Railway

In 1891, the North Eastern Railway was approached and asked to build an extension of their line to the thriving harbour at Seahouses, but they refused. A company was formed locally to build the line. The North Sunderland Railway was born. Just a year later in 1892 the North Sunderland Railway Act authorised the construction of line, branching the main line at Chathill and running to Seahouses, with intermediate stations at Fleetham and North Sunderland.

Plans were drawn for the 4 mile line and construction began in 1896, although the station in Fleetham was abandoned to help with costs; despite an act being passed in 1898 to extend the line to Bamburgh.

On the 1st August 1898, the Chathill to Seahouses line was opened to freight and opened fully for passengers on the 18th December the same year.

The North Sunderland Railway owned 1 locomotive, the'Bamburgh', built by Manning Wardle & Company in Leeds in 1898. It had a 0-6-0 saddle tank, 3' 6" diameter wheels and was painted light green with black edging. The buffer beams were red and white. The initial rolling stock, five, four-wheeled coaches were purchased from the Highland Railway in 1898, but before being put into service, their vacuum brackes were replaced with Westinghouse air-brakes. Although five were purchased, only 3 were in regular use, believed to still have the Highland Railway livery, but with the North Sunderland Railway (NSR) initials.

By 1911, the coaches needed replaced, 3 were sold and 2 converted into open carriages for carrying quarrystone. A coach was purchased from the North Eastern Railway and was used until 1937. With yellow lettering on a brown background, it was used as an amalgamation of 1st, 2nd and 3rd classes.

In 1933, a second locomotive was purchased, the 'Lady Armstrong'. A 0-4-0 diesel electric engine, with 3ft diameter wheels, she was built by Armstrong Whitworth & Company in Newcastle. Black in colour, with red buffer beams, she remained in service until 1946, when major engine damage occured resulting in her being scrapped 3 years later.

Until 1951, when the line closed, the North Sunderland Railway only ever owned 2 locomotives, although others, such as 'Farne Islander' were hired in. Various passenger coaches where owned, with the ex-North Eastern Railway saloon purchased in 1924 remaining in service until the line closure. Apart from the aforementioned modified coaches, all other freight vehicles were hired in.

On the 16th June 1952, the North Sunderland Light Railway Company recieved a Winding-up order and the tracks were lifted by the Motherwell Machinery and Scrap Company in 1953.

Little today can be seen of the Seahouses station other than the wall that is adjacent to the main carpark, although the lines themselves are still evident.