Travel back in time to when coal was king at the Stephenson Steam Railway. Take a trip on our two-mile industrial railway, passing the factories and businesses it once served. Ride in style in our 1950s British Railways carriages and listen as the locomotives work hard, climbing the steep gradients away from the Tyne towards the old coalfields of Northumberland. In the station yard at Middle Engine Lane, explore a large variety of wagons and rail vehicles that were once a common sight on Tyneside’s railways. Inside the museum, discover a fascinating collection of steam, diesel, and electric locomotives, each with a unique story to tell. Step inside the cab of Clio and try your hand at driving a steam engine on our interactive simulator. Learn about George and Robert Stephenson and their groundbreaking influence on steam locomotive development through engaging animations and historic artefacts. On selected days, enjoy light refreshments in the Waggonway Tea Room. In the museum, you can see steam, diesel, and electric locomotives that once worked in collieries, steelworks, and power stations across Tyneside and beyond. Killingworth Billy, built by George Stephenson in 1816, is the third-oldest surviving steam locomotive in the world. The Tyneside Electric Parcel Van, built in 1904 and beautifully restored at the museum in the 1980s, is the only surviving vehicle from the Tyneside Suburban Electric Railway. In the yard, a variety of historic railway vehicles are on display, showing how trains were used for all kinds of essential railway work. On steam running days, be sure to visit the water tower, where you can watch the fireman filling the locomotive’s tanks while the driver oils the moving parts of the engine—just as it was done in days gone by.