Bowes Railway
Bowes Railway
4.5
About
The Bowes Railway is unique amongst preserved railways. It is home to the only standard gauge rope hauled incline still in operation. A visit to Bowes includes a visitor trail around our scheduled industrial monument, the rope hauled inclines, a three mile steam hauled train ride and refreshment facilities. All of this can be found at a small but friendly railway at the heart of the North East.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingFull view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
273 within 3 miles
Attractions
336 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
49 reviews
Excellent
34
Very good
13
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
0
angie b
Cambridge, UK33 contributions
Aug 2023
We spent a wonderful couple of hours learning about the railway history. Run by lovely volunteers this place is a gem! We had a guided tour with Barry who was very knowledgeable and a joy to listen to. We met other friendly volunteers who spent time explaining other aspects from carpentry, metal work and engineering, with lots of demonstrations. Everyone went out of their way to make it enjoyable for all all our group. Run by volunteers who rely on donations, please visit to help these dedicated volunteers keep this historic railway alive.
Written 24 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveller1999
Durham, UK318 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Excellent 1940s event. Credit to all volunteers and participants.
But oh the tearoom/cafe. The coffee was the worst I have ever bought it was flavourless, just like barely coloured hot water. And charging £4 for a slice of cake and £2.50 for a decorated cookie! Rather exorbitant, methinks.
But oh the tearoom/cafe. The coffee was the worst I have ever bought it was flavourless, just like barely coloured hot water. And charging £4 for a slice of cake and £2.50 for a decorated cookie! Rather exorbitant, methinks.
Written 27 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Graham S
1 contribution
Nov 2021 • Family
We had an incredible few hours here on a school trip. The guides were very knowledgeable. The site is a great place to explore some fascinating local history. Highly recommended!
Written 11 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
amandahep15
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK207 contributions
Aug 2021 • Solo
Excellent guided tour by Dave this morning. As an ex miner he can really tell you first hand about the work in and around a mine.
This was George Stephenson’s cable railway built 1826 for John Bowes. The museum is like a sleeping giant as when the pit closed everything was just left and made into a museum. Volunteers keep it going and demonstrate machinery. They are repairing engines and trucks.
Selling mini tubs as plant containers to help with funds.
Definitely recommend a visit as it’s extremely interesting.
This was George Stephenson’s cable railway built 1826 for John Bowes. The museum is like a sleeping giant as when the pit closed everything was just left and made into a museum. Volunteers keep it going and demonstrate machinery. They are repairing engines and trucks.
Selling mini tubs as plant containers to help with funds.
Definitely recommend a visit as it’s extremely interesting.
Written 12 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jack Rochestwr
Chester-le-Street, UK4 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
Took my 2yr old son here as he’s just started to take an interest in trains and I love history of the north east in its industrial ages of days gone.
Plenty of trains for him to see, pinky and perky defiantly his favourites, but it was our tour guide Wilf who truly stood out to me, if you get the chance have a tour with Wilf he is a well of knowledge and lived in experience.
Our tour started at the entrance and I was hooked on his every word for over 90 minutes and honestly I could easily listen to another 90 minutes, having worked in most industries on show at bowes and having personal knowledge and anecdotes about his own experiences made our visit a lot more interesting than if someone was just reciting what they’d read.
It may have been light drizzle when we went but don’t let that stop you, your not made of sugar come and see these pieces of history in rain or shine, a lot of indoor areas with great displays.
I’ll be honest once I learnt that the bowes joiner shop made their own tank engine planters I was sold on purchasing one, £15 is a bargain as far as I’m concerned, handmade in a traditional joiners shop with traditional joiners tools, for £15 I’ve purchased a beautifully made engine planter and a piece of handmade history.
If I can leave you with one last thing it will be that Wilf is a Genuine authentic gentlemen who’s passion and enthusiasm about not just the bowes railway but the industry in general is outstanding.
Big thank you to all volunteers we met Davey the electrician and we had been served in the gift shop by Lynn, again friendly and polite people who help cement bowes railway as a great place for visitors and will keep our local history alive and well for years to come.
But Wilf thank you I now can feel quite smug about the batter plates on coal trucks next time I get asked about the metal plates on the sides.
Amanda is continuing to do a great job, unfortunately I did not get to meet Amanda but all member’s of staff and volunteers speak very highly about Amanda and how hard she works to make sure bowes can continue to share history with future generations.
Thank you bowes I will see you again in the future and hopefully will be able to have another tour with Wilf.
Plenty of trains for him to see, pinky and perky defiantly his favourites, but it was our tour guide Wilf who truly stood out to me, if you get the chance have a tour with Wilf he is a well of knowledge and lived in experience.
Our tour started at the entrance and I was hooked on his every word for over 90 minutes and honestly I could easily listen to another 90 minutes, having worked in most industries on show at bowes and having personal knowledge and anecdotes about his own experiences made our visit a lot more interesting than if someone was just reciting what they’d read.
