691E04 by Alan Snatt, on Flickr

(16 Aug 2015, 12:25 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Remember when Brockley Whins was Boldon Colliery, and MeadowWell was Smith's Park?

I can indeed.
Apart from the extensions and new stations, can't think of any other revisions.

(16 Aug 2015, 7:14 pm)Andreos1 wrote I can indeed.
Apart from the extensions and new stations, can't think of any other revisions.

Gateshead Stadium - Old Fold.

(16 Aug 2015, 7:51 pm)danpick wrote Gateshead Stadium - Old Fold.

I thought it was always called Gateshead Stadium, thought I read somewhere a while back Old Fold was only thought of during the planning of the Systen

(16 Aug 2015, 7:58 pm)MrFozz wrote I thought it was always called Gateshead Stadium, thought I read somewhere a while back Old Fold was only thought of during the planning of the Systen

It was. Additionally Fawdon was named Coxlodge in the planning stages too.

(16 Aug 2015, 12:25 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Remember when Brockley Whins was Boldon Colliery, and MeadowWell was Smith's Park?

It's interesting looking at the old map actually. I forgot all about Smith's Park, but as soon as I seen it mentioned here, it re-jogged my mind. 

(16 Aug 2015, 8:06 pm)aureolin wrote It's interesting looking at the old map actually. I forgot all about Smith's Park, but as soon as I seen it mentioned here, it re-jogged my mind. 

What happened to the Red and Blue Line Services?

(16 Aug 2015, 8:07 pm)MrFozz wrote What happened to the Red and Blue Line Services?

Merged into yellow? They seem to follow the yellow line more than the green.

(16 Aug 2015, 8:07 pm)MrFozz wrote What happened to the Red and Blue Line Services?

They are still here as peak time services, merged into the yellow/green lines and run from Pelaw to Regent Centre or Monkseaton rather than Benton.

The Blue Line used to terminate on the third platform at North Shields. The siding is still there although the platform itself is barely accessible.

The following two attachments are taken from S.K. Baker's 'Rail Atlas of Britain', 2nd Ed (OPC, 1978). They provide a snapshot of what the railway system was like around the Tyne and Wear area over 35 years ago - including The Tyne and Wear Metro.




Looks like I was wrong about Coxlodge. It appears it was planned as an additional station between Fawdon and Wansbeck Road although, judging by how the stations are spaced, Fawdon may have been where Kingston Park is (a station which wasn't planned until later) and Coxlodge where Fawdon appears.

Also, take a look at the Tyne Valley Line!

(16 Aug 2015, 8:34 pm)MurdnunoC wrote The following two attachments are taken from S.K. Baker's 'Rail Atlas of Britain', 2nd Ed (OPC, 1978). They provide a snapshot of what the railway system was like around the Tyne and Wear area over 35 years ago - including The Tyne and Wear Metro.




Looks like I was wrong about Coxlodge. It appears it was planned as an additional station between Fawdon and Wansbeck Road although, judging by how the stations are spaced, Fawdon may have been where Kingston Park is (a station which wasn't planned until later) and Coxlodge where Fawdon appears.

Also, take a look at the Tyne Valley Line!

Wikipedia says that platform 1 of Fawdon Station was where the old Coxlodge station was.

(16 Aug 2015, 8:36 pm)S813 FVK wrote Wikipedia says that platform 1 of Fawdon Station was where the old Coxlodge station was.

A more complete history of Coxlodge Station: http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/c/coxlodge/

The talk of old lines, has just reminded me of the second island at Sunderland.
Still there, just hidden.

Trying to recall whether Washington sidings was the site of the old station? We used to go down there as kids in the early to mid 90s, and it was a certainly a strange setting.

(16 Aug 2015, 8:53 pm)Andreos1 wrote The talk of old lines, has just reminded me of the second island at Sunderland.
Still there, just hidden.

I'll have to keep an eye out the next time I'm there. 

If only we were discussing this earlier as I was passing through.

