Tyneside Railways (The 1970s and 1980s)

Tyneside is widely acknowledged as the birthplace of the railway. Long before ‘Railway Mania’ gripped Victorian Britain, pioneering engineers on both sides of the Tyne were connecting collieries to the river to assist the export of coal. This book will look at the transitional years of the North-East's railways, covering the decline of Tyneside's traditional industries; the closure and lifting of many freight lines; and the conversion of Newcastle's suburban network to the light rapid transit Metro. Tyneside Railways also appreciates the renaissance of many of the important railway structures of the North-East, and takes a look at some of the local preservation schemes. Ranging over numerous locations, visiting the suburbs and the beautiful Tyne Valley to the west and also travelling slightly further afield in the South-East Northumberland coalfield, the book looks at a variety of motive power. The photographs collected and captioned by Colin Alexander feature preserved steam and BR diesel traction; steam-, diesel- and electric-powered locomotives; Tyne & Wear Metro stock; and even the ill-fated Advanced Passenger Train.