Although the coal wagons and locomotives have long disappeared, the Killingworth Waggonway still shapes the landscape of Rising Sun Country Park.
Old railway and waggonway routes often become valuable wildlife habitats. The Killingworth Waggonway is lined with hedgerows, scrub and grassland, providing food and shelter for birds, mammals, insects and many other species.
Its long, uninterrupted route also allows wildlife to move more easily through the park and beyond. As towns and roads have expanded around it, the waggonway has remained an important green corridor linking different habitats.
Today, visitors use the route for walking and cycling, while wildlife continues to thrive alongside it. What was once built to carry coal now serves a very different purpose.
The Killingworth Waggonway is a reminder of how landscapes can change over time. From horse-drawn wagons and early steam locomotives to a peaceful route through the country park, it remains an important part of Rising Sun's story.