NCB Electrics on Tyneside

[HSTEd]

Well, I've seen a handful of pictures of overhead wire powered electric locomotives on Tyneside which were painted in what appear to be NCB colours.

This was before the Metro was constructed during the era of the original Tyneside Electrics/Diesels.

Does anything know anything about this apparent electric railway as information on it appears to be relatively hard to come by?

 

[WelshZ]

That would be the Westoe system you are looking for

 

[DaveNewcastle]

There was also the Quayside branch, which used 2 specially built electric locomotives (one of which remains in the NRM collection). That line curved steeply from the east end of the Byker viaduct down the west bank of the Ouseburn Valley and under the Quayside (City Road) to emerge on the docks.
These included overhead electric power.

 

[sprinterguy]

That would be the Westoe system you are looking for

Officially known as the Harton Electric Railway, and to add a little more information, it ran through South Shields over the relatively short distance from Westoe Colliery overlooking the coast, to the staiths on the River Tyne adjacent to where you will nowadays find the ferry landing for the Shields ferry. The electrified system opened in 1908, and originally employed a fleet of Siemens built electric locomotives, later supplemented by other locos built to different designs by AEG. The Harton Electric Railway closed in 1989, by which time the electric operations had been progressively scaled back over the previous years. Oakwood Press publish an excellent book about the line, unsurprisingly titled “The Harton Electric Railway”.

 

[bluenoxid]

Some amazing pictures on the web though with pictures showing the line at South Shield Ferry Terminal and with the Metro

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/6056263110/in/set-72157627462340530/

 

[DaveF]

Some amazing pictures on the web though with pictures showing the line at South Shield Ferry Terminal and with the Metro

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/6056263110/in/set-72157627462340530/

Many thanks for putting the link to my photos of the Westoe system, I hadn't come across this thread or I'd have put it in! I hope you enjoy my photos . They were taken not all that long before it closed.

You may also like to visit Ernie Brack's flickr collecton at, :http://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/collections/72157626511380460/

You will see one of the sets is entitled "Last Days at Westoe".

His other photos are well worth a look too, his main flickr page is:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/

David

 

[Greenback]

DaveF they are great pictures and thanks for the link!

As someone who doesn't know South Shields that well, having only visited twice I found the photos fascinating.

 

[bluenoxid]

It is absolutely fantastic. There are so many potential opportunities for modellers.

 

[Kneedown]

It is absolutely fantastic. There are so many potential opportunities for modellers.

I remember the line was featured in an issue of "Railway Modeller" back in the late 70's or early 80's. I'm pretty sure i dont have it now as i had to let a lot of my mag collection go, but i'll have a look anyway.