Beamish----------------

Beamish is a tribute to the people of North East England and owes its existence to them. In the 1960s, the region was changing dramatically. The old industries of coal mining, shipbuilding and iron and steel making were disappearing, along with the communities that served them. It was essential that as much of their way of life was saved, and as quickly as possible, before it was too late.

The  Tanfield  Railway

The Railways original purpose was the movement of coal from nearby collieries 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.