North East England

Day 1 – Arrival in Leeds

Make your own way to Leeds and meet up with the tour leader this evening for a welcome dinner.

Day 2 – Middleton & Keighley & Worth Valley Railways

Established in 1758, the Middleton Railway holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest continuously working railway. It was originally built to transport coal from the Middleton Colliery to the thriving markets of Leeds. We make a return journey by private steam charter before a behind the scenes look at the workshops to learn about its fascinating history. We transfer to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway where we tuck in to a buffet lunch before boarding our private steam train for a return trip and later visit the engine sheds.

Day 3 – National Railway Museum

Today we take the train to York to visit the National Railway Museum. Spend the morning exploring the halls and marvel at the iconic locomotives and rolling stock. The afternoon is free to take in the sights of York or spend longer at the museum before we take an afternoon train back to Leeds.

Day 4 – Settle & Carlisle & Weardale Railways

Enjoy a morning train journey over the picturesque Settle and Carlisle line as far as Appleby and transfer to the Weardale Railway for a return journey before travelling to our hotel in Bishop Auckland for a 4- night stay.

Day 5 – Locomotion Museum & Darlington Hopetown Museum

Travel to Shildon to explore the Locomotion Museum, which tells the story of the North East’s role in early railway development illustrated by six themed roads of railway vehicles in the newly built hall. Later we journey by train to Darlington to visit the recently reopened Hopetown Museum in Darlington.

Day 6 – Stockton & Darlington Railway

We take a return journey along the full length of the Tees Valley line which covers most of the Stockton and Darlington Railway route to Saltburn by the Sea - exactly 200 years to the day the railway first opened! The modern diesel trains of today are a far cry from the steam trains of yesteryear, but the scenery and history is still worth the journey! We have some free time in Saltburn to explore, with visits to the cliff railway, pier and miniature railway all possible.

Day 7 – Tanfield Railway & Beamish

A morning transfer to the Tanfield Railway for a return journey on a line which claims to be the world’s oldest railway dating back to 1621! We then make our way to the living museum at Beamish for an afternoon free to explore before returning to Bishop Auckland for our final night stay.

Day 8 – Return to Leeds for our Farewells

After breakfast we transfer to the station and take the train via Darlington to Leeds for a lunchtime arrival.