104-683: The North Tyneside Steam Railway and Stephenson Steam Railway are visitor attractions in North Shields , North East England . The museum and railway workshops share a building on Middle Engine Lane adjacent to the Silverlink Retail Park . The railway is a standard gauge line, running south for 2 miles (3.2 km) from the museum to Percy Main . The railway is operated by the North Tyneside Steam Railway Association (NTSRA). The museum
208-598: A "call for assistance" device. Other minor modifications include improved door seals, more concise interior signage and removal of the green boarding lamps to facilitate new audio warning equipment for door operation. Some Metrocars also featured air conditioning boxes at their A end to control the conditions within the drivers cab, these were later removed from the units due to overhead line (OHLE) clearance issues if trains were to be placed on wheelskates . Passenger counters were integrated above doors to help Nexus analyse trends in passenger levels. These features were removed from
312-671: A 1.5-mile (2.4 km) test track in Backworth . The track was built on the route of an old mineral wagonway formerly part of the North Tyneside Steam Railway . It had a two-lane car shed and a mock station platform, along with a short tunnel section which consisted of concrete tunnel segments laid at ground level; the tunnel was later demolished to allow testing of prototype cars for the Hong Kong MTR , also built by Metro-Cammell, since these cars have
416-633: A Halloween Special, a 1940s weekend, Beer Festival (Ale by Rail), Winter Warmers and Santa Specials. Billy was built by George Stephenson in 1816, and was one of the various pioneering designs now known as the Killingworth locomotives , because they were built for use in Killingworth Colliery . It is often referred to as the Killingworth Billy to differentiate it from Puffing Billy , built by William Hedley in 1813 for
520-542: A bomb planted by the IRA exploded tearing a 3-foot square hole in one of the tanks. A second device, which did not detonate, was later found nearby. Six hundred gallons of crude oil leaked from the tank, but was caught in a channel designed to prevent leakages. A second explosion occurred in June 1994, perpetrated by the same bombers. With its fishing industry and shipbuilding history, a number of maritime related companies remain in
624-439: A community festival was organised on the fish quay, during which the fleet of fishing boats would be blessed and various local talents would entertain the crowds. At its peak, the festival attracted 600,000 visitors. A smaller-scale family festival, in order to save costs, was held annually between 2002 and 2006, before it too was scrapped as a money-saving measure. Tyne %26 Wear Metrocars The Tyne and Wear Metrocars are
728-612: A contract to perform a three-quarter life refurbishment at Doncaster Works , which included making them compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 . The first was completed in February 2012, with the last in July 2015. Cost overruns and technical issues resulted in only 86 being completed, with 4001, 4002, 4040 and 4083 remaining in service in un-refurbished condition. Because they did not comply with
832-657: A fleet of light rail vehicles manufactured by Metro-Cammell for the Tyne and Wear Metro in North East England between 1978 and 1981. For operation on Network Rail controlled tracks between Pelaw Junction and Sunderland , they are designated on TOPS as the British Rail Class 599 . Most were refurbished between 2010 and 2015 by Wabtec Rail at Doncaster Works and are scheduled to be replaced by Class 555 rolling stock from 2024. The design of
936-466: A full rewire and repairs to the compressed air system. Electric locomotive No.E4 was built for the Harton coal system at South Shields. It was stored outside for many years, but after a successful lottery bid and sponsorship from the local Siemens Microchip Company it was restored to working order by using battery power rather than an overhead supply. The batteries are carried in a converted coal wagon. It
1040-655: A lottery grant provided to redevelop the Stephenson Railway Museum. Among a lot of refurbishment in the museum building, this has also seen the name change from the Stephenson Railway Museum to the Stephenson Steam Railway. In 2023 the Railway was awarded lottery funding to develop a woodland walk covering a two acre site. The museum is managed by Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums on behalf of North Tyneside Council . Volunteers of
1144-679: A major industry of employment. The Smith's Dock Company was another major employer for many years, eventually closing in 1987. Shipyards have been in existence in North Shields since near its founding. The smaller yards built the Northumbrian coble , a small inshore fishing vessel with a lug sail , well known in the North East. Larger yards built wooden sailing collier brigs , used to transport local coal to London. Eventually these small yards were replaced by larger yards such as
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#17327764379101248-550: A meadow upon which the estate was built. On Monday, 9 September 1991, Meadow Well was featured heavily in the news across the UK as riots broke out which continued for three days. Many properties were damaged, cars burned out and the local community centre burned down. As a result of the riots, the local housing was gradually improved by the council over the next three years through demolition and rebuilding, as well as renovation. A number of community development organisations, including
