BR in the 1980s Newcastle 18th September 1986

Back in the days of prehistoric video camera's i visited Newcastle on 18th September 1986 and from the top of the castle viewed several HST sets arrive and depart, a class 47 heading south over the famous Tyne Railway Bridge and class 45 "Peaks" on the Newcastle to Liverpool services."Trans Penine Route" as it is known. A class 31 trundles by heading north with a very light load and a class 56 passes round the side of the station. 1st generation DMU's come and go on the local services and are in the throws of being fazed out for the 2nd generation of "Pacers" and the like. The far right platforms have long gone now and probably an awful lot has changed since then that i am not aware of. This was one of my more favourite locations around the North of England albeit a little noisy with the hustle and bustle of traffic, listen to the old style police siren!. Fond memories and hopefully i will provide many more in due course. The conversion process from VHS to AVCHD is a little time consuming so please bear with me for now.

[@allan5919]

What fantastic historical footage of Newcastle Central. A real gem of a video. The platforms have been realigned and new platforms added since then and of course electrification is here plus some more modern traction, but the view remains superb to this day.

[@spompey]

Thanks very much for the appreciation you are very welcome. It is rather historical in several ways I agree, what with the rapid change in traction and electrification but I am glad to hear the vantage point is still available and will probably out last the railway even as it is a castle!. many thanks Mark

[@imcadam121]

I love the clatter of the wheels as they negotiate the complex diamond crossings & double slips.A superb capture from 30 years back.

[@spompey]

Many thanks Ian, much appreciated, you don't hear the clickety clack so much nowadays which always fascinated me as a youngster, it's more of a squeal.....Mark

[@nig87101]

Great memories, thanks for posting.

[@spompey]

You are most welcome....Mark

[@modernrailvideo5412]

Excellent capture of history from a nice location

[@spompey]

Many thanks for the kind comment and my sincere wishes to you......Mark

[@letzterinstanz]

Marvellous film. A real time capsule. From the age when trains were still trains.........and those diamonds and double slips! Thanks for sharing.

[@spompey]

+letzterinstanz Much appreciated for the kind comment, you're very welcome....... yes all those diamonds and slips!!.........Mark

[@Biggles-gm6tm]

Ah, fond memories. I recall snaking my way across those diamonds into the station behind Deltic 'Crepello'. Took it all for granted back then, if I'd only known that it would eventually be so sanitised I'd have paid more attention. Good video, thanks.

[@spompey]

Much appreciated Biggles, glad the video brought back nostalgic memories, like me we all took it for granted then, I too wish I had the technology to record it then that we have at our fingertips today...Best regards....Mark

[@DistrictDriver]

Brought back wonderful memories! Used to visit the castle keep regularly just to watch the trains! Thanks for posting!

[@spompey]

You're very welcome.. glad it evoked old memories there......Mark

[@philstanley77]

Really great footage - yes it certainly brought back happy memories. I loved the flange squeal! Fair play to you for capturing the action so well. And my favourite DMU's.... the 101's. Not many people bothered with DMU's so well done.

[@spompey]

+Phil Stanley Thanks very much Phil, glad it evokes good memories....Mark

[@redmozzy]

Yes, really does bring back memories of going "up north" to stay with relatives and spending a lot of time at Newcastle trainspotting. This was the year before i left school and and actually started work on British Rail . Brilliant videos buddy.

[@spompey]

Many thanks Alan, glad it recalled fond memories and that you joined BR.....What did you do on BR and I hope you are still enjoying your career with whatever company you became employed with....my best regards to you....Mark

[@redmozzy]

@@spompey I started on the RTS in 1987 (railway version of the YTS) then was a booking boy at Ashford (Kent) signalbox. Went on to be a signalman covering the boxes on the Kent coast. Left the railway on 1999, just wasn't the same after privatisation 😔. I still have an interest in the old stuff and live in Leicester now so visit the Great Central from time to time. All the best and keep up the good work.

[@spompey]

That's a shame you left, I too found a vast decline in morale after privatisation, but keep the interest alive....my best regards to you....may see you one day at the GCR as I ofyen visit....Mark

[@TrevorLedgeway]

Don't know how i missed this.Great footage from the 80s in Newcastle.I like this because it is the similar footage and time that i was filming in the York area.Loved this era....Trevor.''

