Tanfield Railway
The Railways original purpose was the movement of coal
from nearby colleries to ships on the River Tyne.The oldest part, c1647,
was the Lobley Hill section, it had over 300 years of coal traffic when
closed in 1964. The surviving 1725 Sunniside to Causey section is now the
World's Oldest Working Railway and the Causey to East Tanfield section
dates from 1839.
Marley Hill engine shed, built in 1854 and in colliery use until 1970, is
where the loco fleet is maintained. the shed is open to the public every
day.
The railway also benefits as a tourist site from its proximity to Causey Arch. Causey Arch is the Oldest surviving railway bridge in the world (built 1725-26), standing 80 feet (24metres) above a wooded gorge. It is the main feature of a picnic area with displays explaining the early waggonways and a replica of an 18th Century coal waggon. The Tanfield Railway runs between Sunniside, Causey Arch and East Tanfield.
Although the majority of people go to Tanfield to see the working trains, especially the steam engines, photographers go to see the old trains in the engine sheds and sidings. All areas are open to the public and you can wonder around with camera and tripod and obtain wonderful shots of rusting trains and dilapidated carriages.
Contents are Copyright © 2006 George Ledger
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