1352-682: A need for powerful shunters at certain industrial railways like the Consett Iron and Steel Company. Withdrawn in 1972 it passed to Beamish Museum and then the Tyne & Wear Museums Service at Monkwearmouth Station, Sunderland, where the Monkwearmouth Station Museum Association began its overhaul from a very derelict condition. It returned to steam in 1986. It was overhauled in 1995/6 and again in 2013/14. Removed from service and placed back on static display in
1456-588: A number of railways in the United Kingdom, including the Woodhead line , but is now unique. Each Metrocar has its own Brecknell Willis pantograph for collecting power from the overhead line. The sections of Metro owned by Nexus have a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph) in some areas, which matches the top speed of the rolling stock. The vehicles have a minimum curve radius of 50 m (160 ft), although there are no curves this tight except for
1560-464: A three-tiered system: North Shields has a number of churches and religious groups: Many are members of the ecumenical Churches Together in North Shields, itself a member of Churches Together in England . Both are associate members of Churches Together in North Shields. In 2009, seating inspired by Plasticine , the inventor of which was born in North Shields, was installed on Bedford Street in
1664-460: A train to a complete stand in as little as 150 m (492 ft) from the maximum service speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). Metrocars have three acceleration steps, and four braking steps, and an additional emergency brake step which drops the emergency magnetic track brakes. Many features of the Metrocar are operated by compressed air which is stored in a reservoir under the driving cab at
1768-500: A transport museum. 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
1872-530: A two-road maintenance shed constructed in Middle Engine Lane. Once the Metro system opened in 1979, the test centre closed and the track infrastructure was dismantled, leaving only the shed. The last BR line (Percy Main to Backworth) closed in 1983 and the tracks were lifted, ending over 200 years of railway use of the corridor. In 1982/4 North Tyneside Council acquired the test sheds as the nucleus for
1976-530: A very large profile. The test track was closed in 1980, and it is now home to the Stephenson Railway Museum . The prototype cars are very similar to the production fleet, with the exception of having Kiekert passenger doors, which were refitted to match the specification of the production fleet before entering passenger service. The prototype cars were also fitted with two different types of block coupling equipment (one at each end), allowing
2080-614: A year, larger premises were needed. Meetings moved to 53 Tyne Street, North Shields and in 1879 to Camden Street, North Shields. In 1920 the YMCA moved to a building in Bedford Street (which is still owned by the YMCA and now occupied by the Citizens Advice Bureau) where it remained until 1938, when it moved to the present building and the current registered office at Church Way, North Shields. Between 1987 and 2001,
2184-515: Is currently not operational due to the traction battery becoming life expired. The locomotive is now on static display in the museum with the converted coal wagon joining the demonstration coal train rake. No. 3267 is the sole surviving example of the stock built-in 1904 for the Tyneside Electrics system, the first suburban electric railway in the country. The system used third rail power and trains formed into multiple units. The vehicle
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#17327764379102288-403: Is immediately south of the point where the Metro crosses the railway, paralleling the length of Brunton Street, to which there is pedestrian access for passengers wishing to leave the train there. Entry to the museum is free; rides on the trains requires purchase of a ticket. The museum building also contains a gift shop and toilet facilities, and a cafe which opens on certain event days. The cafe
2392-438: Is managed by Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums on behalf of North Tyneside Council . The railway runs along the alignment of various former coal wagonways, which were later used by the Tyne and Wear Metro Test Centre; the museum and workshop building used to be the test facility. The museum is dedicated to the railway pioneers George Stephenson and his son Robert , with one of George's early locomotives, Billy , housed in
2496-608: Is on static display in the museum, on loan from the National Rail Museum. The three ex-British Rail Mk1 carriages are used for the passenger trains. They were used on the Kings Cross suburban lines. They wear BR Midland Maroon Livery. They were preserved by the Bluebell Railway between 1973 and 1975, and were obtained by the museum in 1986. The rail crane (No.DRS 81140, prev. DB 966401, 81/001, 24247)
2600-484: Is part of the North Tyneside conurbation . Over the years, North Shields has grown from a small fishing village to incorporate the nearby areas of Chirton, Preston , Billy Mill, Percy Main , East Howdon and Marden estate. The 2011 definition of the town of Tynemouth includes North Shields, which means a population figure can only be given as a combination of wards rather than as a USD. In September 2020,
2704-463: The Fish Quay , on the riverside to the south-east of the town centre, has included the construction of luxury apartments and the conversion of existing buildings into restaurants and bars alongside the working quay. In November 2018, North Tyneside Council announced plans for further development to enhance the area as a food and drink destination. The site of the former Smith's Docks was acquired by
