The Association that operates the railway was formed in 1977 as The Monkwearmouth Station Museum Association for the purpose of assisting the then named Tyne & Wear Joint Museums Service to restore railway related items at the former Goods Shed at Monkwearmouth, Sunderland. The first items to receive members attention were Consett Iron Company's diesel locomotive No.10 and steam locomotive A.No.5.

In 1982/4 North Tyneside Council acquired the sheds that had been built for the Tyne & Wear Metro Test Track. A partnership was formed between Tyne and Wear Museums and the Council to construct a steam-hauled passenger railway rather than a static transport museum. The North Tyneside Steam Railway Association formed at the site after the Monkwearmouth Station Museum Association relocated to Middle Engine Lane, bringing with them some items of rolling stock they had been restoring in the Monkwearmouth station's goods shed, which was in a deteriorating condition. From 1987, volunteers conducted the works necessary to relay a single track from the museum to Percy Main. The line was completed in 1989 and the first passenger trains ran in early 1991.

The railway runs from Middle Engine Lane to roughly two miles towards Percy Main terminus, going past Silverlink retail centre and roughly following the old British Rail lines. Trains run every Sunday and bank holiday from April to October, including Santa Specials in December, every year.

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