Colour Your Steam Locomotive – inspired by the elaborate colour schemes of Victorian locomotives.

Thursday 18 September Only

• Footplate Rides on Diesel Locomotive TIC No.35 – short rides available between 11am and 2.30pm (18+ only).
• Behind the Scenes at Marley Hill Signal Box – special guided sessions at 11am–12pm and 1pm–2pm, exploring its construction and the role of the signalman.

Trains and Refreshments

• Sundays (14 & 21 September) – heritage steam train rides will operate throughout the day (additional charge), with refreshments available at Andrews House and East Tanfield Stations.
• Thursday 18 September – non-train operating day, with light refreshments from Marley Hill Carriage Shed Canteen.

Derek Smith, Tanfield Railway Trust Chairman, commented: “Heritage Open Days are a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase not just our locomotives, but the remarkable railway buildings, bridges, and structures that have survived and adapted over more than 300 years. This year’s architecture theme is a perfect fit for Tanfield, and we’re delighted to open our doors for free so visitors of all ages can discover the people, materials, and stories behind the railway. With guided tours, hands-on activities, and even footplate experiences, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”

Tanfield Railway, located in Gateshead and County Durham, operates a three-mile heritage line. Established in 1725 to transport coal to the River Tyne, today the railway preserves and celebrates North East industrial railway history for future generations.

Heritage Open Days form part of Tanfield Railway’s Tanfield300 programme, celebrating the railway’s 300th anniversary throughout 2025 with special events, galas, and community activities.

For more information, visit www.tanfield-railway.co.uk.