DMU Operations: North Eastern Region
Newcastle - South Shields
These services would be worked by South Gosforth and Heaton DMUs.
DMU Services ended on 1 June 1981 when the line was closed for conversion to Metro operation which began in 1984.
Sample Timetables
7 May 1973 to 4 May 1974
This measured 3" x 4 1/8" when folded.
Working Timetable (16mb pdf), courtesy of Neil Dahlgaard-Sigsworth.
Images
2nd November 1966
A Class 101 DMU is seen entering Gateshead East station, with a Newcastle-South Shields service, Wednesday 02/11/1966. Graeme Phillips Collection.
circa 1967
A Met-Camm DMU enters High Shields station. The image is dated as April 7, 1964, the blue livery suggests a later date. Steve Davies Collection.
4th July 1967
A Class 101 DMU is seen calling at Pelaw station on Tuesday 04/07/1967 - then in Co. Durham - with a South Shields-Newcastle service, presumably not long after the EMUs were replaced with DMUs. The DMBS is in blue livery with a small yellow panel (since no yellow can be seen on the cabside). Graeme Phillips Collection.
9th September 1975
According to my notes, this is either E50248 or E56082 - I think it's the former as I can't see a First Class yellow stripe, which means that it is a Class 101/2 built by Metro-Cammell in 1957. It is waiting to form the 1410 South Shields to Newcastle on 9 September 1975, around six years before the line was closed for conversion as part of the Tyne & Wear Metro system. The line had been worked by third rail EMUs until 1963. Jeremy Chapter.
3rd November 1976
Seen from the castle keep, a Class 108 from South Shields comes off the Newcastle High Level Bridge on 3 November 1976. Stuart Mackay Collection.
10th November 1976
In BR days, a Class 101 DMU calls at Felling with a Newcastle-South Shields service Graeme Phillips Collection.
Unknown date
A Met-Camm DMU arrives into Tyne Dock station with a Newcastle - South Shields service. Date unknown, the blue livery with yellow panel suggests 1967 to late 1960s. Stuart Mackay Collection.
3rd August 1979
A Class 101 DMU is seen entering Hebburn station, with a Newcastle-South Shields service, Friday 03/08/1979. Graeme Phillips Collection.
4th April 1980
Cars E56136 E51279 are seen working a Newcastle-South Shields service on 4/4/1980... not giving much away about the location, this shot was taken from Park Lane, Gateshead. Graeme Phillips Collection.
27th September 1980
Unidentified class 101 pair in blue band livery with Tyne & Wear PTE logos departing Newcastle station for South Shields on 27 September 1980. Jeremy Chapter.
24th November 1980
Class 105 51493 has been attached to a blue/grey set or vehicle when seen at South Shields on 24/11/80. Chris Lings.
1981
A snow covered Class 101 DMU arrives at the old South Shields station in 1981. It closed in 1982. John Law.
1981
Low point at High Shields. High Shields station seen in 1981 shortly before closure of the South Shields branch prior to takeover by the Tyne & Wear Metro. This section of line was abandoned in favour of a more southerly NCB track formation used by the Metro today. Murray Liston.
14th February 1981
DMBS E51252 and DTS(L) E56404 are seen working the 14:38 South Shields - Newcastle, just departed from High Shields station, which is visible in the background to the extreme left, on 14/2/81. This station closed on 30/05/1981, and the route was converted to the Tyneside Metro network - this station did not survive, Chichester station being constructed at a different location. Surviving structures on the skyline include the gasometer (left, behind station), and South Shields Town Hall clock tower (centre right). Graeme Phillips Collection.
14th February 1981
In rapidly fading Winter sunlight, cars E56404 E51252 call at Tyne Dock with the 15:30 Newcastle - South Shields on 14/2/81. British Rail services came to an end soon after in May 1981 to make way for the Tyneside Metro system. Graeme Phillips Collection.
14th February 1981
With just under four months remaining until closure for development of the Tyneside Metro system, cars E56367 E50154 E50253 E56121 await departure from South Shields on their return to Newcastle, 14/02/1981. Graeme Phillips Collection.
26th March 1981
A hybrid Met Camm / Cravens dmu waits for departure time at the old South Shields station with a Newcastle service, 26th March 1981. The station would close just over 2 months later in readiness for the branch to be converted to Metro operation. Murray Liston.
April 1981
E51441 at South Shields in April '81. Ian Francis.
April 1981
E51441 at South Shields in April 1981. Ian Francis.
April 1981
E50154 heads a two-car set bound for Newcastle shortly after leaving South Shields in April 1981 Trevor Ermel.
4th April 1981
E56086 + E50251 with the 11:08 to Newcastle at South Shields on April 4, 1981. The soon to be withdrawn service to South Shields - the line was converted to light rail Metro trains. However, the Metro line stopped short of here with a featureless 'plastic' station being provided instead. A NER tiled map can be seen on the wall on the right, I wonder what happened to that when the station was demolished. John Carter.
2nd May 1981
Class 101 DMU cars E51205 + E54399 are seen at Gateshead East station with a South Shields-Newcastle service on Saturday 02/05/1981. Situated just on the south side of the River Tyne after leaving Newcastle, this station closed on 23/11/1981, replaced by the new Gateshead Interchange station on the Tyneside Metro system. Services on the South Shields branch ceased soon after in May 1982, for the same reason. Graeme Phillips Collection.
25th May 1981
The 10:00 Newcastle - South Shields awaits departure from Newcastle Central station on the 25th May 1981 with E56406 at the front. Hamish Stevenson.
25th May 1981
Class 101 South Shields 25 May 1981. The line was about to close 6 days later for conversion to the Metro and I hadn't travelled over the branch so I got here just in time! Alistair Ness.
25th May 1981
Class 101 South Shields 25 May 1981. The line was about to close 6 days later for conversion to the Metro and I hadn't travelled over the branch so I got here just in time! Alistair Ness.
30th May 1981
Cars E51274 E56119 are seen departing Jarrow with a Newcastle - South Shields service on 30/5/81, the final day of British Rail services on the South Tyneside branch, prior to conversion to Tyneside Metro operation. Graeme Phillips Collection.
30th May 1981
Cars E56429 E51282 are seen at Gateshead East approaching Newcastle with a service from South Shields on 30/5/81, the last day of British Rail services on the South Tyneside branch prior to conversion to the Tyneside Metro system. Against the backdrop of Newcastle's skyline, a Class 47 can be seen approaching the station on the ECML. Graeme Phillips Collection.
30th May 1981
A Class 101 DMU at Hebburn, South Tyneside, with a South Shields service on 30/05/1981 - the last day of British Rail services, prior to conversion to Tyneside Metro system. Graeme Phillips Collection.
30th May 1981
A Class 105 (E56429 E51282) arriving at South Shields from Newcastle, on 30/05/1981, the last day of BR services prior to conversion to Tyneside Metro system. Graeme Phillips Collection.
30th May 1981
Cars 50205 56069 wait at South Shields to return to Newcastle on 30/05/1981, the last day of British Rail services before conversion to Tyneside Metro system. The run down condition of the station is evident. Graeme Phillips Collection.