Recreating the sights of a bygone era at Tanfield.

STEAM images reminiscent of a bygone age will be recreated at twilight for photographers this evening.

Photographers visiting the world's oldest railway, Tanfield at Marley Hill between Stanley and Sunniside, Gateshead, will be able to snap engines emerging majestically from the darkness billowing steam.

Centring on Marley Hill engine shed, the oldest working shed in Europe, photographers will have the chance to capture a number of cameos recreating typical scenes from yesteryear featuring five of the Tanfield Railway steam locomotives in action plus a vintage steam driven workshop.

As darkness descends the engine shed and locomotives will be specially lit to bring the once regular sight of steam at night back to life. Stars of the show will be 'Alfred' and 'Judy' famed throughout the world as the inspiration behind the Rev W Awdry's 'Bill' and 'Ben' of Thomas the Tank Engine fame.

'Alfred' and 'Judy' are instantly recognisable because of their small height, at just 7ft 6in around half that of a normal locomotive - which was necessary to work through a small tunnel where the engines spent their entire careers.

Tanfield Railway operations manager Chris Walker said: "The sight and sound of steam at night is something to be savoured and something which can rarely be seen in the 21st century."