Tanfield Railway and Causey Arch, County Durham

Two of the Longest Surviving Relics of the Industrial Revolution

Mar 16, 2009 Anthony Toole

Five miles south-west of the Tyne bridge, that links Newcastle and Gateshead, the world's oldest working railway runs past a gorge spanned by the oldest railway bridge.

A short distance along the Gateshead-to-Consett road, a subsidiary road leads off from Sunniside to Stanley. About a mile along this, a car park gives access to the Tanfield Railway.

History of the Tanfield Line

The main Tanfield line was built in 1647 to transport coal from the local collieries to ships waiting on the banks of the Tyne. In those days, the rails and wagons were made of wood and traction was provided by horses. The line was in continuous use, carrying both freight and passengers, until 1964. Of the 2½ miles of track that remain, the section between Causey Arch and East Tanfield dates from 1839, while that from Sunniside to Causey Arch was built in 1725, making it the oldest surviving working railway in the world.

The Tanfield Railway was taken over in the 1970s by a group of enthusiastic volunteers, who formed the Tanfield Railway Association. These keen amateurs repair, maintain and operate the railway throughout the year.

Marley Hill Engine Shed

Maintenance is carried out at the Marley Hill engine shed, which lies down a slope to the right, after one crosses the bridge from the car park. Having operated since 1854, this is believed to be the world’s second oldest railway shed. Visitors can enter the workshops to look at the engines under repair. Elsewhere on the site are huge collections of derelict engines, cranes and freight and passenger wagons, most of which are unlikely ever to run again, which together constitute a maze through which railway enthusiasts, and particularly children can easily pass an enthralling hour or more.

The Tanfield Railway

To the left of the bridge is Andrews House, the main station on the Tanfield Railway, where one can buy tickets for a journey, souvenirs from the shop or refreshments from the café. Trains operate from here on Sundays throughout the year, on Bank Holidays and on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the school summer holidays. Special events, averaging two each month, are held, commemorating Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day etc., with a North Pole Express running from the end of November until Christmas Eve.

From Andrews House, trains run to Sunniside in one direction, and in the other, past Causey Arch and along the wooded side of the deep gorge of Causey Burn, to the end of the line at East Tanfield. Passengers can alight at any of the stations and follow footpaths around or into the gorge.

Causey Arch

From Causey Arch station, a short walk brings one to the world’s oldest surviving railway bridge. Built in 1726, Causey Arch was, for thirty years, the longest single-span bridge in England. It reaches 105 feet (32 metres) across the gorge and stands 80 feet (24 metres) above the river bed. The builder, Ralph Wood, became obsessed with worry about the strength of the bridge, and committed suicide, by jumping from it, in 1727. Causey Arch never felt the weight of iron rails or a steam train, but fell into disuse after a fire destroyed the Tanfield colliery in 1739.

From the bridge, a set of footsteps leads down into the gorge, and a short distance downstream through this is an impressive sandstone quarry, which is a popular training ground for local rock climbers. Alternatively, one could follow a footpath up one side of the gorge for a mile as far as East Tanfield, returning along the other side. A combination of walk and train ride makes a very satisfying family outing on a summer day.

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