There is something quintessentially British and romantic about the sight and sound of steam trains, which instantly make people dream of the golden age of rail travel. There are lots of railways to choose from, and most of them are dog-friendly, offering an opportunity for people and their dogs to venture somewhere different, then hop off at a station of their choosing to explore some glorious countryside or woodland walks, before relaxing with a drink and a bite to eat, and then getting the train home again. Here are some inspirational ideas to help you embark on an unforgettable journey…
Tanfield Railway, Gateshead
Des with driver David Watchman
Tanfield Railway in County Durham is the world’s oldest railway, and this year is celebrating its 300-year anniversary. General Manager, David Watchman, who volunteered at the railway for many years, and now works there fulltime, describes this as his dream job. He is also a keen dog lover, and the proud owner of a Cocker Spaniel called Nelly who is a regular visitor to the station.
“At Tanfield, we recognise that dogs are part of the family, and they are very welcome to enjoy a heritage train ride with us, so they can experience the sights, sounds and smells,” he says. “For safety reasons, we ask that dogs are kept on lead at all times, but there is no charge for them travelling with us.
Nelly on board one of Tanfield's diesel locomotives, Reyrolles No.2
“The railway operates between Sunniside in Gateshead and East Tanfield and is a three-mile volunteer-run heritage line, which operates steam and diesel hauled trains, offering visitors a journey through centuries of railway history.
“Our beautiful stations and the surrounding areas provide ample space for people and dogs to stretch their legs before or after their ride. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll through picturesque landscapes, taking in the rich history and natural beauty of the region, and we have two dog-friendly cafes. Dog water bowls are provided, and dog treats, and we make them as welcome as possible.
“As this year is Tanfield Railway’s 300th anniversary, we have lots of celebrations planned, including the Great North Festival of Railways in May and Legends of Industry Gala in June, which will commemorate three centuries of railway heritage. We host lots of dog-friendly events, so keep an eye on our events calendar for upcoming activities that you and your dog can enjoy together.”
For more information about Tanfield Railway and the Tanfield300 celebrations, visit tanfield-railway.co.uk
Credit: Mark Fielding
If you are planning a trip to the Lake District with your dog, you might like to schedule a day visiting the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. The main terminus of the station sits within two UNESCO World Heritage sites - the Lake District National Park and Frontiers of the Roman Empire.
The railway’s fleet of beautiful heritage steam and diesel engines transport passengers, including dogs, from Ravenglass to Dalegarth for Boot, which is some 210 feet above sea level. The first public narrow-gauge railway in England, Ravenglass is celebrating its 150-year anniversary this year and has many exciting events planned.
The seven-mile, 40-minute journey, has some enchanting walks between and starting from the seven intermediate request stops, providing expansive views over the coastal estuary, and winding through ancient woodlands. As you travel up the line, you might be lucky enough to see greylag geese, curlew, shelduck, red squirrels, and buzzards. The journey was one of Alfred Wainwright's favourites and was immortalised in his classic books 'Walks from Ratty', and ‘Britain’s Favourite View.'
On-lead dogs are very welcome on the trains, as well as in the gift shops, the ticket offices, and the lower floors of the Turntable and Fellbite cafes. Dog tickets are £3 for the day and can be booked online, or you can enjoy a whole year of adventures by booking a Dog Rover season ticket for £25, which will encourage you to explore Eskdale and the wonderful Ravenglass for an entire year! On their first visit, every dog receives a season ticket, plus a special bandana, and £2 from every ticket sold helps to support the Dogs Trust.
For further information, visit ravenglass-railway.co.uk
Bure Valley Railway, Norfolk
There’s a dedicated dog event
It’s very dog friendly
The Bure Valley Railway offers passengers and their dogs the chance to experience a nostalgic trip on Norfolk’s longest narrow-gauge railway. The 18-mile round trip from Aylsham to the town of Wroxham takes about 45 minutes, following the sleepy meadows and ancient pastures of the River Bure. There are several stops along the way, and passengers are welcome to disembark at any one of them to walk with their dog and take in the views.
Susan and Andrew Barnes run the railway but have a fantastic team of dedicated staff and volunteers to help them.
“We are very dog-friendly here,” says Susan. “Most of the team have dogs and Andrew and I had two Cocker Spaniels, although, sadly, we lost one of them last year.
“Passengers can reserve individual compartments, and there is small charge of £4 per dog. Dogs are welcome everywhere on site, including the shop and in our café. There are some really nice walks along the route, and, in fact, some visitors choose to walk with their dog along the footpath one way and then get the train back.
“As most of our staff and volunteers have dogs, we like to host an annual event which we call the Dogs Day Out! This day is especially for dogs and their owners, and this year it is being held on 5 May, which is a bank holiday. The entire day is themed around dogs, so all the dogs travel free of charge, and are given gifts of homemade biscuits. It’s great fun!”
For more information on the Dogs Day Out and other events visit bvrw.co.uk
Case study
“We loved travelling on the Ffestiniog Railway!”
Dog trainer Lucy Creek and her husband, Rob, from Stratford-upon-Avon have enjoyed several dog-friendly steam train trips, but their favourite is the Ffestingiog Railway in the heart of Snowdonia.
“We had a lot of fun on this train ride,” says Lucy. “It’s a great trip, and I think it’s my favourite because not only is the scenery lovely during the journey, there are some fantastic walks at the end of it. I remember that we walked up to some gorgeous woods, and then found a beautiful lake, which was great for skimming stones! We also found some dog-friendly cafes to have a coffee and cake, so it was a perfect day out for all the family.
“I would say that if your dog is a little nervous, they could possibly find a steam train ride a little overwhelming, as there’s quite a lot of noise, and whistles, and the train itself judders a bit when it starts moving. Our Border Collie Jingle was a bit surprised by it all at first, so she sat on my knee for a while and then decided it was all good fun!”
Training Tips
Lucy has some good advice for people to consider before they take their dog on a steam train. “If you have a nervous dog, or one that’s never been on a train before, it might be a good idea to visit the station beforehand,” she says. “Keep your distance from the platform and just stand quietly with your dog so he can get used to things, and you can then reassure him and give him treats to help keep him calm. Make sure you don’t get too close to the steam trains as they can be very noisy! Obviously if your dog seems very worried, I would advise against taking them on the train, but all of ours really enjoyed it.”
Did you know?
The Ffestiniog railway has almost 200 years of history and once on board, passengers can enjoy a 13.5-mile journey from Porthmadog harbour to the slate-quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. The trains climb over 700 feet from sea level into the mountains through tranquil pastures and magnificent forests, past lakes and waterfalls, and around tight bends. The Ffestiniog Railway and its infrastructure are now an integral part of the UNESCO “Slate landscape of North Wales” World Heritage Site.
For more information, visit festrail.co.uk/about/
Did you know?
The most famous steam train in the world is probably the “Hogwarts Express,” which featured in the Harry Potter films and ran between London King’s Cross station platform 9 ¾ and Hogsmeade station.
In the film, Harry and his friends travelled in vintage MkI carriages on a 42-mile stretch of line between Fort William and Mallaig in Scotland. The famous train, christened 5972 Olton Hall, is currently on show and available for all to see at Warner Bros Studio Tour in London.