DMU Operations: North Eastern Region
Newcastle - Middlesbrough
Four-car Derby Lightweight DMUs were introduced to these services, a 47½ journey, on 21 November 1955.
In late 1956 Met-Camm quad sets also began to be used, and would operate most services from the September 1957 timetable.
Sample Timetables
17th September 1956 to 16th June 1957
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was Table 56 (1.7 mb pdf).
9th June to 14th September 1958
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 56 (2.5 mb pdf).
15th September 1958 to 14th June 1959
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 56 (1.7 mb pdf).
15th June to 13th September 1959
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was Table 50 (2.6 mb pdf).
2nd November 1959 to 12th June 1960
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was Table 50 (1.9 mb pdf).
13th June to 11th September 1960
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was Table 50 (2.3 mb pdf).
12th September 1960 to 11th June 1961
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 50 (1.7 mb pdf).
12th June to 10th September 1961
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was Table 50 (2.2 mb pdf).
18th June to 9th September 1962
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 42 (2.6 mb pdf).
10th September 1962 to 16th June 1963
This measured 4 1/2" x 6" when folded.
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 42 (2.2 mb pdf).
17th June to 8th September 1963
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 42 (2.4 mb pdf).
9th September 1963 to 14th June 1964
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 42 (1.6 mb pdf).
15th June to 6th September 1964
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 42 (2.2 mb pdf).
7th September 1964 to 13th June 1965
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 42 (1.5 mb pdf).
14 June 1965 to 13 September 1966
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 33 (2 mb pdf).
13 September 1965 to 17 April 1966
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 33 (1.4 mb pdf).
18 April to 4 September 1966
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 33 (1.8 mb pdf).
5 September 1966 to 5 March 1967
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 33 (1.6 mb pdf).
6 March to 3 September 1967
In the Passenger Services North Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 33 (1.6 mb pdf).
4 September 1967 to 5 May 1968
In the Passenger Services North Eastern England timetable it was included in Table 33 (1.8 mb pdf).
6 May 1968 to 4 May 1969
In the Passenger Services Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 48 (2.1 mb pdf).
1 May 1972 to 6 May 1973
In the Passenger Services Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 25 (3.6 mb pdf).
7 May 1973 to 5 May 1974
In the Passenger Services Eastern Region timetable it was included in Table 25 (3.7 mb pdf).
Images
circa May 1956
Two two-car Derby Lightweight sets head out of Newcastle with a Middlesbrough service. The date is unknown, they appear reasonably clean so probably taken soon after delivery (new in March 1956), they were intended for Hexham sevices later in the year. British Railways.
17th April 1965
A four-car Met-Camm DMU on a Newcastle service at Ryhope, Sunderland, at 11.33am on Saturday 17 April 1965, probably the 10:35am from Middlesbrough. E50143 and E50144 were recorded as the power cars. Stuart Mackay Collection.
1966
A Class 108 / 101 hybrid set departing from Billingham station with a Newcastle to Middlesbrough (via Sunderland) service in 1966. Steve Davies Collection.
27th September 1966
A four-car Met-Camm set departing from Stockton-on-Tees on 27 September 1966 with the 4.35pm Middlesbrough - Newcastle service. The third vehicle is a buffet car, and at least the leading power car (which appears to be 51505) has a NE prefix to the vehicle number. Michael Mensing.
29th July 1973
A Met-Camm formation led by E56057 and E51206 arrives into Gateshead station on July 29, 1973. David Mant.
March 1976
Metro-Cammell Class "101" Local Passenger 4-car dmu Nos.E50238 (101/1), E59094 (168), E59088 (162), E50239 (101/1), all of the 1957 batch with 2-character headcode panel, in Rail Blue livery with all yellow front ends, leaving Middlesbrough on a service to Thornaby, Stockton, Billingham, West Hartlepool, Sunderland and Newcastle (Central), 03/76. Hugh Llewelyn.
March 1976
A four-car Class 101 DMU departs from Newcastle (Central) with a Middlesbrough service in March 1976. Closest is possibly 51511, the other vehicles would be 59043 + 59050 + 50147. Hugh Llewelyn.
December 1978
A Class 105/101 hybrid comes off the curve from West Hartlepool to Cemetery North junction in December 1978. Alan Grange.
December 1978
A Class 101/105 hybrid trundles away from West Hartlepool towards Cemetery North junction in December 1978. The open space between the line and the Steetley Magnesite factory was where the sidings for the coal trains to and from the dock staiths at Hartlepool used to be. Alan Grange.
22nd March 1980
E51299 + E56426 / E56470 + E51427 with a Newcastle - Middlesbrough service at Stockton on March 22, 1980. John Carter.