2808-478: The Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2002, unit 4032 was temporarily decorated in a special gold livery; it was then returned to the red and yellow livery, which it carried until refurbishment. Between 2012 and 2015, 86 Metrocars were refurbished and repainted in a black and yellow livery. Until 2017, prototype unit 4001 carried its original cadmium-and-white livery whilst 4002 carried an advertisement for
2912-491: The Monkwearmouth station 's goods shed, which was in a deteriorating condition. From 1987, volunteers under supervision 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. In 1994, Tyne and Wear Development Corporation and North Tyneside City Challenge made a grant available to North Tyneside Council to extend
3016-527: The Newcastle and North Shields Railway . These were run by what eventually became the Blyth & Tyne Railway . Passenger services ceased around 1864 when they opened an alternative route further to the east via Monkseaton (now the present Metro route). At its peak, there were four lines on the corridor, with three stationary engines in close proximity to the museum. Having already been in use on other parts of
3120-535: The North Tyneside Council published prospective plans for regeneration of the town centre, which include developing a distinctive route to the Fish Quay, pedestrianisation of key streets, consolidation of retail units, creation of a town square, renovation of Northumberland Square and the establishment of a transport hub. At the time of publication, the plan was not financed and the council sought
3224-777: The Ribble Steam Railway , No.B415776 arrived in 2018 from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway . Lambton Van 21 arrived in August 2020 from the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway and is privately owned. The wagon has been moved in to the carriage and wagon shop for re planking. The former BR Petroleum tank wagon arrived in early 2019 from the Middleton Railway . The other two tank wagons are privately owned and arrived in early 2020 from
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3328-515: The Ribble Steam Railway . The 5 ton Type BD van and 12 ton Shocvan are stored in the open, as bodies only, i.e. demounted from their chassis. The museum site includes a free car park. Bus stops on Middle Engine Lane itself provide direct connections west to Haymarket bus station in Newcastle or east to Blyth bus station via Whitley Bay . Other bus stops on Atmel Way in the adjacent Cobalt Business Park provide other connections, including to
3432-462: The Wylam Colliery . Killingworth Billy ran until 1879, and it was presented to the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1881. It is a stationary exhibit, mounted on a short stretch of period track with block-mounted rails, to remain compatible with horse-drawn trains. Horses would have been tripped up by conventional sleepers. An 0-6-0 side tank built in 1951 as works number 7683. It is thought she
3536-750: The Cedarwood Trust, Meadow Well Connected and the Phoenix Detached Youth Project, have worked in the area for many years. The film Dream On (1991) is set on the estate. Following the Meadow Well riots , in July 1992 the Government granted £37.5 million over five years to regenerate that area of the town, as part of the City Challenge scheme. An extensive regeneration programme costing £16 million saw
3640-499: The Cramlington wagonway built a new line away from the corridor further to the west, while still passing close to it at the Middle Engine Lane and Percy Main ends. By the 1840s, coal was also coming from Blyth and Bedlington on the east coast, although this ceased after improvements to Blyth harbour in the 1880s. The opening of the route to Blyth also saw passenger services being run to Percy Main from 1841, for connections with
3744-511: The Disability Discrimination Act 1995, they were restricted to operating peak hour services. The refurbishment saw the trains undergo corrosion correction work, to repair damage as a result of the trains' steel and aluminium construction, new seating, flooring and interior finish, in addition to improved saloon and emergency lighting. A new larger wheelchair space has also been created at the end of each car, featuring
3848-604: The Metrocars was partly derived from that of the German Stadtbahnwagen B . However, they were built by Metro-Cammell in Birmingham , and were not fitted with the lights and indicators that would have allowed them to run on streets. Each Metrocar consists of two semi-permanently connected coaches mounted on three bogies , with the middle bogie being a Jacobs Bogie . The outermost bogies are powered and
3952-472: The Metrocars, with deliveries scheduled to commence in late 2022. This was part of a £362M programme which included a new depot. After receiving feedback from 23,000 people, Nexus added an additional 12 tip-up seats, handrails in the wheelchair areas, brighter markings and changes to the interior design of the trains. Nexus expect the Stadler trains to begin to enter service in 2024. In March 2023, it
4056-539: The Newcastle and North Shields Railway, was redeveloped between 1980 and 1982 for the Metro. It was subsequently refurbished in 2012. The Tyne and Wear Metro links North Shields to Newcastle city centre , and to other destinations in Tyne and Wear including Whitley Bay , Newcastle Airport and Sunderland . The town is also served by stations in Percy Main and Meadow Well . The Tyneside Tramways and Tramroads Company also operated an electric tramway service in
4160-481: The Newcastle burgesses remained for a considerable time but despite this, North Shields continued to develop as a centre for fishing and exporting salt, produced at local saltpans. For a considerable period the Newcastle burgesses, known as the Hostmen , who controlled the export of coal from the Tyne, resisted the export of this commodity from North Shields. The town was originated on a narrow strip of land alongside
