Tyneside Electrics
Encyclopedia
The Tyneside Electrics refers to the suburban railways on Tyneside
that were electrified by the North Eastern Railway
and the London and North Eastern Railway
. The North Tyneside loop was electrified from 1904 onwards and formed one of the earliest suburban electric networks, the South Tyneside line (to South Shields via Pelaw) was electrified in March 1938. They were electrified using the Third Rail
system but converted to diesel
operation in the 1960s: the line to South Shields in January 1963 and the North Tyneside lines in June 1967 when the electrical supply infrastructure (which dated from 1935) and the rolling stock (which dated from 1937) had become life expired. In addition, the system was losing passengers and suffering from costly vandalism. Since the late 1970s, much of the system has been converted to form the Tyne and Wear Metro
.
from Newcastle
via Wallsend
, North Shields
, Whitley Bay
and South Gosforth back to Newcastle; the East Coast Main Line (ECML) from Newcastle to Benton
(providing a short cut to Monkseaton and Whitley Bay), and the Riverside Branch from Byker to Percy Main via Walker.
At Benton, the electrified lines diverged from the ECML to join the Blyth and Tyne line (see below). These curved lines were titled the South West Curve and South East Curve based on their disposition looking north. The SE Curve had scheduled electric services running over it from time to time, but the SW Curve was used for empty stock movements.
In 1923 the triangular junctions at South Gosforth were electrified in connection with opening of the new Car Sheds, but were only used for empty stock movements. In the same year, a route was electrified in the Heaton area. This route left the ECML at Benton Bank and ran through the freight yard at Heaton to connect with the Tynemouth lines at Heaton East Junction. It was used for empty stock movements and as an access route to Walker Gate Carriage Works where heavy repairs and overhaul of the electric stock took place. This route was titled the Heaton Independent Lines.
Finally, a short freight-only line, the Newcastle Quayside Branch left the Tynemouth lines just east of Manors East station at Trafalgar South yard, opposite Argyle Street signal box, and emerged after traversing through three tunnels into the Quayside yard adjacent to the quayside at Newcastle. This route was equipped with both overhead line and conductor rail to facilitate electric operation in June 1905.
The original B&T station in Newcastle terminated at New Bridge Street. Thus the original electrified route was not quite a loop. Electric services ran from New Bridge Street until 1908 when a replacement station was built at Manors. The existing station at Manors that served the lines to Heaton was renamed Manors East while the new station was named Manors North. The electric service continued to terminate here until 1917, when full out-and-back circular running to and from Newcastle Central station began and Manors North no longer functioned as a major terminal for electric services. The section of line that closed up the loop from a new junction at Manors (East) and effectively by-passing New Bridge Street station had been laid in 1905. Some services from Newcastle Central to Benton did start running over the new section of line after the opening of Manors North station.
Electrification of the South Tyneside line from Newcastle via Heworth
to South Shields
was announced by the London and North Eastern Railway
in 1935 and electric services began in the spring of 1938.
. The first batch was in the period 1903/4 with the electrical equipment being supplied by British Thomson-Houston
. BT-H were the British representatives of General Electric
, and the original batches of rolling stock were fitted with American-built control gear and motors, the later batches used equipment manufactured at the BT-H factory at Rugby
.
The growth in traffic gave rise to further additions in the 1914/15 period, which along with rebuilds meant a very diverse range of vehicles.
In August 1918 there was a serious fire at the original car shed located at Walkergate, which completely destroyed 34 cars and damaged many more. An order for 35 replacement cars was placed and these were built between 1920 and 1922. These were to a somewhat different design, with revised roofline and improved electrical equipment. They took the same running numbers as the destroyed cars.
from Metropolitan Cammell
.
2-EPB vehicles and was designated the South Tyneside 1951 Stock. Although electrically identical to the 2-EPB, the body on the motor brake cars had a much enlarged luggage space to accommodate prams. Minor detail differences were route indicating lights and destination blinds. The 1920 stock was withdrawn and was broken up at Simonside Wagon Works near Tyne Dock in the period 1956-8, although some vehicles escaped into departmental use or saw further service as Pram Vans.