22nd March 1980
E56370 + E51226 / E50225 + E56409 with a Newcastle - Middlesbrough service at North Shore, Stockton, on March 22, 1980. John Carter.
22nd March 1980
E50294 + E56397 with a Newcastle - Middlesbrough service at North Shore, Stockton, on March 22, 1980. Now only a plain up and down line, the box and semaphores long gone. John Carter.
10th May 1980
Metro-Cammell action at Gateshead (formerly East) station. Two twin sets, E56367 leading (note the red patches on the rear passenger door) and paired with a Cravens DMBS, working with a Class 101 twin, arrive from Middlesbrough on 10 May 1980. The decrepit station closed in November 1981, replaced by that for the Tyne & Wear Metro. Image by Charles Dean. Kevin Lane Collection.
10th May 1980
Two Class 101/105 hybrid DMUs forming a Newcastle to Middlesbrough working are seen approaching Gateshead station on 10 May 1980. The leading vehicle is Metro-Cammell DTCL E56077. Image by Charles Dean. Kevin Lane Collection.
16th November 1980
E50291 + E56423 on a Middlesbrough - Newcastle at Thornaby on 16/11/1980, diverted via the goods lines due to engineering work. John Carter.
16th November 1980
E56403 + E51441 on a Newcastle - Middlesbrough service at Thornaby on 16/11/1980, diverted via the goods lines due to engineering work. John Carter.
16th November 1980
E56423 + E50291 on a Newcastle - Middlesbrough service at Tees Yard, Newport, Middlesbrough on 16/11/1980, diverted via the goods lines and Tees Yard due to engineering work. John Carter.
15th February 1981
E51209 + E56461 on a Middlesbrough - Newcastle service diverted via Eaglescliffe and Stockton goods line, on Stockton, February 15, 1981. During the rationalisation at Stockton services were diverted over the goods lines and around the back of the station John Carter.
6th June 1981
A Cravens DMU at Gateshead on 6 June 1981 with "Middlesbrough" on the destination blind. The number on the closest vehicle appears to be E56425 which was withdrawn the same month, so why was it freshly repainted? George Woods.
3rd July 1981
Metro-Cammell Class 101 twin unit E56387 + E51229 at Newcastle on July 3rd 1981 in between arriving as the 17.48 from Middlesbrough and departing as the 19.35 to Sunderland. The trailer's blue paint work seems to have suffered in the carriage wash while its partner is in refurbished condition. Gerard Fletcher.
24th July 1982
The long standing Metro-Cammell on a Newcastle - Middlesbrough service emerges from the South tunnel at Sunderland on the 24th July 1982. 54A South Dock.
7th March 1983
Cars E50247 E56403 are seen passing Felling, Gateshead, with the 13:15 Newcastle - Middlesbrough. The electrification catenary visible are on the Tyneside Metro system, which runs adjacent through Gateshead. Graeme Phillips Collection.
19th July 1983
Cars E54365 E53164 are just about to enter Boldon Colliery station, Tyne & Wear, with the 07:39 Middlesbrough-Newcastle on 19/07/1983. Behind the train is a bridge carrying the line from Tyne Dock to Consett, which crossed the Newcastle-Sunderland line at what was known as Pontop Crossing - in this view, it is still protected by semaphore signals, but these were replaced in the mid-1980s. Boldon Colliery station was renamed Brockley Whins in 1991, and it became part of the Tyne & Wear Metro system when the Sunderland extension was opened in 2002. Graeme Phillips Collection.
April 1984
Teeside Twins. Two smart looking Metro Cammell twins at Nunthorpe. This is a the return of a short working on the Whitby branch. Once the driver and guard return it will form a service to Middlesbrough and Newcastle (via the coast). Notice the Tyne and Wear PTE logo by the cab door. April 1984. alicia hartman.
April 1984
Tyneside Twin. Smart looking unidentified Metro Cammell set departs Newcastle Central for Middlesbrough via the coast. Notice the Tyne and Wear PTE symbol adjacent to the cab door on the trailer car. April 1984. alicia hartman.
circa June 1984
A two-car Class 101 DMU, 53259 closest, with a Newcastle service in Middlesbrough station. The slide process date was June 1984. Stuart Mackay Collection.
21st March 1987
E51219 + possibly E54056 on a Middlesbrough - Newcastle approaching Newcastle (1230) Saturday 21st March 1987. Colin Brooks.
late 1980s
A power twin 101 seen at Seaham on a Newcastle - Middlesbrough service in the late 1980s. Roy Lambeth.