4264-562: The North East. It was conceived in their Templetown workshops to satisfy a need for a 300 hp shunter with mechanical transmission, and was based on a Hunslet design. It was built by reusing many parts from steam locomotives. Eventually redundant to Sentinel's with hydraulic transmission, it was donated in 1976 to the Tyne and wear Museums Service by the work's later owner, the British Steel Corporation. Work has begun to return No.10 to operational condition which includes
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4368-450: The North Tyneside Steam Railway Association (NTSRA) operate the railway and assist with the maintenance and conservation of locomotives and rolling stock. The NTSRA is managed by a committee that meets quarterly and has an Annual General Meeting yearly. The building on Middle Engine Lane serves as the railway workshop and the museum's indoor exhibition space, the workshop being on the left-hand side. The railway yard has three sidings entering
4472-693: The Prior of Tynemouth , Germanus, decided to create a fishing port to provide fish for the Priory which was situated on the headland at the mouth of the River Tyne. He also supplied ships anchored near the priory. A number of rudimentary houses or 'shiels' were erected at the mouth of the Pow Burn where the stream enters the Tyne, as well as wooden quays which were used to unload the fishing boats. The quays were also used to ship coal from local collieries owned by
4576-431: The Priory. Soon the population of the new township numbered 1,000. The burgesses of Newcastle upon Tyne were determined to preserve the custom rights that they had enjoyed up till then, which covered the whole length of the river. They successfully petitioned the king in 1290 and managed to suspend trade from the new settlement. It was forbidden to victual ships or to load and unload cargoes at North Shields. The opposition of
4680-507: The Tyne Dock and Engineering Company and the Smith's Dock Company . These yards produced iron vessels for various uses, including fishing and the coal trade. In later years the North Shields yards were used for ship repair work, with Smith's dock surviving until the 1990s. None of these yards remain. Esso formerly had an oil terminal on the banks of the Tyne, off Howdon Road. In April 1994,
4784-459: The Tyne and Wear Metro website. Both were repainted in 2017 into the same black and yellow livery carried by the refurbished Metrocars, but in September 2019, Metrocar 4001 underwent further repainting into a 40 Years livery with all four previous liveries amalgamated into one. The network is electrified with a 1,500 V DC overhead line system. This voltage was previously used on
4888-454: The UK's largest office park. Atmel had a plant located at Silverlink, previously occupied by Siemens but the plant is now demolished apart from the office building, now home to Cobalt Business Exchange. Cobalt is home to an Orange call centre . The town's association with the early days of the railways is recognised at the Stephenson Railway Museum on Middle Engine Lane near The Silverlink. Potts Print , based in Cramlington since 2006,
4992-405: The automated next station announcements were introduced they featured a female announcer, however during late 2014 this was replaced with a male announcer. The female announcements are still in use by two Metrocars, however can only be heard when the Metrocar is at the front of the train. All 90 units underwent a half life refurbishment between 1996 and 2000. In June 2010, Wabtec Rail was awarded
5096-421: The building from the south, the westernmost being for the workshop, while the two others enter the exhibition space allowing operational stock to be put on display. The running line of the railway consists of a single track line, with two open-air platforms at either end, both with a passing loop. The northern platform, "Middle Engine Lane", is just south of the museum building. The southern platform, "Percy Main",
5200-407: The carrier for the batteries needed to power the railway's electric locomotive E4. It has been given a fictitious brown livery and markings of "No.103 Boldon Colliery" on one side and "No.136 Whitburn Colliery" on the other. The 12-ton Vanfit goods van has been converted into a Tool Van which houses an electrical generator. The TTP flat wagon was built as a Tank Wagon for a private owner. In 2019 it
5304-407: The centre Jacobs Bogie, located in the articulated section between both halves is unpowered. The trains make use of rheostatic braking between 80 and 30 km/h (50 and 19 mph), with air-operated disc brakes for use during the final stages of deceleration below 30 km/h (19 mph). All bogies are also equipped with a pair of emergency magnetic track brakes , which can be used to bring
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#17327764379105408-578: The centrepiece to the Royal Quays development to the west of the town. Mark di Suvero's Tyne Anew (1999), his only large-scale public artwork in the UK, can be seen at Albert Edward Dock. The shopping centre was rebranded by new owners as the Newcastle Quays Retail in early 2024. The centre had declined over a number of years prior to the former owner being placed into administration in 2023. Similarly, major regeneration of
5512-700: The closure of the NCB lines, although the BR lines persisted. In 1975, the Seaton Burn wagonway alignment was relaid for use by the Tyne and Wear Metro Test Centre, with a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) test track running from Middle Engine Lane as far south as the A1058 Coast Road bridges, and north beyond Middle Engine Lane on the Backworth wagonway alignment to West Allotment. The two prototype Metrocars worked out of
