DMU Operations: North Eastern Region
Newcastle - Alnmouth
Alnmouth was where the 2 ¾ mile Alnwick branch connected to the East Coast Main Line. DMUs had been introduced to Newcastle - Alnwick services in April 1958, when the passenger service on the branch ended in January 1968, the local service to Newcastle now run to and from Alnmouth.
Sample Timetables
The service was included on these timetables that also covered services to Berwick and Edinburgh.
7 May 1973 to 5 May 1974
This measured 3" x 4 1/8" when folded.
3 May 1976 to 1 May 1977
This measured 3" x 4 1/8" when folded.
2 May 1977 to 7 May 1978
This measured 3" x 4 1/8" when folded.
14 May 1979 until further notice
This measured 3" x 4 1/8" when folded.
Images
21st May 1977
A Class 101 DMU on the 1210 Alnmouth - Newcastle service calls into Cramlington, Northumberland, on 21/05/1977. Graeme Phillips Collection.
2nd June 1977
A Class 108 calls at Acklington, Northumberland with 1039 Newcastle-Alnmouth, 02/06/1977 Graeme Phillips Collection.
2nd June 1977
This charming scene from a pre-modern Alnmouth station shows a Class 101 DMU led by 50168 arriving with 1808 Newcastle-Alnmouth, at 1906 on 02/06/1977. Note the station trolleys, a moped and other characteristic clutter. The small B900 stenciled under the drivers window is from a short stay at Bristol. Graeme Phillips Collection.
2nd August 1977
On 02/08/1977, the 1730 Newcastle-Alnmouth calls at Heaton at 1736, with Class 101 DMS(L) 51511 leading a Class 108 TBS(L), possibly 59248. 51511 was amongst the very last Class 101 cars in service, lasting until the end in December 2003, and was preserved, operating on North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Graeme Phillips Collection.
2nd August 1977
A four-car hybrid Class 101/104/108/108 set forms the 17:10 Newcastle - Almouth service seen at Heaton, Newcastle, on 02/08/1977. Graeme Phillips Collection.
December 1977
A Class 101 DMU calls at Morpeth (at 1304) with the 1235 Alnmouth-Newcastle on 09/12/1977. Surprisingly, the station canopy is still extant, although a fence has been erected along the right-hand edge of the platform, presumably as part of station rationalisation. A signal box is visible to the left of the canopy supporting post. Graeme Phillips Collection.
29th June 1978
A Met-Camm on the 1545 Alnmouth - Newcastle awaits departure from the southbound platform of Alnmouth station on June 29, 1978. Graeme Phillips Collection.
Unknown date
A Met-Camm DMU departing Manors (East) station displaying Alnmouth on the destination blind. Date unknown. Ian Dinmore/railarchive.org.uk.
3rd November 1986
M53953 + M54242 await departure from Newcastle p5 with the 12:35 Newcastle - Alnmouth local service on 3/11/86. At the time, these cars were allocated to Kingmoor for Cumbria services, but this one could have worked across to Newcastle on a Tyne Valley service, perhaps due to unit failure, and was now being utilised on this north-east service. Most of the Kingmoor 108s - including this pairing - were reallocated to Heaton in May 1988, when the former was closed, the remaining units going to Chester depot. Graeme Phillips Collection.