The LNER Encyclopedia

I remember Blyth trains (push-pulls and DMUs) used to arrive at the north, Coast-bound, platform at Monkseaton.

Did they also depart from there?

Or did they run into the carriage sidings at the east of the station, and then depart from the south, Newcastle-bound, platform?

The G5-hauled services normally ran into the Whitley Bay-bound platform to allow all passengers to alight. They then generally ran empty stock to the sidings, where the tanks would be replenished from the water crane. This also allowed them to clear the platforms for the North Tyneside EMUs. They would then run into the opposite (Benton-bound) platform for passengers to board for Hartley and beyond.

There probably were exceptions to this: for example I'm not sure that the tanks would be replenished after every return trip since there was also a set of water cranes in the platforms at Blyth. Also in DMU days this manoeuvre would only be necessary in order to allow the more frequent North Tyneside EMUs into the correct platforms, as the EMUs would not be reversing.

I have vague memories as a young boy from Blyth, having to alight the DMU on the Whitley Bay-bound platform, then cross the long footbridge/ramp to board an EMU bound for Newcastle Central via Benton (as this was marginally quicker than the route via Whitley Bay).

My 1964 timetable suggests it was necessary for arriving Blyth trains to clear the Whitley Bay platform for an electric to pass before their return journey which would certainly suggest they would then rmove to the other platform for departure. But the timetable seems to allow for either platform to be used, and I have vague memories of DMUs departing from the north one - which is after all the main 'town' side one.

Monkseaton to Newcastle via Whitley Bay usually took 32 minutes; via Benton 28 minutes - and Blyth trains usually seem to have made better connections with the latter so this would have been the quicker route.

Sounds like we're similar ages (I'm 54)! Actually to get to Newcastle Central from Blyth the quickest route would have been Blyth-Newsham, change at Newsham for the Newbiggin-Manors North service and then change anywhere between Benton and Manors North onto the North Tyneside EMU service. This is what my parents and me used to do, although in our case we had the advantage of living nearer Newsham station: we normally went Newsham-Manors North then EMU to Central.

So from Blyth there were three changes of train for the quickest 15 miles journey to Newcastle Central: no wonder bus competition won most passengers! This had been the case more or less since the line was built: from a passenger viewpoint the Blyth & Tyne system was very much secondary to the North Tyneside circle. It could be argued this continues today, as the biggest town in Northumberland is still without a passenger rail service almost 50 years after the Beeching cut.

I would also remind folks that the two twin engined, articulated Sentinel Cammell railcars also operated between Blyth and Monkseaton from 1932 - other 2 cylinder cars were also used. They were not used exclusively on the Monkseaton service, also operating to Newsham.

BlythStationLad wrote:Sounds like we're similar ages (I'm 54)! Actually to get to Newcastle Central from Blyth the quickest route would have been Blyth-Newsham, change at Newsham for the Newbiggin-Manors North service and then change anywhere between Benton and Manors North onto the North Tyneside EMU service. This is what my parents and me used to do, although in our case we had the advantage of living nearer Newsham station: we normally went Newsham-Manors North then EMU to Central.

You were probably a Saturday traveller!

By 1964 there were very few trains on weekdays between Newsham and Manors: two in the early morning and one late at night. One was a through train from Blyth at 0955 arriving at Manors at 1033 and so was the fastest, but if you missed it you would have to go on the hourly Blyth - Monkseaton train and change.

On Saturdays there was an hourly service from Newbiggin to Manors with a connection from Blyth at Newsham.

All of these stopped at Backworth, but not again until Manors.

You're right, I was! I had relatives in Co. Durham and, as my Dad was a railwayman, we used to travel quite often on Saturdays to Durham using our 'privs'. I didn't realise the Newbiggin trains ran 'fast' between Backworth and Manors North - I was too young to remember such details, although I do remember locking myself in the DMU toilet at Manors North once.

The only other memory I really have of travelling the route prior to passenger closure (other than crossing the bridge at Monkseaton) was of getting Paynes Poppets from the machine inside the waiting room at Newsham. Even now, on the very rare occasion I treat myself to them it automatically brings back that memory.

I have a few photos of the articulated Sentinel railcar 'Phenomena', a couple of which are at Blyth. My Dad always used to tell me how the locals fondly mispronounced it's name as 'fee-nor-meena'.

BlythStationLad wrote: The only other memory I really have of travelling the route prior to passenger closure (other than crossing the bridge at Monkseaton) was of getting Paynes Poppets from the machine inside the waiting room at Newsham. Even now, on the very rare occasion I treat myself to them it automatically brings back that memory.

I was a Toffets man myself. I didn't like the peanut taste of the Poppets. Practically ever station had a sweetie machine, which was why the old sixpence remained in circulation for a long time after decimalization. I didn't know you could still get them.

Toffets it was! I don't eat sweets very often (so why is my waist still bulging?)! They are/were the ones in a tangerine orange coloured box, methinks?