5616-416: The conservation area around Howard Street and Northumberland Square. It will also see work done on the streetscape connecting to the main shopping thoroughfare of Bedford Street in order to better link the areas and decrease the dominance of motor vehicles. In 2017, North Tyneside Council granted planning permission for up to 400 new homes on formerly industrial land to the west of Norham Road. In April 2020,
5720-423: The construction of the railway in the late 1980/early 1990s. The four-plank wagon was built in 1927 as an oil tank wagon for a private owner, presumably an industrial railway. It had the registration number LMSR 103136. It was later reduced to its underframe and sold to the Metro for use on the test track. Having been left on the site, the museum inherited it. They converted it into a four-plank open wagon for use as
5824-475: The crossing with the A193 Wallsend Road the cycle route diverges from the railway to head south east, past Percy Main Metro, on its way to meet the east–west running National Cycle Route 72 which shadows the River Tyne. On days when passenger services are in operation, the museum can also be accessed by joining the trains at the southern terminus, Percy Main Metro being around a 300m walk away from
5928-649: The developer Places For People in 2007. In January 2015 they sought planning permission for the construction of homes on the site. The first of those homes, including some designed by George Clarke , was sold in 2017 and as of April 2018, work continues on the site. The second phase, the Smokehouses, was completed in autumn 2018. Having been awarded £900,000 through the High Street Heritage Action Zone programme, North Tyneside Council plans to add £1 million additional funding to revive
6032-510: The developer, Miller Homes, announced that work had been halted by the Covid-19 pandemic and that plans may be altered as a result. Work on the development recommenced in January 2021. In 1887, the town's businesses were listed as a marine engine, chain cable and anchor manufacturer, shipbuilding yards, roperies, salt-works, and an earthenware and stained glass manufacturer. Fishing was also
6136-536: The developing West Somerset Railway . Once it became surplus to larger locomotives there, the Stephenson Railway Museum purchased 2994 and repainted it from "Kermit the frog" green to a black livery similar to a NER style. The locomotive was placed on static display in 2008. After a 6 year restoration period it returned to active service in Easter 2019. In 2020, 401 was repainted into its original 'Steel Company of Wales Ltd' unlined maroon with lemon lettering livery. No.69
6240-411: The end of October 2006. DFDS Seaways' sister company, DFDS Tor Line, continues to run scheduled freight ships between Gothenburg and several English ports, including Newcastle, but these have limited capacity for passengers and do not carry private vehicles. The passenger terminal regularly welcomes tourists travelling on cruises that call at North Shields as an access point for Newcastle upon Tyne and
6344-473: The frames and overhaul of various boiler components as of January 2024. No.69 is privately owned by an NTSRA member/volunteer. No.08915 (originally D4145) used to be of Allerton (AN) depot. Restored to BR Blue in 2017. No.03078 (originally D2078) used to be of Gateshead (GD) depot. Repainted into BR Blue early 2019. An early diesel built in 1958, Consett Iron and Steelworks No.10 is the last example of in-house production of locomotives by industrial railways in
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#17327764379106448-509: The front of the train. Features operated by air include: air-operated disk brakes, horn, windscreen wipers and passenger doors, as well as being used to raise the pantograph . As the section between Pelaw and Sunderland on which they operate is part of the Network Rail system, the units were allocated TOPS class 599 in January 2002. Prior to opening, two prototypes, 4001 and 4002, underwent several years of testing from June 1975 on
6552-675: The lines, gradient improvements on the Blyth & Tyne's line allowed it to use steam locomotives throughout from the 1850s. Others persisted with rope haulage, the Seaton Burn Wagonway being the last to convert in 1900. Coal production began to decline after the First World War causing the Seaton Burn wagonway to close in the 1920s; a new route from the Rising Sun colliery to the west did open in 1939, although this
6656-536: The local council announced plans to consider the feasibility of moving the ferry landing. In July 2021 it was announced that the planned relocation was delayed until 2023. From the International Ferry Terminal, based at Royal Quays, the Danish company DFDS Seaways operates a daily service to IJmuiden . The ferry service to Gothenburg , Sweden (run by DFDS Seaways), ceased operation at
6760-450: The local football hero. The loco is currently out of service for repairs to the bottom end, expected to be complete and returned to service in 2024. A.No.5 is an 0-6-0 side tank built-in 1883 by Kitson and Company , as works number 2509. It was the last working example of the 1841 patented Stephenson 'long boiler' design, to produce higher steam pressure while retaining a small wheelbase. Unsuited for high speeds, they nonetheless satisfied
6864-540: The middle to commemorate his stay there. The land on which the new town was built was largely owned by the Earl of Carlisle. In 1796, John Wright produced plans that included a grand processional way, now Howard Street, leading to the Georgian Northumberland Square. A railway tunnel, built in the 1840s, left the west and south sides of the square largely unfinished, until a 1960s library building
