Our Lives Series 9: featuring the Tanfield Railway

[yorkie]

This programme may be of particular interest to anyone who has been to, or has any connection with, the Tanfield Railway:

BBC One - Our Lives, Series 9, The World's Oldest Railway

Tanfield in the north east is the world’s oldest railway, and in 2025, it turns 300.

www.bbc.co.uk

BBC One - Our Lives, Series 9, The World's Oldest Railway

Tanfield in the north east is the world’s oldest railway, and in 2025, it turns 300.

www.bbc.co.uk

At 300 years old, Tanfield, in the north east of England, is the oldest railway in the world. Thanks to the tireless efforts of volunteer rail enthusiasts, what could have been a forgotten relic has instead become a thriving monument to the region’s industrial past and a showcase of the impact the region once had on the world.

Now the railway community who saved it is preparing for a fitting celebration. They’re working against the clock to complete specially restored engines, pass down heritage skills to the younger generations and create a moment in history with their biggest event yet.

We meet young train enthusiasts Sophie, Dave and Tom as they keep the railway going, alongside Peter and Bob who restored the railway in the 1970s.

With six steam engines and the oldest locomotive in the UK visiting the railway, along with 500 visitors, it’s a logistical challenge. There are just a few weeks to go until the big event. Will the restoration projects be finished in time?

The programme will be broadcast on BBC1 at 19:00 on Tuesday 15th July.

On a related note, I walked with a group of forum members alongside the route in 2022:

East Tanfield - Sunniside - Gateshead walk

On a very windy Saturday 29th January a group of forum members walked from Tanfield to Gateshead, including walking alongside the Tanfield Railway for part of the route. Early on in the walk we walked through a gorge paralleling the railway line; due to high winds there had been some fallen...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Ashley Hill]

I`ve just watched this and found it very enjoyable. There was none of the silly re-capping and fake dramas that are a feature of similar shows. It really does need another couple of episodes. It would be nice to see the recreation of the wagonway finished.

 

[overthere 2]

I watched it and what they seemed to do is show a short bit then jump too weeks/months later show a bit more then jump again which makes me think they had to cut a lot to shoehorn it in to 30 minutes but have got enough footage in the can that they could at least make one series of 6 - 8 episodes each about thirty minutes long also Beamish living museum is close by so they could also film there and combine the footage if it turns out there is not enough Tanfield footage.

This would have been the sort programme that would have been perfect on BBC4 if they had not closed it down so Im thinking perhaps show it at 7 or 7.30 Mondays or Tuesdays on BBC2 as something to relax too or perhaps Saturday evenings if you want an escape from the "Celebrity whatever" TV shows that the other channels show.