The line connected village and port of Seahouses to the railway network via a junction at Chathill.

Authorised in 1892 the North Sunderland Railway was built privately to serve the newly constructed harbour at Seahouses.

[1] Construction started in 1896, and the line opened in 1898 for freight on 1 August, and passengers on 18 December.

The line was rarely profitable and thus the proposed station at Fleetham, and the extension to Bamburgh were never constructed.

[2] The construction of the station provided a link to the fishing port and for day trips along the coast and to the Farne Islands.