6968-462: The museum in summer 2018. No. 401 was one of a class of three built for the Steel Company of Wales in 1950, as works number 2994 (2995 and 2996 were built in 1951), to an advanced specification designed to provide a low maintenance competitor to the diesel shunters emerging. As such it had many advanced features not seen on other industrial steam locomotives. It was sold to Austin Motor Co. Ltd., of Longbridge, Birmingham in 1957 before passing in 1973 to
7072-399: The museum. As the early coal seams of the Northumberland Coalfield near the River Tyne were exhausted, waggonways were laid to serve pits sunk further north. Coal would be unloaded into colliers (coal transport ships) via staithes . The first wagonways used wooden waggons on wooden rails drawn by horses. The first traffic began in 1755 on a line from Shiremoor to Hayhole staithes, and
7176-439: The names Ashington No 5 & Ashington No 6. The former spent her entire industrial career on the railway for which she was built. In 1969 she was sold by the National Coal Board to North Norfolk Preserved Railway when the Ashington system was dieselised. However, she returned to Northumberland in 1991 and was repainted into the "as delivered to Ashington Colliery" livery. The loco was additionally named Jackie Milburn in honour of
7280-408: The non-passenger chord between Manors and West Jesmond . During the early years of Metro, units were operated in single and double sets. As single units became overcrowded, Nexus resumed using two units as standard. Single units again became common during construction of the Sunderland extension when some units were taken for testing of the new track. During original construction, the Metro system
7384-453: The phrase was replaced with "doors closing" in 2004. In 2011, the "doors closing" recording was replaced in post-refurbishment Metrocars with a simple beeping noise, similar to that used on London Underground trains. The train makes a solid three-second beeping tone when the doors are released, and a rapid three-second beeping tone immediately before the doors close, in line with the 2010 UK Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (RVAR). When
7488-494: The platform through the residential estate of the same name. North Shields North Shields ( / ʃ iː l z / SHEELZ ) is a town in the borough of North Tyneside in Tyne and Wear , England. It is 8 miles (13 km) north-east of Newcastle upon Tyne and borders nearby Wallsend and Tynemouth . Since 1974, it has been in the North Tyneside borough of Tyne and Wear: its historic administration
7592-525: The railway was extended to Tynemouth when a railway station was built in Oxford Street, off Tynemouth Road. Eventually, it was replaced by a new station further away from the river after new rail lines were developed. The riverside tracks were removed for the creation of Hadrian's Way , part of the national cycle network, but the remaining tracks were absorbed in the Tyne and Wear Metro system in 1982. The town centre station , originally constructed for
7696-400: The revitalisation of the redundant Albert Edward docks . Across an 80 hectare area, the former Tyne and Wear Development Corporation partnered with North Tyneside Council and the private sector to provide a mix of housing, leisure facilities, office space and industrial sites. The Wet N Wild indoor water park , an outlet shopping centre , a bowling alley, a soccer dome and a marina formed
7800-413: The river (around the present-day Clive Street) because of the steep bank which hemmed it in. Eventually becoming overcrowded, in the 18th century buildings began to be erected on the plateau 60 feet (20 m) above the old unsanitary dwellings alongside the river. Prosperous businessmen and shipowners occupied the new town whereas working people remained in the lower part of town. The low, riverside part of
7904-415: The series vehicles with a passenger seat beside offering a forward view. The Metro fleet was initially painted in a two-tone livery of cadmium yellow and white that matched the Metro station design and the livery of the Tyne and Wear bus fleet until 1986. In 1995, a new colour scheme was introduced - solid red, green or blue with a yellow wedge at each end and yellow triangles on the doors. This scheme
8008-594: The specification midway through the refurbishment however. After an accident at Gosforth in March 2017, 4022 was taken to Bristol Barton Hill TMD for assessment, before moving to the Nemesis Rail facility at Burton upon Trent in October 2019 for scrapping. In January 2020, Stadler Rail was awarded a contract to build 42 (later increased to 46) five-carriage Class 555 articulated light rail trains to replace
8112-585: The town centre. The seats proved unpopular as their shape prevented rainwater draining off, so they were replaced by more traditional metal benches and moved to the Royal Quays Marina in 2011. YMCA North Tyneside was founded in 1870 and was originally known as The Borough of Tynemouth YMCA. After an inaugural meeting on 7 June 1879, weekly meetings followed in the Sons of Temperance Hall, Norfolk Street, North Shields. The YMCA grew in popularity. Within
8216-427: The town was linked to the newer, higher part of the town by a series of stairs. These stairs were initially surrounded by slum dwellings, and although the houses have since been cleared the stairs remain. One of the first developments of the new town was Dockwray Square, built in 1763, a set of elegant town houses that was populated by wealthy families. Due to the poor provision of water and drainage facilities, however,
