Durham visitors to enjoy afternoon tea in Victorian train carriage used in The Railway Children

Visitors to a North East heritage attraction will be able to enjoy a special afternoon tea in style, inside a Victorian train carriage which featured in classic family film The Railway Children.

The Tanfield Railway, which offers the likes of old steam rides in Gateshead and County Durham - partially on a former horse-drawn colliery wooden waggonway, is believed the oldest in the world and next year will see it become the first railway to mark a 300-year anniversary. In keeping with its focus upon preserving the past, it is currently restoring a Victorian carriage to bring it back to its former glory.

This carriage was used as part of the set for the original much-loved 1970 movie The Railway Children, starring Jenny Agutter, and, once complete, the aim is to extend Tanfield's popular afternoon cream tea service so that visitors will be able to enjoy a unique first class experience inside.

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The No. 1173 carriage, described as a wooden-bodied four-wheel First Class Saloon, was built in 1870 for the North Eastern Railway. It was later renovated in 1892 to become an Officer’s Saloon and in the latter part of the century was used by the Superintendent of the Line.

After that, it was allocated to the District Engineer in Hull where it spent more than 30 years in service. Now volunteers at the Tanfield Railway’s workshops will be focused upon restoring the coach to its Victorian splendour.

The work is to be carried out during this year so that the carriage will be able to serve tea and cakes to future visitors as part of the railway's popular afternoon cream tea - which previously has come in for praise from local TV star Robson Green.

The Northumberland-born actor and presenter paid a visit to the attraction in 2022 during filming for his Weekend Escapes series and he said at the time: “We visited the extraordinary Tanfield Railway where we enjoyed afternoon tea inside the stunning Victorian carriages that journey along the oldest railway in the world!”

Tanfield Railway’s general manager David Watchman says: "Bringing carriage No.1173 back into active service will allow us to offer first-class party experiences and additional seating on our Cream Tea Trains, which have become increasingly popular with our visitors."

He adds that for anyone wanting to experience one of its cream teas this summer, there are still a few dates available. See here for information and to book.

Tanfield Railway also has services operating between East Tanfield, Andrews House and Sunniside on Sundays and bank holidays until late October.