(16 Aug 2015, 8:53 pm)aureolin wrote Trying to recall whether Washington sidings was the site of the old station? We used to go down there as kids in the early to mid 90s, and it was a certainly a strange setting.

If it was just before where the line split to go towards Stanley (now part of the C2C cycle path), then it probably would have been the site of the old station.

(16 Aug 2015, 8:53 pm)aureolin wrote Trying to recall whether Washington sidings was the site of the old station? We used to go down there as kids in the early to mid 90s, and it was a certainly a strange setting.

Where the footbridge is, that's more or less where the station was.
There are photos kicking about of other lines in Washington, running down the main road.
Outside what was Columbia Primary School (joined onto the line at Pattison) and also on Bonemill Lane, in front of the community centre.

(16 Aug 2015, 8:56 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I'll have to keep an eye out the next time I'm there. 

If only we were discussing this earlier as I was passing through.

There is mention of it, on the disused stations site.

(16 Aug 2015, 8:59 pm)MurdnunoC wrote If it was just before where the line split to go towards Stanley (now part of the C2C cycle path), then it probably would have been the site of the old station.

(16 Aug 2015, 9:01 pm)Andreos1 wrote Where the footbridge is, that's more or less where the station was.
There are photos kicking about of other lines in Washington, running down the main road.
Outside what was Columbia Primary School (joined onto the line at Pattison) and also on Bonemill Lane, in front of the community centre.


There is mention of it, on the disused stations site.

Aye there were a few lines. If either of you know Brady Square at all, there used to be street running with steam locos, which ran from in between where the off licence and Salon are at the bottom of the square. 

The site I'm thinking of is just behind the Swan Industrial Estate at Barmston. We used to play football on the fields here, prior to it becoming a fenced off field. The houses between that field and the industrial estate was just waste ground, and there was a small dirt mound that used to border it off. You could get up and over there and straight on to the lines, as the fences and such were non-existent. By that time like, the freight traffic had long gone. All the track was still there, but the area was littered with trenches and smashed open trackside cabinets, where I presume the copper thieves had been at work.

I can't remember any track on the C2C route that passes alongside that field, and also past St Roberts school. It's just been the tarmac cycle track for as long as I've known now. We used to ride as far along as the 'King Coal' statue at Pelton, and then cycle back.

The C2C track was in use right up until 1984. The track may have remained in-situ for a few years after (I don't know, but bear in mind the Leamside Line lay dormant for around 20 years) so you may have just missed out on the memory.

(16 Aug 2015, 9:14 pm)aureolin wrote Aye there were a few lines. If either of you know Brady Square at all, there used to be street running with steam locos, which ran from in between where the off licence and Salon are at the bottom of the square. 

The site I'm thinking of is just behind the Swan Industrial Estate at Barmston. We used to play football on the fields here, prior to it becoming a fenced off field. The houses between that field and the industrial estate was just waste ground, and there was a small dirt mound that used to border it off. You could get up and over there and straight on to the lines, as the fences and such were non-existent. By that time like, the freight traffic had long gone. All the track was still there, but the area was littered with trenches and smashed open trackside cabinets, where I presume the copper thieves had been at work.

I can't remember any track on the C2C route that passes alongside that field, and also past St Roberts school. It's just been the tarmac cycle track for as long as I've known now. We used to ride as far along as the 'King Coal' statue at Pelton, and then cycle back.

Aye, the line in front of the school, is the same one you mention.
Ran up to Glebe Pit (where the boxing club is/was). The gap where it ran between the houses coming up from Brady Sq/Columbia is still visible, just up from the VG/Thirlaways.

The track beyond St Roberts, was lifted up in the early 80's (83?). I can remember heavy machinery being parked up on the bridge above The Wheatsheaf at Barley Mow), for what seemed like ages.

edit:
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.p...ead/page-5
The track was taken up in two stages. The Washington - Ouston jct in 83/84. The remainder in 85.
The last train to Consett went via the ECML and Ouston Jct in 84.
The link has photos of the second stage being removed at Pelton in 85.