8320-433: The town. A half-hourly ferry service connects North Shields to the town of South Shields on the opposite bank of the Tyne . The present Shields Ferry was established in 1972. Its first female skipper was appointed in 2016. Shieldsman , a former ferry retired in 2007, has since been moved to Shoreham, West Sussex, and transformed into a houseboat. From June to October, river trips by ferry operate. In November 2018,
8424-547: The town. John Lilley and Gillie Ltd , a marine equipment manufacturer is headquartered there. Collieries in the town were located at three of the outlying villages since incorporated into the town, at Preston , at the location of the present cemetery gates, Percy Main and New York . Following the demise of coal mining and shipbuilding in the area, several business parks , industrial estates and trading estates were established providing alternative employment. The biggest of these are The Silverlink and Cobalt Park ,
8528-446: The two designs to be thoroughly tested. The prototypes featured small cabs and central end doors similar to London Underground stock, to allow evacuation of trains in a tunnel. In the event, the Metro tunnels were constructed with continuous sidewalks, making the end doors unnecessary. Prior to their entry into service in 1987, the two prototypes were refitted to reflect the specification of the production fleet. The small cabs remained in
8632-489: The two nearest Metro stations - Percy Main five minutes away to the south and Northumberland Park ten minutes away to the north (on the southern and northern sections of the North Tyneside loop, respectively). Nearly all of the railway is paralleled by the National Cycle Route 10 , which continues north from Middle Engine Lane along the alignment of the former railway to Backworth. Near the southern end, at
8736-658: The views of local residents and business owners. In summer 2020, work was being completed on the refurbishment of the terraced row to the north of Northumberland Square, as well as the development of a newly built row of homes on nearby Albion Road. The newly restored Wooden Dolly was also returned to the Square. A new square, adjacent to Bedford Street, was completed as part of the Transport Hub development in September 2023. A large council estate, Meadow Well (alternatively spelt Meadowell or Meadowwell on local signs) to
8840-479: The wealthy families soon moved to the more central part of the new town, and particularly the new Northumberland Square. Dockwray Square eventually deteriorated into slums. In the early twentieth century Stan Laurel lived at a house in Dockwray Square for a few years, before he became famous. The square has since been re-developed, initially in the 1960s, and again in the 1990s. A statue of Laurel stands in
8944-528: The west of the town, was constructed in the 1930s to house residents displaced by the clearance of the Dockwray Square and Low Town slum areas. These flats were replaced with better quality homes in the 1960s and 70s. Meadow Well was formerly known as the Ridges Estate – a name occasionally used today – since it was built on the site of the Ridges farm. Its present name is derived from a well situated in
9048-444: The west, to make it unnecessary to use keel boats further upriver. Traffic increased as further pits opened, and the corridor from Middle Engine Lane down to Percy Main became congested as companies either shared lines or built their own within a hundred yards of each other, depending on which was more convenient. Once they crossed the line of the present A193 Wallsend Road, they fanned out to their respective unloading points. In 1839
9152-488: The wider North East of England. In 2017, 52 ships docked, bringing 120,000 visitors to the region. A number of "dudes" - red and blue powder coated figures designed by artist Perminder Kaur - can be seen on a grassy mound at the entrance to the terminal. A transport interchange, adjacent to the Metro station, opened in September 2023. It was the first council building in the borough to be fully carbon-neutral in its construction and operation. The town's schools are part of
9256-550: The workshops, redesign the museum space and construct a new facilities block. In 2003 the facilities block was further modified to improve educational and toilet facilities. In the early 1990s the LNER Class A4 4464 Bittern was displayed at the museum disguised as the Silver Link ; the local Silverlink Business Park took its name from that locomotive due to it being at the museum of the time of construction. Bittern
9360-610: Was as part of the Castle ward in county of Northumberland . It was part of the Tynemouth County Borough; when abolished in 1974, the borough became an unparished area . It is on the northern bank of the River Tyne , opposite to South Shields on the other bank. The name derives from Middle English schele meaning "temporary sheds or huts used by fishermen". North Shields is first recorded in 1225, when
9464-571: Was built in 1953, works number 3785. The engine spent its entire working life at South Hetton Colliery which served the Hawthorn and Murton colliery complex as well as Seaham. In preservation, it ran at the Yorkshire Dales Railway, now the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway , from 1977 until 1984 before being parked up pending overhaul. Restoration of the locomotive has begun with work completed including tyre turning, painting of
9568-449: Was constructed, somewhat out of keeping with the rest of the architecture. In 1844–45, John Dobson built the town hall , on the corner of Howard and Saville Streets. The town is bounded to the north by Whitley Bay and to the south by the River Tyne . The town of Tynemouth is to its east and the A19 road marks the boundary between North Shields and Wallsend to the west of the town. It
