Welcome to Railtrail Tours
A family firm with an ethos of honesty and integrity. Our passion for delivering quality escorted holidays by rail at great value fares along with consistently excellent customer service has stood us in good stead for over 40 years.
Big on Quality, Small Enough to Care
01538 382323
Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm
Experience a remarkable steam tour to Newcastle to explore the home of five steam railways. Enjoy a scenic steam journey on the oldest existing railway at Tanfield, ride the narrow-gauge line at South Tynedale, and discover the birthplace of railways at the Locomotion Museum. Visit the incredible Living Museum at Beamish plus the iconic Angel of the North on this nostalgic tour.
View Dates & Book6 days from £879
DEPARTS
Thursday 22 May 2025
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Visit Beamish – The Living Museum of the North
Enjoy a photo opportunity at the Angel of the North
Journey along the scenic Weardale Railway
Discover the birthplace of railways at the Locomotion Museum
Steam on the oldest existing railway at Tanfield Railway
Visit the historic Stephenson Steam Railway
Narrow-gauge steam at the South Tynedale Railway
Journey on the fascinating Aln Valley Railway
Also included in your Tour Fare:
5 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
DAY 1
Journey from your home station to Newcastle and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Royal Station Hotel, our base for the next five nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.
DDAY 2
Today we visit Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, an incredible experience through time. A living, working experience featuring a recreated town including an Edwardian bakery, a coal mine, a local pub, and a school amongst other things, all linked together by a historic tram system. On our return to Newcastle, we make a visit to The Angel of the North for a quick photo-stop.
B, DDAY 3
After breakfast this morning, we board our coach to Stanhope where we visit the Weardale Railway, an 18-mile heritage line running from Bishop Auckland to Eastgate in Weardale, County Durham, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Following our scenic journey, we make our way to the Locomotion Museum at Shildon, the birthplace of railways and housing the largest undercover collection of historic railway vehicles in Europe. Afterwards, we return to Newcastle in time for our evening meal.
B, DDAY 4
Today, we will take a private coach to Tanfield Railway for a 6-mile round trip behind steam through beautiful countryside and a spectacular wooded valley on the world's oldest existing railway. After our journey, we take the opportunity to view some of the locomotives in their huge industrial heritage collection before continuing by road to the Stephenson Steam Railway in North Shields. Here, we ride over their 2-mile line and explore the museum to discover fascinating displays and Killingworth Billy, the world's third oldest steam locomotive!
B, DDAY 5
This morning, we travel to Alston and the South Tynedale Railway to discover the narrow-gauge steam railway built over the trackbed of the branch from Haltwhistle to Slaggyford and we enjoy a return journey and a visit to the Loco Shed and Hub. This afternoon, we travel by road to the Aln Valley Railway for a ride over their short line between Lionheart and Greenrigg, part of the former branch to Alnmouth. Afterwards, we return to Newcastle in time for our final evening meal together.
B, DDAY 6
After breakfast, we bid farewell to Newcastle and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.
*Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.
B=Breakfast, D=Dinner
HOTEL
Royal Station Hotel, Newcastle
Located in the heart of the city centre and close to the railway station, the Royal Station Hotel is a Grade I listed building offering historic features with modern amenities including the Empire Restaurant & Bar, a heated indoor pool, and a sauna. The comfortable bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries, a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.
FARES
| Fare Region | First* | Standard |
| London: Kings Cross | £1,125 | £1,015 |
| Greater London | £1,145 | £1,019 |
| South of England | £1,159 | £1,029 |
| East Anglia | £1,209 | £1,055 |
| South West | £1,269 | £1,079 |
| Heart of England | £1,185 | £1,039 |
| Midlands | £1,075 | £965 |
| Yorkshire | £1,065 | £979 |
| North East | £935 | £909 |
| North West | £1,119 | £1,009 |
| South Wales | £1,205 | £1,049 |
| North Wales | £1,245 | £1,079 |
| Scotland | £1,015 | £955 |
*Please Note: Some local and regional train services are Standard Class seating only and First Class ticket holders will travel in standard class accommodation for these sections of their journey.
Join & Leave at Hotel £879
Single Room Supplement £260
5 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal
Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)
Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described
All excursions & admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
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