The railway is based on nowhere in particular, but the surrounding buildings place it somewhere near the north east coast with the station named after a village near Durham City.

The railway is run as a preservation society and therefore any type of train may be seen running. Most of the passenger stock is biased towards the older Festiniog Railway types, but others appear at any time.

Buildings are made from "Morris Mouldings" (formerly "Ossett Mouldings") and "Links" with the odd cardboard and plastic kit.

The layout started exhibiting in November 1978.