Like varnishing a floor, the last section to be sorted, would be via 'the exit', in this case - Ouston Jct.

I can't remember about the runaway mind.
Could have been carnage if it hit something on the ECML, rather than at Lamesley.

More on the line mentioned yesterday.

http://southpelawjunction.co.uk/wp/?page_id=2235
http://southpelawjunction.co.uk/wp/?page_id=2514
http://southpelawjunction.co.uk/wp/?page_id=642
A fascinating site that brought back a few memories too!

(17 Aug 2015, 2:36 pm)Andreos1 wrote More on the line mentioned yesterday.

http://southpelawjunction.co.uk/wp/?page_id=2235
http://southpelawjunction.co.uk/wp/?page_id=2514
http://southpelawjunction.co.uk/wp/?page_id=642
A fascinating site that brought back a few memories too!

Some cracking photos there mind. I think I'll have a walk along and take some shots over the weekend, if the sun stays out. Might even hop on the bus down to the Birtley end, and see if I can get some over the ECML.

It seems Adidas tracky bottoms, with zips are back in fashion.
Noticed a lad at the bus stop, with zips on his ankles and pockets.

However, it seems the fashion is to tuck the bottoms into the top your shoes - with a piece of elastic (like the ones that appear on shin pads), fastened under the foot - holding them in place.

(09 Sep 2015, 8:44 pm)Andreos1 wrote It seems Adidas tracky bottoms, with zips are back in fashion.
Noticed a lad at the bus stop, with zips on his ankles and pockets.

However, it seems the fashion is to tuck the bottoms into the top your shoes - with a piece of elastic (like the ones that appear on shin pads), fastened under the foot - holding them in place.

I see a lot of people with their trackies tucked into their socks. Apparently, according to an ex-police officer, this is to signify that they are drug dealers. Same goes for when you see old trainers draped across telephone wires, apparently if you stand under or near the trainers, someone will come out and ask what you're after.

Don't know if any of this is true like...

(09 Sep 2015, 8:51 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I see a lot of people with their trackies tucked into their socks. Apparently, according to an ex-police officer, this is to signify that they are drug dealers. Same goes for when you see old trainers draped across telephone wires, apparently if you stand under or near the trainers, someone will come out and ask what you're after.

Don't know if any of this is true like...

Really? I thought it was because when they nicked things and tucked them in their trackie bottoms, it's to stop the stuff falling out the bottom of the legs.

Although some will just go along with it because it's fashion.

(09 Sep 2015, 8:56 pm)Jimmi wrote Really? I thought it was because when they nicked things and tucked them in their trackie bottoms, it's to stop the stuff falling out the bottom of the legs.

Although some will just go along with it because it's fashion.

But the bottoms are usually elasticated anyway so, depending on the style of tracksuit bottom, items are unlikely to fall out. Plus, why would you want to go around with your bottoms full of loot, much easier to conceal (and jettison) in a coat or top. 

I am not entirely convinced by the drug dealer theory either mind...

(09 Sep 2015, 8:51 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I see a lot of people with their trackies tucked into their socks. Apparently, according to an ex-police officer, this is to signify that they are drug dealers. Same goes for when you see old trainers draped across telephone wires, apparently if you stand under or near the trainers, someone will come out and ask what you're after.

Don't know if any of this is true like...

Nah, these aren't tucked into the socks. The socks are worn as normal, but the legs, go into the shoes - with the elastic holding them in place. Stopping them riding up.

As for the shoes - true according to the Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...itory.html
I just took it as a sign I was near a flat roof pub.
 

Well I had a pair of them on yesterday, and I can confirm I am no drug dealer!

Most people you see wearing them will have gained them from wherever they play sport. A lot of football clubs use them as training gear, mine certainly does and that's where I got mine from.

(13 Sep 2015, 10:11 am)LeeCalder wrote ...and I can confirm I am no drug dealer!

You were dealing Pacers weren't you???!!!!