Half an Hour at East Boldon - Light Rail Meets Heavy Rail
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- čas přidán 21. 01. 2023
- Video created by Northumberland Snapper:
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Filmed on 21st January 2023.
Regular viewers might have noticed that I have been publishing a new video every four days (I really need a better system!) so this is a short bonus today if you like.
Tyne and Wear Metro trains share the Network Rail Durham Coast Line between Pelaw and Sunderland. This short video shows half an hour of Metro and heavy rail services at East Boldon Station. The station is managed by Northern Trains and the operator's trains call infrequently during the day. Tyne and Wear Metro services running between Newcastle and Sunderland are much more frequent, with a train in each direction every 10 minutes or so on weekdays.
The square-shaped 40-year-old Metrocars are energised by the 1.5 kV (DC) overhead lines, which are visible in the video. The current fleet of 87 Metrocars, which always operate in pairs, is due for replacement by the end of 2024. 46 Stadler class 555 METRO electric multiple units, which can run on either 1.5 kV (DC) or 25 kV (AC), have been purchased as a replacement. The first of these METRO units have arrived in the UK and should be undergoing testing on the Tyne and Wear Metro network within the next couple of months. The Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (Nexus), has future plans to upgrade the overheads to the National Rail standard 25 kV (AC).
We also see a severely delayed Northern Trains class 158 Express Sprinter working the route between Whitby and Newcastle and a couple of LNER class 800 Azuma bi-mode units working off the beaten track owing to engineering work on the East Coast Main Line.
Footage was captured using a Panasonic HC-VX1; amzn.to/3vJnqNJ; fitted with a Rode VideoMic Go; amzn.to/3rpMeIA
Notice the 800s are running in diesel mode. That’s because the metro overheads are a non-standard voltage
That's right - 1.5 kV DC.
The freight line out of Pelaw to Shields has now been electrified for double track Metro but no doubt the oil tanker trains will still run out of Tyne Dock for the forseeable future. Just wonder if its gonna be Nexus or Network Rail in charge. If its Network Rail then that could cause more problems for future strikes.
It's Nexus - the boundary is about halfway along the new chord connecting the NR lines at Pelaw with the Metro.
Very nice video, great camera work! 👍👍
Glad you liked it!
Very nice captures! Had no idea LNER uses Durham Coast for divertions apart from Grand Central moves to and from Heaton depot. I live in Manchester,visited Newcastle a few times not so far from Central Station but ventured last week to ride the TW Metro Network yellow line to ride the soon to be phased out 1980 Metro Cars and was surprised for the banning of seating on front window seats. Any reason for that apart from covid social distancing measures pre-pandemic? Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. During covid times they put a fabric partition up at the front of each Metro, so no-one could get close to the driver. I imagine the measure has been kept because there are less distractions for the driver if the front seats are kept empty.
@@NorthumberlandSnapper thank you for the reply. That make sense indeed.
Didn’t notice how high the wires were in that section
I don't think they're that high actually. There must be a standard, but I don't know what it is. If you compare the Azuma to the Metrocar, you'll notice the Azuma is probably 20% taller.
It's for the level crossing next to the station, Kingston Park is the same
The first new 555 unit arrived about 10days ago. But on the downside its covered in grafetti from its brief stay at Wembley Yard
Another canny video I have to say.
Not that long ago if you'd been at Hebburn you'd have seen a FreightLiner Class 66, only 2nd or 3rd time Ive ever seen a heavy loco on the pure Metro line.
Seen some good stuff early AM at Pelaw though: GC HST set, their Adelante (?) set and once even had a Class 31 + Class 20 head and tailing a nuclear flask train, which was quite something.
Thanks Em. It was a bit of a rush job this one - just jumped off the Metro at East Boldon to see what was happening for half an hour. I'm wanting to get the Jarrow Prax oil tanks sometime, but I think they're moving in darkness at this time of year. I seem to recall that Nexus hired in a GBRf 66 for some ballasting work over Wallsend way not that long ago.
Its usually two class 70 on the flask trains
@@michaelcampin1464 The Hartlepool flask trains? 68s normally.
@@NorthumberlandSnapper tbh these "new" locos have no appeal to me they look like Darth Vader or look the same not like the older locos like Deltics, Hymecs, Westerns or Warships. Even the 47s or 50s had a bit of distinction. Now its all bland and basically horrible and only functional. No class anymore
@@michaelcampin1464 They do look pretty similar, but the newer Stadler locos - 68s and 88s - have a lovely sound to them.