When the South Tyneside line was de-electrified in January 1963, all but one of the 1951 EPB5 stock was transferred to the Southern Region, with the sole exception of the Motor Parcels Van E68000. This was sent to the LMR's Liverpool Southport line. Here it eked out a further five years of use renumbered M68000 before being withdrawn in 1968 after a service life of just 12 years - less than half of its capital life in financial terms.
Tyneside
Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...
that were electrified by the North Eastern Railway
North Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
and the London and North Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
. The North Tyneside loop was electrified from 1904 onwards and formed one of the earliest suburban electric networks, the South Tyneside line (to South Shields via Pelaw) was electrified in March 1938. They were electrified using the Third Rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
system but converted to diesel
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
operation in the 1960s: the line to South Shields in January 1963 and the North Tyneside lines in June 1967 when the electrical supply infrastructure (which dated from 1935) and the rolling stock (which dated from 1937) had become life expired. In addition, the system was losing passengers and suffering from costly vandalism. Since the late 1970s, much of the system has been converted to form the Tyne and Wear Metro
Tyne and Wear Metro
The Tyne and Wear Metro, also known as the Metro, is a light rail system in North East England, serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland. It opened in 1980 and in 2007–2008 provided 40 million public journeys on its network of nearly...
.
Routes
The lines covered were the North Tyneside LoopNorth Tyneside Loop
The North Tyneside Loop refers to the railway lines in North Tyneside from Newcastle upon Tyne via Wallsend, North Shields, Whitley Bay, Backworth, Benton and South Gosforth back to Newcastle...
from Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
via Wallsend
Wallsend
Wallsend is an area in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. Wallsend derives its name as the location of the end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 42,842.-Romans:...
, North Shields
North Shields
North Shields is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North East England...
, Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay is a town in North Tyneside, in Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the North Sea coast and has a fine stretch of golden sandy beach forming a bay stretching from St. Mary's Island in the north to Cullercoats in the south...
and South Gosforth back to Newcastle; the East Coast Main Line (ECML) from Newcastle to Benton
Benton, Newcastle upon Tyne
Benton is a district to the north east of Newcastle upon Tyne. A section of this district is administratively part of the City, but the greater part, which lies inside the Parish of St Bartholomew, Long Benton, is within North Tyneside....
(providing a short cut to Monkseaton and Whitley Bay), and the Riverside Branch from Byker to Percy Main via Walker.
At Benton, the electrified lines diverged from the ECML to join the Blyth and Tyne line (see below). These curved lines were titled the South West Curve and South East Curve based on their disposition looking north. The SE Curve had scheduled electric services running over it from time to time, but the SW Curve was used for empty stock movements.
In 1923 the triangular junctions at South Gosforth were electrified in connection with opening of the new Car Sheds, but were only used for empty stock movements. In the same year, a route was electrified in the Heaton area. This route left the ECML at Benton Bank and ran through the freight yard at Heaton to connect with the Tynemouth lines at Heaton East Junction. It was used for empty stock movements and as an access route to Walker Gate Carriage Works where heavy repairs and overhaul of the electric stock took place. This route was titled the Heaton Independent Lines.
Finally, a short freight-only line, the Newcastle Quayside Branch left the Tynemouth lines just east of Manors East station at Trafalgar South yard, opposite Argyle Street signal box, and emerged after traversing through three tunnels into the Quayside yard adjacent to the quayside at Newcastle. This route was equipped with both overhead line and conductor rail to facilitate electric operation in June 1905.
History prior to electrification
The line through Jesmond, Benton and on to Tynemouth was opened in the 1860s by the Blyth and Tyne Railway (B&T), and the line through Wallsend by the Newcastle and North Shields Railway in 1839. The portion of the East Coast Main Line to Benton had been opened by the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway in the 1840s. The Newcastle Quayside Branch had been opened by the NER in 1873, and the Riverside Branch in 1879. The junctions at South Gosforth dated back to 1905 and were laid for the Gosforth and Ponteland Branch.The original B&T station in Newcastle terminated at New Bridge Street. Thus the original electrified route was not quite a loop. Electric services ran from New Bridge Street until 1908 when a replacement station was built at Manors. The existing station at Manors that served the lines to Heaton was renamed Manors East while the new station was named Manors North. The electric service continued to terminate here until 1917, when full out-and-back circular running to and from Newcastle Central station began and Manors North no longer functioned as a major terminal for electric services. The section of line that closed up the loop from a new junction at Manors (East) and effectively by-passing New Bridge Street station had been laid in 1905. Some services from Newcastle Central to Benton did start running over the new section of line after the opening of Manors North station.
