Accessibility at Stephenson Steam Railway

• Free museum entry, charge for heritage train rides and special events
• Seating available around the museum and Woodland Walk area.
• Picnic tables located at the entrance of the museum 
• We have an accessible toilet with baby changing facilities
• Assistance dogs welcome. 
• If you have any questions, please contact the team on (0191) 2771 433 or info@stephensonsteamrailway.org.uk.

Entry

The museum is free entry to all, there is a charge for heritage train rides.

Car parking

The museum has its own car park next to the museum entrance. Access to the car park is from Middle Engine Lane. 

Parking is free. There are two parking bays marked out as accessible parking bays for blue badge holders, plus four parking bays for parents with toddlers. These are all located close to the access path to the museum.

Please note this car park is gated and only accessible during museum opening hours. The car park is also the drop off point for private cars, taxis and coaches. 

We do not accept any responsibility for cars left over night and cannot provide access after the gates have closed.

Public Transport

Metro: The nearest Metro stations are ‘Percy Main’ on Station Road and ‘Northumberland Park’, close to Earsdon Road. Both are a 5-10 minute bus ride away.

Bus: The nearest bus stops are located a few minutes walk from the museum on Middle Engine Lane and the Silverlink North road leading to the Cobalt Business Park.

For more information on public transport telephone the NEXUS traveline on 0871 200 2233 or visit the traveline website. 

There is a short gentle ramp leading to the main entrance from the car park. One set of automatic double doors lead into the entrance. The second set of doors into the museum has push-pad access at accessible height.

The museum is all on one level. It has a very simple layout with aisles between the rows of large exhibits. The floor is uneven in some areas, where rail tracks are embedded in the surface. 

The platform at Middle Engine Lane can be accessed by a tarmac path which is wheelchair accessible.

We regret that currently we are unable to offer wheelchair access to our carriages as the door openings are restricted to 55cm.  Wheelchair users must be able to self-transfer onto the passenger carriages to ride on our heritage trains. As a heritage railway, we are exempt from certain aspects of the Equality Act.

For further help or information, please email us at info@stephensonsteamrailway.org.uk 

Seating

There is seating situated throughout the museum. 

Fire Alarms

The fire alarms give an audible bell and visual, flashing lights warning. If you are likely to be unable to hear the alarms or will need assistance to evacuate the building in the event of a fire alarm please tell a member of staff on your arrival.

Wheelchair hire

A wheelchair is available for visitor use. Please ask a member of staff at the museum shop who will be able to assist. 

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is welcomed throughout the museum.

Dogs on site

Dogs are allowed on the trains and are welcome at the site in general with owners requested to follow the site guidelines: 

• Dogs must be on a lead and accompanied at all times, please do not leave your dog unattended
• Dogs are unable to enter the museum or Woodland Walk area
• Owners must clean up after their animals and dispose of waste in the bins provided
• Except for assistance dogs, dogs are not allowed inside the museum building

 A bowl of water is available upon request and complimentary dog treats can be found at the reception desk.

Accessible toilets and baby changing 

There are toilets and a standard accessible toilet in the main entrance. Baby changing is available in the accessible toilet.

The nearest Changing Places toilet is Rising Sun Country Park, Whitley Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE12 9SS. 

Public telephone

There is no public telephone available. Please approach staff at reception to order taxis or if you need to make an urgent phone call and they will assist you.  

Download a copy of the venue plan.

Clio Interactive Engine 

We have an interactive engine named Clio, so that visitors can experience what it is like to drive a steam engine. Buttons and levers can be pushed and pulled and there is also sound coming from this interactive. This interactive has is of a suitable height for wheelchair users. 

Under 5’s area

In the museum, we have an under 5’s section, In this area, children can:

· Dress up as a train guard and use signals to talk with the train driver

· Have a go at setting a clock to the right time for when the train will arrive and depart,

· Have a go at playing with our sensory board

· Move the train parts into the correct position on our train puzzle

Outdoor areas

Outside of our museum, we have a miniature light railway, Woodland Walk area and train platform where you can take a heritage train ride.

Miniature Light railway

Volunteers from the North Tyneside Steam Railway Association have created a miniature railway which runs on selected days.  

Woodland Walk area

The Woodland Walk is a former industrial site which has been transformed into a nature space to be enjoyed by all. Please be aware that there are uneven surfaces, open water and industrial objects which can cause harm if not treated with care. The woodland walk is made up of four distinct sections:

· An Art & Heritage Trail: From Source to Sea Objects with links to local and regional industries.

· The Meadow An area of scrubland which has been transformed into a haven for wildlife.

· The Cinder Path Combining industrial heritage and nature. (This area has an uneven surface and steps-only access.)

· The Sensory Area An area to explore the heritage of the site through your senses.

There is an induction loop in the Learning Room and at the museum shop.

Assistance Dogs

We welcome assistance dogs. A bowl of water can be provided, please ask a member of staff. 

All information panels and signs are in written English with a font size of no less than 14 points. 

Please contact us if you need any help prior to your visit.

Find out more about our events for schools, families and adult learners.

In the main entrance there is a seating area. Our cafe, the Waggonway Tea Room (open on selected days), serves a range of hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes and homemade soup. We have both indoor and outdoor picnic areas that visitors are welcome to use for eating packed lunches. 

There is a gift shop selling a range of souvenirs, books and railway memorabilia. It is located on the left just inside the entrance to the main museum display area.

Throughout the year, the museum holds a wide variety of events and activities. For more information, visit our What's On page.

For school workshops, please contact learning@stephensonsteamrailway.org.uk. 

Concession Tickets

Carer Tickets are available for free. Ticket holders who are able to provide evidence of their disability will be entitled to bring one carer free of charge. 

For proof of disability please bring of the following forms of documentation: 

• Blue Badge
• Freedom Pass
• DLA letter
• PIP letter. 

Please note that all documentation should be dated within 2 years.

Although we make every attempt to make the venue as accessible as possible, aspects of the building and the nature of the exhibits on display sometimes make it difficult to make everything fully accessible.

Here are some examples:

i) The locomotives and rolling stock are heritage items which in many cases have not been designed with accessibility in mind. It is often not possible to enhance physical access whilst retaining the historical integrity of the objects.

ii) Many of our exhibits need to be protected from damage caused either accidentally by visitors or indeed by the environments in which they are displayed. While some of our exhibits are displayed in cases we do try to put items on open display where the object is not at risk. However this is not always possible.

There are other occasions when items on open display need to be protected and cannot be touched. Furthermore, since many of these items are large mechanical machines and rolling stock they can also present a hazard to visitors. In these instances you may find that there are some low slung barriers which will indicate how close you can get to something. Again if you require further assistance, please ask a member of staff but remember you may not be allowed to touch it.

All staff attend a programme of core training which includes customer care, diversity and disability awareness. They are here to help visitors enjoy the time they spend in our venues.

If there is anything that we can do to make your visit more enjoyable please contact us at info@stephensonsteamrailway.org.uk, we will be happy to assist you.