[@spompey]

Trevor Ledgeway Yes this was a great era.......Mark

[@ELPaso1990TX]

I think it was about 1988-89 they erected the overhead wires for electrification, also they built a new platform on the far left of the station it was open about 1990. The far right platform 4 was often used by HSTs on the service to Plymouth as well as local services. Great video I could have watched for hrs :)

[@spompey]

+ELPaso1990TX Many thanks, you are most welcome and I will endeavour to post more archive material from the 80s and 90s.........Mark

[@zipdiskdude]

Top video. Thanks for posting. The class 31 and the single box van were probably heading for the Rowntrees factory at Fawdon. This took it over the same tracks used by the Metro from Benton to Fawdon.

[@spompey]

Many thanks for your kind comment and info you supplied, not being local to the area it is nice to gain this kind of info so again very much appreciated......Mark

[@johno4521]

The rolling stock hauled by the 45 heading north at 8.10 looks very old, even for 1986.

[@frenchsteam7356]

@@johno4521 It was neither a Liverpool set or a Cross Country, as the 45 was attached at Ncle it may of been a "Scratch Set" especially with a 2D FO on the south end.

[@spompey]

Many thanks Gustavo, trains from the left can come from the south as well as the north Tyne area, and trains to the right are coming in from the North. This location still exists.Mark

[@MrJimbaloid]

tx for this it's like a time machine

[@spompey]

+MrJimbaloid Your very welcome....Mark

[@braddazztravels6004]

Great video. Cheers!

[@spompey]

You're most welcome...many thanks....Mark

[@Deepakverma-yb5ro]

Newcastle central station was a magnificent station once upon time. Sadly it’s died. I want it to go back to the way it was.

[@spompey]

..many thanks for watching and for the comment...best wishes....Mark

[@johno4521]

Further to what the previous commentator said, I could just look at that track work all day! What a marvellous piece of engineering; great shame it's not like that anymore. It's a wonder the 'pacers' didn't trip up over it!! Who'd have thought in 2018 they'd still be squealing over the curves! Also , in a bit of 'hobby crossover', I heard an Atlantean at 2.15,, and a Bristol RE at 5.20!

[@spompey]

You most probably did and many thanks for your comment and interest....Best regards...Mark

[@Gregg-eo2le]

Great video 👍

[@spompey]

Many thanks Gregg 1975.......best regards......Mark

[@deccarobbo1955]

nice catching what looks like the Bessie Surtees on the river

[@spompey]

Many thanks Decca.......Best regards to you....Mark

[@goodisonroadmodelrailway6798]

Nice video that! Cheers JC

[@spompey]

+Goodison Road Model Railway You are very welcome....Mark

[@Jimyjames73]

Where the Carpark on the right is now was once more sidings & platforms!!!

[@medvedwwa]

Masterpiece of classic railway engineering

[@spompey]

It certainly was/is. The same with Crewe before it's new layout back in the 80's ......many thanks....Mark

[@BenDover-ln6ns]

Exactly, the loco shed on the other side and pointwork everywhere so you could traverse both side saving countless shunts and reversals.

[@deccarobbo1955]

Mark, cheers and thanks for your comment

[@vanar1984]

Such a beautiful station

[@spompey]

Hello VANAR Yes and full of history...Much architecture as well...similar to York station in a way...it seemed the ECML liked building large curved stations. Newcastle has also an interesting track layout around the area and beautiful bridges over the Tyne....best wishes....Mark

[@atomiswave1971]

What a wonderful insight to the 80's. Love the birds eye view. Near the beginning a host of loco's were stabled on the far side of the river. Where is this? I went through Newcastle a while back and like you say, its nothing like this video. Thanks for uploading, definitely subbing you.

[@spompey]

Many thanks for the sub , yes it has changed quite substantially. The line of loco's you see at the beginning on the north side of the river was St Peters Shephard scrapyard on the now Tyne walkway freight only route to Swan Hunter at Carville. This line branched off at Riverside Jct between Manors and Heaton. So glad you enjoyed the clip there will be more to come so keep an eye out. Mark

[@bigslydoc]

It’s a real shame that the diamond crossing at Newcastle central station is gone. It was a real iconic landmark, from a railway perspective at least.

[@spompey]

Many thanks Simon, yes the good thing is I have several audio recordings made from the train transversing this junction and the one at Crewe which was also quite unique....it is a shame I do agree.

