(09 May 2013, 7:34 pm)Andreos1 wrote It hasnt had a mention here and not sure of the dates, but just North of Ouston junction, a spur went east off the ECML through what is now the Komatsu plant in Birtley - a bridge crossed the main road and headed North East, reaching the Bowes Railway, cutting through Springwell Estate, underneath the Felling Bypass, continuing down the Tyne, with a junction onto what is now the metro line at Pelaw.
It also split south of Wrekenton and went up towards Kibblesworth and the Tanfield Railway.
I wonder why the trains went all the way around via Gateshead and then Pelaw/Pelton, when they could have taken these lines?
(10 May 2013, 3:40 am)Andreos1 wrote There you go... Thanks for that.
When the railways were nationalised, as long as the guage was correct, I assumed anything could go anywhere so to speak.
Again, I always assumed the one West of Pelaw, that cut through Leam Lane Estate, went through where Wrekenton Golf Course is and around the back of Harlow Green towards Eighton Lodge was the one that ended up towards Dipton, rather than the one from Bowes that split near Long Bank (with one joining the ECML and the other going across the Marshalling Yards towards Kibblesworth). But thinking about it, these two probably joined up together at some point further west.
(27 May 2013, 9:32 pm)Andreos1 wrote Only sticking this in here because of the stuff about Consett http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqJ5Ujhnq9U&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Look closely and you will see the workers getting on a VR decker and a BR train.
Kind of ironic a protest to London about the closing and ultimate privatisation of the steel industry was achieved by hiring a bus and train operated by nationalised companies
Part 9 of the 10 part Channel 4 documentary Losing Track,.
The series was first broadcast on the 17th June 1985.
Synopsis:
Barbara Castle, as Minister of Transport, introduced legislation that brought new life to some provincial cities. the 1968 Act was followed by the formation of Passenger Transport Authorities. This brought all forms of transport over a wide area under one centralised body.
(09 Jul 2013, 8:19 am)AdamY wrote This video briefly discusses the comparative success of the Tyne and Wear PTE against other PTE's throughout the country.
Some interesting facts revealed here, like, the average bus fare in the Tyne and Wear PTE area was 30p in the early 80s. I wonder what the average fare is now, and how it compares to the rate of inflation?
This series was broadcast before the deregulation of the bus industry; the synopsis is quoted below.
(23 Aug 2013, 7:48 pm)Andreos1 wrote Great video. Very interesting to see another tpe in South Yorkshire and compare it to the Tyne & Wear system. They both worked, yet they were ripped apart just a few years later.
(23 Aug 2013, 8:34 pm)Andreos1 wrote Found this one from TTTV Northern Life of the Queen opening the Metro system