Newcastle Manors Track Diversion

[JohnCarlson]

Sorry if this is out of place here but I have found this image on the internet

http://www.flickr.com/photos/twm_news/5157359933/

Which seems to show a track diversion in use on the ECML between Newcastle and Manors station. This must have been a huge undertaking. Anyone know more.

John

 

[Kryten2340]

I never knew there was two bridges over the Tyne bridge slip road. Being 30 I don't know what it was like around there then but i would assume the bridge closest to the roundabout carried the trains to Gosforth/Longbenton and the bridge closest the Tyne bridge carried the the ECML and the trains to the coast. The following Newcastle council link says it was June 1967 when the services to the coast ceased and construction for the Metro began. I'm guessing the bridge was removed as it was no longer needed and to aid the construction of the multi storey carpark on the left and Cuthbert House in the right as well as the central motorway however I could be barking up the wrong tree entirely.

http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/leisure-libraries-and-tourism/libraries/1960s-timeline

 

[transmanche]

The following Newcastle council link says it was June 1967 when the services to the coast ceased and construction for the Metro began.

When electric services to the coast ceased... they were replaced by diesel services which continued until 1978 (via Jesmond) and 1980 (via Heaton) when construction for the Metro began.

 

[Kryten2340]

When electric services to the coast ceased... they were replaced by diesel services which continued until 1978 (via Jesmond) and 1980 (via Heaton) when construction for the Metro began.

Whoops, I must have mis read that.

 

[John55]

If you click on the image over the diversion on flickr the following helpful information appears;

"Temporary steel bridge carried the East Coast Main Line over the A1 Road, while the narrow 1929 concrete bridge was being demolished"

 

[flymo]

On Google Earth, if you go back to 1945 there is still only one bridge in that area, so I wonder if the 1967 photo shows the original bridge being rebuilt and a temporary alignment in use.

Edit: John55 has the answer..

 

[142094]

Shame that picture doesn't show all of Manors station itself.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

There was a commemorative event last September, noting the destruction of Manors during WW2

Thursday 1st September marks the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Manors Goods Yard.

During an air raid lasting from 10pm to midnight a hundred bombs hit the areas of Shieldfield, Jesmond, Byker, St. Peter's, Walker and New Bridge Street Goods Station in an attack that people still talk about. In total 50 people were killed, over 200 were injured and about 1,000 people were bombed out of their homes.

The Goods Yard burned for several days and 300 tons of food was destroyed, although much more was saved by the brave actions of railwaymen and the emergency services who managed to push many laden wagons out of the building before it collapsed.

 

[142094]

Don't think it was ever called Manors Goods Yard - always New Bridge Street Goods Yard/Station. Manors station had its own loading area for goods according to some maps.

 

[swt_passenger]

I remember it usually being referred to as just 'the goods depot'. Built in reinforced concrete, it sat there mostly disused for what, nearly 40 years?

Found a pic of Manors (North) with tracks lifted, Manors (Metro) in isolation, and the goods depot remains on the other side of New Bridge St:

http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete2.php?id=18935

 

[142094]

Think it was still in partial use right up until it was closed down - also some of the land was used as a permanent way depot at the start of Metro operations.

Good picture that you've put up there - shows my old school, my old workplace, my current part-time workplace and my local boozer.

 

[flymo]

I always remember it as New Bridge St Goods Yard and used to pass it every day in the early 80's heading to work at Byker Depot. I remember it being pulled down too, bit of an eyesore in later years.
The memory goes a bit after all this time but wasn't there an unexploded bomb found during demolition? Can't remember now......

 

[swt_passenger]

As a follow up to this discussion, I was just browsing in Skyscraper City's Newcastle section, and came across a post which included a decent picture of 'New Bridge Street Goods Station' before the bombing, picture 5 of 5 here:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=45368577&postcount=95

I reckon 142094 was the nearest to the correct name...

 

[142094]

As a follow up to this discussion, I was just browsing in Skyscraper City's Newcastle section, and came across a post which included a decent picture of 'New Bridge Street Goods Station' before the bombing, picture 5 of 5 here:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=45368577&postcount=95

I reckon 142094 was the nearest to the correct name...

Funnily enough I'm also on that forum, although haven't looked at those posts before. Cracking pic of the building.