Exhibition to mark 50 years since steam

The Aln Valley Railway will be hosting a display of photographs and exhibits which document the steam workings on the Alnmouth to Alnwick line before it ceased 50 years ago.

The Alnmouth to Alnwick branch railway was the last in the North of England to use steam haulage. The locomotives used were based at the locomotive shed at Alnmouth, which was situated just a few yards from the branch passenger platform.

Steam haulage of the branch trains ceased on June 16 , 1966, and the steam locomotives left Alnmouth for use elsewhere or for ultimate scrapping.

Diesel passenger and freight trains continued for a short time before the line was closed completely, isolating Alnwick from the railway network.

To commemorate this the exhibition will be on display in the museum at the Lionheart Estate attraction.

The display will be available throughout the summer and can be viewed when the railway is open. There is no admission charge.

Later in the year the railway will be putting on another exhibition commemoratingthe local railway activities of the Canadian Forestry Corps.

See www.alnvalleyrailway.co.uk for more details.