I remember in 1977 the newly arrived Metro Trains being tested on the track near Four Lane Ends. We used to race them on Balliol School field as the track ran alongside. We had the edge in the first 30 yards but then the Metros zoomed past us! Happy times seeing these bright shiny yellow wonders for the first time!
The line to Kenton Bank Foot wasn’t new. It was the Ponteland branch built in the Victorian Era. It still existed as a link to the Callerton ICI depot even after the metro took over to Bank Foot. Admittedly since it did not get electrified by the NER unlike the coastal loop, it didn’t have much passenger traffic and closed to passengers in the 1930s. They were still using Ponteland station for goods and storage though in the 60s.
It was the only time in Britain where there was an integrated public transport system with through ticketing. So naturally the Tories put an end to that with the stupid 1986 Transport Act. The party that doesn’t believe in government making sure it doesn’t work.
@@melanierhianna But it is not integrated. That means when you got off the bus, the metro was there and when you got off that the train to Sunderland was waiting. Public transport on Tyneside until the 86 Act was planned as one not each operator working separately. That was deemed to be socialism and a terrible thing ffs. We have 40 years of this bs dogma in transport and everything else
@@melanierhianna The other aspect of the change in the law was to remove subsidy. The system in Tyneside was cheap to the user cos it was heavily subsidised. So you got a frequent, reliable and cheap system for users. Result? Heavy usage, fewer cars on the road, greater mobility for people on low incomes, less pollution, less spending on road traffic infrastructure, fewer deaths and accidents. Most people don’t think about or understand transport policy but the 86 Act was pure vandalism
Industrial sites are flattened and filled with houses to cram as many people into England as possible. Don’t worry, I’m sure this site will also bring in many depressing and low paid office and retail jobs 👍🏻
This was my grandmother, but I never knew her. She seems like she was a kind lady. One day, I'll visit the Angel of the North because I've read that she was scattered there.
I’ve watched and listened to Bobby’s recordings and re-told his gags to others for years, and yet I’ve never seen this particular clip before, so thank you so much for posting. I recall years ago my grandad once played dominos with Bobby for a 10-bob note, which my grandad won and got Bobby to autograph, alas I don’t know what became of it… but knowing of my grandad he’d probably spent it at some point! I would have loved it to have been kept in the family, as Bobby was obviously a North -East legend who we’re still proud of to this day.
This is so cool. It's crazy to see that most of the stations even look the same today - those white and yellow modular wall panels will always be nostalgic to me
I Got My Photograph With Jack Charlton When I Was A European Cup Winner With South Shields Football Club In Maastricht Holland In 1989... ...Knocked In2 A 5 Week Coma...
The rolling stock needed to be replaced a decade ago, but the usual story no money forthcoming. They can't get spares and had to start cannilbalising the existing trains.
Marvellous! I lived in Whitley Bay from 1969 to 1982, then North Shields and Longbenton so I'm very familiar with the pre and post Metro systems. I spent my youth on the Metro until leaving Tyne & Wear in 1987. This is a very interesting and historically important film and the transfer quality is excellent. Thank you for posting it! 🙂
