South Tynedale Railway
Encyclopedia
The South Tynedale Railway is a heritage railway
in England and is England's highest narrow gauge railway. The route runs from Alston
in Cumbria
to Kirkhaugh
in Northumberland
via the South Tyne Viaduct, the Gilderdale Viaduct and the Whitley Viaduct. The railway is operated by a charity, which was registered in 1983.
Passenger trains operate on the railway between April (or from Easter weekend if in March) through to October each year and currently (2011) attract 40,000 people to the district every year. Special trains operate including Santa Special
trains on certain days in December each year. There will be no Santa trains in 2011 as volunteer efforts are put into completing the extension to Lintley in time for the 2012 season. 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 a quarter mile north of the town on the Hexham road.
The present line is two and a quarter miles in length and there are plans to extend the line by a further two and a quarter miles to Slaggyford. The line is a narrow gauge and is built on the southern end of the track bed of the disused standard gauge Haltwhistle to Alston Line
. This connected with the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway
at Haltwhistle
. The standard gauge line was closed on 1 May 1976 and the track bed is mostly intact.
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
in England and is England's highest narrow gauge railway. The route runs from Alston
Alston, Cumbria
Alston is a small town in Cumbria, England on the River South Tyne. It is one of the highest elevation towns in the country, at about 1,000 feet above sea level.-Geography:...
in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
to Kirkhaugh
Kirkhaugh
Kirkhaugh is a village in Northumberland, England close to the A689 road north of Alston, Cumbria.- Governance :Kirkhaugh is in the parliamentary constituency of Hexham.- Transport :Railways...
in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
via the South Tyne Viaduct, the Gilderdale Viaduct and the Whitley Viaduct. The railway is operated by a charity, which was registered in 1983.
Passenger trains operate on the railway between April (or from Easter weekend if in March) through to October each year and currently (2011) attract 40,000 people to the district every year. Special trains operate including Santa Special
Santa Special
A Santa Special is a special Christmas rail service, common on heritage steam railways ,, where children are given the opportunity to meet "Santa Claus"....
trains on certain days in December each year. There will be no Santa trains in 2011 as volunteer efforts are put into completing the extension to Lintley in time for the 2012 season. 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 a quarter mile north of the town on the Hexham road.
The present line is two and a quarter miles in length and there are plans to extend the line by a further two and a quarter miles to Slaggyford. The line is a narrow gauge and is built on the southern end of the track bed of the disused standard gauge Haltwhistle to Alston Line
Alston Line
The Alston Line was a standard gauge branch line railway that operated in the counties of Northumberland and Cumbria in England. Starting at its junction with the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway line at Haltwhistle, the line ran to the town of Alston...
. This connected with the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway
Newcastle and Carlisle Railway
The Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, occasionally referred to as the Tyne Valley Line, is a railway line in northern England. The line was built in the 1830s, and links the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in Tyne and Wear with in Cumbria. Formal opening took place on 18 June 1838.The line follows the...
at Haltwhistle
Haltwhistle railway station
Haltwhistle railway station is a railway station which serves the town of Haltwhistle in Northumberland, England. It is located on the Tyne Valley Line east of Carlisle...
. The standard gauge line was closed on 1 May 1976 and the track bed is mostly intact.