Electrification of the South Tyneside line from Newcastle via Heworth
Heworth, Tyne and Wear
Heworth is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. The village's name appears in written records from 1091 as Hewarde, and later as Hewrtha, and in 1300 as Hewrthe....
to South Shields
South Shields
South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne to Tyne Dock, and about downstream from Newcastle upon Tyne...
was announced by the London and North Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
in 1935 and electric services began in the spring of 1938.
North Eastern Railway
All of the North Eastern Railway electric stock was built at the NER Carriage Works at YorkYork
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. The first batch was in the period 1903/4 with the electrical equipment being supplied by British Thomson-Houston
British Thomson-Houston
British Thomson-Houston was a British engineering and heavy industrial company, based at Rugby, Warwickshire, England. They were known primarily for their electrical systems and steam turbines. They were merged with the similar Metropolitan-Vickers company in 1928, but the two maintained their own...
. BT-H were the British representatives of General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, and the original batches of rolling stock were fitted with American-built control gear and motors, the later batches used equipment manufactured at the BT-H factory at Rugby
Rugby, Warwickshire
Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
.
The growth in traffic gave rise to further additions in the 1914/15 period, which along with rebuilds meant a very diverse range of vehicles.
In August 1918 there was a serious fire at the original car shed located at Walkergate, which completely destroyed 34 cars and damaged many more. An order for 35 replacement cars was placed and these were built between 1920 and 1922. These were to a somewhat different design, with revised roofline and improved electrical equipment. They took the same running numbers as the destroyed cars.
London and North Eastern Railway
The NER stock remained in service with the LNER from 1923. In 1937, the youngest former NER stock, namely the 1920-built "replacement stock" for those vehicles destroyed in the 1918 fire, was refurbished for use on the newly-electrified South Tyneside line. The other NER stock, some of which dated back to 1903/4 was replaced on the North Tyneside lines by new articulated unitsArticulated car
Articulated cars are rail vehicles which are consist of a number of smaller, lighter cars which are semi-permanently attached to each other and which share common trucks. They are much longer than single passenger cars, and on the TGV Réseau, for example, 8 cars are joined this way...
from Metropolitan Cammell
Metro Cammell
The Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Company was a Birmingham, England based manufacturer of railway carriages and wagons, based in Saltley and subsequently Washwood Heath....
.
British Railways
The LNER 1937 stock remained in service with British Railways (BR) from 1948. In 1955, BR introduced new stock on the South Tyneside line based on the Southern RegionSouthern Region of British Railways
The Southern Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992. The region covered south London, southern England and the south coast, including the busy commuter belt areas of Kent, Sussex...
2-EPB vehicles and was designated the South Tyneside 1951 Stock. Although electrically identical to the 2-EPB, the body on the motor brake cars had a much enlarged luggage space to accommodate prams. Minor detail differences were route indicating lights and destination blinds. The 1920 stock was withdrawn and was broken up at Simonside Wagon Works near Tyne Dock in the period 1956-8, although some vehicles escaped into departmental use or saw further service as Pram Vans.
When the South Tyneside line was de-electrified in January 1963, all but one of the 1951 EPB5 stock was transferred to the Southern Region, with the sole exception of the Motor Parcels Van E68000. This was sent to the LMR's Liverpool Southport line. Here it eked out a further five years of use renumbered M68000 before being withdrawn in 1968 after a service life of just 12 years - less than half of its capital life in financial terms.
Sources
- Hoole, K. The North Eastern Electrics, Oakwood Press, 1961, no ISBN
- Hennessey, R.A.S. The Electric Railway That Never Was - York-Newcastle 1919, Oriel Press, 1970, ISBN 0-85362-0873 (Hoole)
- Hoole, K. The North Eastern Electrics, 2nd edition, Oakwood Press, 1987, ISBN 0-85361-3583
- Hoole, K. The Electric Locomotives of the North Eastern Railway, Oakwood Press, 1988, ISBN 0-85361-3672