9672-730: Was delivered new to Meaford Power Station to shunt coal waggons. It was one of several of its type supplied to power stations by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Ltd., Forth Banks, Newcastle upon Tyne during the 1950s. They were used to transport coal wagons from mainline sidings into the power station, supplying the boiler-house coal bunkers. Their small diameter wheels enabled heavy loads to be hauled at slow speeds. Larger wheeled versions were supplied when long journeys were needed - for example, some colliery systems. Locally they could be seen working at places in Northumberland and Durham including Ashington, Backworth, Stanley and Consett. This loco
9776-431: Was designed for British Rail. It has been paired with an ex-LNER wagon converted to a crane runner (No.DE321051, ex-6282, 70130E) It is currently stored outdoors until such a time as it can be overhauled. Nearly every wagon in the yard sees regular use, either on demonstration freight trains or permanent way/engineering trains. The 20-ton Dogfish Ballast Wagon, Salmon Rail Carrier and 20 Ton wooden brake van were all used in
9880-483: Was designed to use three unit sets, and some platforms were constructed to accommodate this; however, due to a lack of funding, this was not possible. As a result, the units run in sets of two. The "stand clear of the doors please" announcement, which was played before the doors started closing, was introduced in 1991. In order to increase the clarity of the announcement (especially for individuals not fluent in English)
9984-513: Was modified slightly in 2005 to comply with safety regulations, changing the doors to a solid yellow in order to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 . During this period, a large number of special liveries were carried in addition to the standard colour scheme. These were often advertisements for local businesses such as Metrocar 4042 advertising the Evening Chronicle and Metrocar 4054 advertising Metroland . To celebrate
10088-427: Was moved to York in 1994 in exchange for loaning a Deltic. In 2007, the Tyne and Wear Museums and North Tyneside Council's head of cultural services have submitted plans for a feasibility study into developing the museum into a premier North East railway tourist attraction, with period buildings, a link to Percy Main Metro station , and all year round opening. In 2019, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums were given
10192-470: Was one of two on the system fitted out as vans, with driving cabs at each end. They were used to carry fish and sundry goods, as well as acting as the locomotives for passenger services on the Riverside branch. After withdrawal in 1938, the two vans had their motors removed and were converted to de-icing vans, hauled along the system at night by steam locomotives. It has since been restored to NER livery, and
10296-457: Was originally founded in North Shields in 1875. They occupied various sites in the town over the years. Spicers has a large factory in the town, producing tea. It bought the site from Twinings in 2012. Donald Campbell 's Bluebird K7 , which crashed during a water speed record attempt on Coniston Water , was restored in a workshop in the town by local engineer Bill Smith. The Newcastle and North Shields Railway opened in 1839. In 1847,
10400-760: Was purchased from the Power Station by the East Lancashire Railway and hauled their first trains at Bury. After a period in store, she was overhauled at Bury and moved to Tyneside in 1996. It ran for several years before being taken out of service in 2003. It is currently on display in the museum, awaiting overhaul. This 0-6-0 saddle tank was built in 1939 as works number 1970 by Peckett and Sons of Bristol for Ashington Coal Company which operated one of Britain's most extensive colliery railway systems. In 1939, two identical locomotives were delivered to one of Peckett's standard designs and they received
10504-535: Was renovated in Autumn 2017. The museum is only open at certain times of the year, and passenger trains are only run on some of those days. As of 2018 two main timetables are in operation. Green timetable is used on Sundays/Bank Holidays which runs four round trips - departing at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.00pm and 3.00pm. The Blue timetable is used on Thursdays during school holidays which runs three round trips - departing at 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm. Special event days include
10608-526: Was repainted to resemble a match wagon to be paired with 03078. The other four-wheel flat wagon is a former overhead wire drum carrier used in the electrification of the East Coast Mainline, it sat at Heaton TMD for many years and was donated to the railway in late 2019. The wagon is currently undergoing restoration as a conflat wagon. Each of the three 21 ton coal hopper wagons are privately owned. No.722 and No.6555 arrived in early 2020 from
10712-477: Was soon followed by more lines. Wooden rails were eventually replaced by wrought iron. Rope haulage was introduced from 1821, with the museum site being at the top of Prospect Hill. By the 1820s coal was coming from pits further to the north in Seghill , Backworth and Cramlington , while a pit at Murton near Shiremoor had also been added. In 1826 it also became the preferred route for coal coming from Fawdon to
10816-509: Was to replace a line on a different route. In the late 1940s the coal and railway companies were nationalised - the lines on the corridor were now controlled by either the National Coal Board (NCB) or British Rail (BR) (as the eventual owners of the Blyth & Tyne). Rationalisation saw with the Cramlington line to the west closed in the 1950s. As volumes further declined, the last Percy Main staithes closed in 1971, leading to
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