South Tynedale Railway

The South Tynedale Railway is a preserved, narrow gauge heritage railway in Northern England and is the UK's highest narrow gauge railway. The line runs from Alston in Cumbria, up the South Tyne Valley, via Gilderdale, Kirkhaugh and Lintley, across the South Tyne, Gilderdale and Whitley Viaducts to Slaggyford in Northumberland. Former lineThe narrow gauge railway line is built on the track bed of the southern section former Alston Line, a standard gauge branch line between Haltwhistle and Alston which was closed by British Rail in May 1976. OperationsThe railway is operated by a charity, The South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society, which was registered in 1983. Passenger trains operate on the railway from Spring through to Autumn and attracts 40, 000 people to the district every year. Information about exact dates are on the railway's web site www. south-tynedale-railway.org. uk Special trains operate including Santa Special trains on certain days in December each year. Although no Santa trains ran in 2011 as volunteer efforts were put into completing the extension to Lintley in time for the 2012 season, they ran again in 2012 on two successive weekends, 15–16 and 22–23 December. In 2013 Santa trains ran on 14–15 and 21–22 December. At Alston station there is a cafe and gift shop both operated by the railway company. Free car and coach parking is available adjacent to the station which is located about 1 /4mi north of the town on Hexham road.

The South Tynedale Railway is a preserved, narrow gauge heritage railway in Northern England and is the UK's highest narrow gauge railway. The line runs from Alston in Cumbria, up the South Tyne Valley, via Gilderdale, Kirkhaugh and Lintley, across the South Tyne, Gilderdale and Whitley Viaducts to Slaggyford in Northumberland. Former lineThe narrow gauge railway line is built on the track bed of the southern section former Alston Line, a standard gauge branch line between Haltwhistle and Alston which was closed by British Rail in May 1976. OperationsThe railway is operated by a charity, The South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society, which was registered in 1983. Passenger trains operate on the railway from Spring through to Autumn and attracts 40, 000 people to the district every year. Information about exact dates are on the railway's web site www. south-tynedale-railway.org. uk Special trains operate including Santa Special trains on certain days in December each year. Although no Santa trains ran in 2011 as volunteer efforts were put into completing the extension to Lintley in time for the 2012 season, they ran again in 2012 on two successive weekends, 15–16 and 22–23 December. In 2013 Santa trains ran on 14–15 and 21–22 December. At Alston station there is a cafe and gift shop both operated by the railway company. Free car and coach parking is available adjacent to the station which is located about 1 /4mi north of the town on Hexham road.