It may have been light drizzle when we went but don’t let that stop you, your not made of sugar come and see these pieces of history in rain or shine, a lot of indoor areas with great displays.
I’ll be honest once I learnt that the bowes joiner shop made their own tank engine planters I was sold on purchasing one, £15 is a bargain as far as I’m concerned, handmade in a traditional joiners shop with traditional joiners tools, for £15 I’ve purchased a beautifully made engine planter and a piece of handmade history.
If I can leave you with one last thing it will be that Wilf is a Genuine authentic gentlemen who’s passion and enthusiasm about not just the bowes railway but the industry in general is outstanding.
Big thank you to all volunteers we met Davey the electrician and we had been served in the gift shop by Lynn, again friendly and polite people who help cement bowes railway as a great place for visitors and will keep our local history alive and well for years to come.
But Wilf thank you I now can feel quite smug about the batter plates on coal trucks next time I get asked about the metal plates on the sides.
Amanda is continuing to do a great job, unfortunately I did not get to meet Amanda but all member’s of staff and volunteers speak very highly about Amanda and how hard she works to make sure bowes can continue to share history with future generations.
Thank you bowes I will see you again in the future and hopefully will be able to have another tour with Wilf.
Written 1 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Owen Smith
Gateshead, UK10 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
Really good and teaches you a lot about trains. My great great grandad was the manager here. Really nice place to visit in a lovely village.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joanne R
Dumfries, UK287 contributions
Sept 2019 • Family
Host to a mini car event. Fantastic lication and they offered plenty for children - colouring(they had tailored to cars) and construction/imaginative play - new addition from last year. Staff are so friendly and welcoming.
Written 3 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Northern Mines & Collieries
Durham, UK30 contributions
Oct 2018
We will go again, a great experience to see and learn more about the history of how the North east Labour force toiled for the rest of the country and landmark innovation that built the first railway so the future could be built, then they cast the working man aside after building their empire which is now turning on the descendants of all the real families of the country who own this land or did until we allowed them to take it away by using the Lisbon Treaty. We are now but slaves to these private families who have all the money and let us play with paper they print. .
Written 2 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
280DavidC
Brookmans Park, UK128 contributions
Aug 2019
A museum on the site of one of the first and last coal Railways in the North East. At £2.00 per person to enter with a free guided tour this has to reflect the fact that it is staffed entirely by volunteers. The railway dates back to the time when Newcastle and Durham were large mining entries (hence the expression carrying coals to Newcastle); that was before Scargill and Thatcher between them destroyed the industry and the lives and the communities of the people who risked their health and life down the mines.
Well worth a visit for anyone interested in history and especially for train buffs.
Well worth a visit for anyone interested in history and especially for train buffs.
Written 4 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Millie024
Llantwit Major, UK532 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
We were the first people to arrive, and a helpful volunteer immediately pounced on my husband and ensured we were visiting the museum, in a friendly way. He then took us around the site, for one and a half hours, far longer than we had expected to stay. The time went very fast, as what we were shown was so interesting. The Bowes railway museum commemorated a colliery railway down to the coal staithes on the river Tyne, that is the only remaining example of a standard gauge cable powered line. The small but highly skilled volunteer group have achieved a great deal, but the railway could really do with lots more help, vast injections of cash, and possibly more visitors. It was good to see the blacksmith's shop, the model of a collier's home, with the drop down bed in a cupboard, and the way that the rail system worked. Also to hear that an owl has begun to roost in the engine shed. There is a small cafe, staffed by a very pleasant lady. Both the volunteers we spoke to were infectiously enthusiastic, and it was a pleasure to meet them.
Written 27 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rileydog2015
Gateshead, UK23 contributions
Do you do a Christmas train ride please?
Damien L
3 contributions
Oh, sorry, you'll have to get in touch with them and ask. They are open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Remember, its ran by volunteers so there isn't full time salaried staff on hand on the other days.
ianhcurry
1 contribution
Is museum open Friday please
robkitchuk
Stirling, UK92 contributions
Hello, unfortunately the site is currently only open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and the first weekend of each month. Apologies.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingBOWES RAILWAY: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Bowes Railway
- Bowes Railway is open:
- Thu - Sat 10:00 - 15:00
- Hotels near Bowes Railway:
- (1.21 mi) Bowes Incline Hotel
- (3.05 mi) Park Farm Hotel
- (2.21 mi) Eslington Villa
- (2.57 mi) Premier Inn Newcastle (Washington) hotel
- (3.61 mi) Hotel du Vin Newcastle
- Restaurants near Bowes Railway:
- (0.35 mi) The Guidepost
- (1.46 mi) Sunarga Indian Restaurant
- (0.36 mi) Rominos Pizza
- (0.39 mi) Angel View Inn
- (2.17 mi) Le Olive Verdi