Bishop Auckland to Saltburn Line
Have a day out by train along the Bishop Auckland to Saltburn Line and experience a wide range of tourist attractions!Introduction
Bishop Auckland to Saltburn Line
This area of the North East is known as the Cradle of the Railways.Much of the line between Bishop Auckland and Saltburn follows the original Stockton and Darlington railway, the beginning of the modern railway system. The line takes you to busy market towns like Bishop Auckland and Darlington, pretty villages such as Heighington and Dinsdale, and the beautiful seaside resorts of Redcar, Marske and Saltburn.
Auckland Castle photo courtesy of Anita Foster
Information
Useful Information
Tickets
Purchase a Tyne & Tees Day Ranger ticket and hop on and off trains all day throughout the North East.
Where to purchase
Tickets can be purchased at any staffed station or from conductors on trains when starting your journey from unstaffed stations or when the ticket office is closed.
Bicycles on the train
Our trains are able to carry a maximum of two bicycles - these are carried free of charge on a first-come-first-served basis.
Community Rail
Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership: www.bishopline.org
Tourist Information
- Bishop Auckland: www.durham.gov.uk
- Darlington: www.visitdarlington.com
- Middlesbrough: www.visitmiddlesbrough.com
- Saltburn: www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Timetable Information
For full details of train times, please pick up timetable guide 3.
Alternatively, call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.
Locations
Bishop Auckland
The bridge next to the station carries the main road to the town centre and follows the original Roman road, Dere Street. The town owes much of its early history to the Bishops of Durham, whose residence was in the Bishop's Palace just off the Market Square. You can also join the Weardale railway, a heritage service which runs between Bishop Auckland and Eastgate.
Shildon
Shildon is known as the Cradle of the Railways and was the site of the original works for the Stockton and Darlington railway. Part of the works now form part of the National Railway Museum's Locomotion Museum, next to Shildon station.
Heighington
The Stockton and Darlington railway originally ran through the area, and it was here in 1825 that Locomotion No. 1 was first placed on the rails. During World War ll, Newton Aycliffe had a munitions factory, where thousands of women, dubbed 'Aycliffe Angels', worked in dangerous conditions to help the war effort. The site was chosen because the surrounding marshes were regularly shrouded in mist, providing good protection from air attack. Today, there is a beautiful village green, and in 2006 the village was named BBC's Perfect Village.
North Road
North Road is the oldest station on the line. The original station forms part of the Head of Steam Museum, housing the original Locomotion No. 1. You can also visit Skerne Bridge, made famous in the John Dobbin painting of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington railway.
Darlington (Bank Top)
Darlington is a busy market town where the line crosses the East Coast Main Line (London to Edinburgh). It has many parks and leafy suburbs, and Lewis Carroll grew up near here. Built in the twelfth century, St Cuthbert's church in the town centre is sometimes known as the 'Lady of the North' and is one of the largest churches in the region.
Dinsdale
Dinsdale is a small village lying in a bend in the River Tees. It has seen many archaeological discoveries, including Bronze Age axes and Anglo-Saxon and Viking artefacts. The village church even has eight fragments of Anglo-Saxon crosses built into its porch. Durham Tees Valley International Airport is nearby. The line between Dinsdale and Thornaby follows the original 1825 route of the Stockton and Darlington railway.
Eaglescliffe
Eaglescliffe station is just a short walk from Preston Hall Museum, whose collections focus on domestic and working life over the last 200 years. The centrepiece of the museum is a reconstructed Victorian street, and there are also several period rooms on display. Surrounding the museum is Preston Park with open spaces, adventure playgrounds and walks down to the River Tees.
Thornaby
At the approach to Thornaby, the line leaves the original route of the Stockton and Darlington railway and crosses from the north to the south bank of the River Tees. At the Tees barrage is a white-water canoe course that is being upgraded to serve as a training area for the 2012 Olympic Games. Adjacent to the station is the Victoria Bridge, built in 1887, which connects Thornaby to Stockton. Nearby is the 'Infinity Bridge', named because its reflection in the water resembles the mathematical symbol for infinity.
Middlesbrough
The town centre has a good range of shops and a large number of stunning Victorian buildings, most notably the town hall. By contrast, there is the impressively modern Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA), which hosts exhibitions of fine art and craft from 1900 to the present, featuring work by internationally acclaimed artists. The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum is in Stewart Park on the south side of the town, and the iconic Transporter Bridge, which carries cars and foot passengers over the river in a suspended cradle, can be seen from miles around.
Redcar
The town is a popular seaside destination with a fantastic beach that extends for about seven miles, from the mouth of the river all the way to Saltburn. Enjoy the horse racing at the famous racecourse or visit the RNLI Museum. For stunning coastal views, why not walk or cycle along 'The Stray', an area of grassland stretching all the way to Marske.
Marske
Mentioned in the Doomsday Book, Mersc meant marshlands, and it saw William the Conqueror crush the English rebellion against the Norman invasion in 1068. Marske Hall dates from 1625 and was owned by Sir James Pennyman, who was defeated by the forces of Oliver Cromwell on Marske beach in 1643. Today, Marske is a pretty and peaceful fishing village, home to 'Winkie's Castle', a small museum in a 17th-century house on the High Street.
Saltburn
This attractive seaside resort was originally built for passengers from the railway in the 1800s. The pier was constructed in 1869 and has recently been refurbished - it is the last existing pier on the Yorkshire Coast. Joining the pier to the town is the original water-balanced cliff railway. It still operates and is the oldest working system in the country.
Places to visit on the Bishop Auckland to Saltburn Line
Bishop Auckland
- Auckland Castle www.auckland-castle.co.uk
- Weardale Railway www.weardale-railway.org.uk
Shildon
- Locomotion Museum www.nrm.org.uk/locomotion
North Road
- Head of Steam Museum www.thisisdarlington.com
Eaglescliffe
- Preston Hall Museum www.visitteesvalley.co.uk
Middlesbrough
- Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art www.visitmima.com
- Captain Cook Birthplace Museum www.captcook-ne.co.uk
- Transporter Bridge www.visitmiddlesbrough.com
Redcar
- Redcar Races www.redcarracing.co.uk
Marske
- Winkie's Castle www.winkiescastle.co.uk
Saltburn
- Saltburn Pier and Tramway www.visitteesvalley.co.uk
Connections
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