[@markcf83]

Must have been a pain to maintain though.....

[@MotoCrazy66]

When i was in Newcastle 10 years ago, i went up the castle tower to see this view, but didn't know all the old crossings had disappeared! Very disappointing. But i suppose that's progress and efficiency.

[@spompey]

Yes it has mostly all gone now, it was a stunning view back then... many thanks for your comment.....Mark

[@frenchsteam7356]

real trains and real locos-what more could you want [DELTICS!] Happy days

[@spompey]

Oh yes ..shame I did not have a video camera a few years earlier....many thanks for your kind comment....Mark

[@grahamsmith7054]

The Peak at 2 minutes 40 Seconds is 45115 Arriving at Newcastle on the Empty Stock from Heaton CS ,and would work the 08.12 to Poole service.

[@spompey]

Much appreciated there Graham.....Best wishes....Mark

[@oddities-whatnot]

Ee, this was 6 days after I passed my driving test :) happy days

[@spompey]

They were happy days indeed, many thanks.......Mark

[@Al-kk4pf]

The place where the locos are stabled at the start of the video is NOT a scrapyard at St Peters! It is Gateshead TMD. St Peters and the rest of the Riverside branch were on the same side of the river as Newcastle (ie where the cameraman is) but were further east towards the mouth of the Tyne. The other side of the river is the Gateshead side. Shepherds Scrapyard did not deal in ex-BR locos and the sidings there certainly weren't big enough to hold a lot of traffic.

[@spompey]

Many thanks for the correction Alan, much appreciated, Must admit my geography of that particular area is a little rusty especially when such a time has passed by.. Many thanks.......Mark

[@Al-kk4pf]

No worries, I enjoyed your vid. If you DID have some footage of St Peters it would be incredibly rare. It was a veritable backwater...

[@spompey]

Alan Gorham Unfortunately no footage of St Peters, maybe some one has some where?. Many thanks Alan......Mark

[@robertspence1734]

good old days

[@spompey]

Certainly were..100% ...many thanks....Mark

[@brandonp1038]

I wish the "Angel Crossing" was still there...

[@spompey]

Yes I agree, I also have fond memories of the complex crossovers outside Crewe station.....since gone now.....best regards....Mark

[@brandonp1038]

Crewe is a magnificent station and a busy one.

[@brandonp1038]

You can watch a live camera of railways (including Crewe) with this link. You have to sign up though. railcam.uk/site/

[@spompey]

I have and it is most excellent to watch....best regards.....Mark

[@jacklambert3117]

Yep.

[@spompey]

Thanks Jack.....Mark

[@Ed_Gilbert]

How did you get these shots? We’re you on the castle?

[@spompey]

Yes Indeed on the roof of the castle......best regards....mark

[@Sepulchear]

I had a month of life on that date

[@spompey]

Many thanks Sepulchear, into your thirties eh.....best times of your life and so much more to see yet.....best regards....Mark

[@Jimyjames73]

If you check out James Fox Channel - He calls himself a "The Time Travel Artist" - basically he finds photos of a certain place from now & way back in the past & put them together, he has even done a video about Newcastle called " Newcastle Central Station: A Journey through Time" - IT'S REALLY Cool - check it out!!! :)

[@spompey]

Many thanks for that Jimyyames73....I have actually seen his videos and they are really fascinating...and Yes yet more car parks which seems to be the fate of many railway sidings and yards..and railways become cycle paths (not so bad) or main roads (Bad)...best regards...Mark

[@Jimyjames73]

Your Welcome -1 railway has become a walk/Cycle path (as you said not so bad) is the Monsal Trail in Derbyshire - Have you heard of it??? I cycle along it nearly some of the time - it is 8 1/2 miles long & has about 8 tunnels to go trough - it has specular views along it :)

[@spompey]

Yes I believe I have heard of it, I have walked the line from Havant to Hayling Island (Billy's Trail) and it is quite delightful....Best Regards...Mark

[@aturnbull71]

Newcastle uk. Or Newcastle aus

[@spompey]

Hi Cody...Yes this is Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the NE of UK....best regards to you and thanks.....Mark

[@TrainsBoatsPlanes]

Great old video. I've subscribed to your channel and would appreciate same. Thank you.

[@spompey]

Many thanks for the sub........Mark