The North Tyneside Steam Railway Association (NTSRA) is a not-for-profit charitable organisation dedicated to preserving and celebrating railway heritage in the North East of England. We were founded in 1977, originally under the name Monkwearmouth Station Museum Association, to support the then-Tyne & Wear Joint Museums Service in restoring railway-related artefacts at the goods shed in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland.
In the early 1980s, the local authority, North Tyneside Council, acquired the sheds that had previously been built for the Tyne & Wear Metro test track. A partnership between the Museums Service and the Council led to the decision to develop a live steam-hauled passenger railway rather than simply a static museum.
The NTSRA relocated to its present base at Middle Engine Lane in North Shields (adjacent to the museum site) and brought with them items of rolling stock under restoration. From 1987, dedicated volunteers worked to relay track from the museum to Percy Main; the single-track line was completed in 1989, with the first passenger services running in early 1991.
The Line & Location
Our heritage railway runs from Middle Engine Lane to Percy Main, following the former alignment of several industrial waggonways and later railway lines.
- The corridor we use was originally laid out for coal-waggonways dating back to the late 18th / early 19th century.
- Along the route you’ll pass the Silverlink Retail Park area and appreciate how the line traces the region’s industrial railway heritage.
What We Do
- We operate steam-hauled and heritage diesel services for the public, offering visitors of all ages the chance to ride and experience the steam era firsthand.
- Our volunteers maintain and restore locomotives and rolling stock, keeping the mechanical and operational heritage alive.
- The railway is deeply rooted in community and education: we host exhibitions, workshops, and special events to engage families, schools and heritage-enthusiasts. For example, the “Our Railway in Years Gone By” community exhibition was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and helped uncover the story of the industrial corridor from Backworth Colliery to the Tyne.
- We’ve also introduced a miniature railway project (gauge 7¼″) to broaden the visitor offer and provide even more family-friendly experiences on site.
Our Mission & Values
We aim to create a high-quality and authentic evocation of the steam age in the North East, making it accessible and enjoyable for all ages.
Key values include:
- Volunteer-driven dedication: All of our operations—from restoring engines to running trains—are supported by enthusiastic volunteer members.
- Heritage with heart: We don’t just preserve machines; we preserve stories, local history and the cultural impact of the railways in our region.
- Family-friendly engagement: We believe that heritage should be fun, interactive and inclusive. Children, families, and new visitors are very much welcomed.
- Education & community: Through our events, exhibitions and workshops we aim to inspire future generations about engineering, history and heritage.
Why It Matters
The corridor we use has a continuous history of rail activity stretching back over two centuries—from early horse-drawn waggonways in the 1780s, through rope-hauled and steam-worked industrial lines, to modern heritage operation today.
By preserving and operating this line, we keep alive a unique slice of the North East’s industrial past, reminding visitors where modern transport and local industries once began.
Join Us
Whether you’re interested in riding a steam train, bringing your family for a fun outing, volunteering with us, or just learning more about railway heritage, we’d love to welcome you. To find out how you can support us—through membership, volunteering or simply visiting—please head over to our Learn More page!