This Goods Station was built by NER in the 1870's and in its day was, I think, the biggest freight depot in the World. It lasted until 1968, when it was disasterously relocated across the River Tyne to Gateshead which resulted in its closure a few years later. I was brought up virtually outside it, in (appropriately) Railway Street. Our front window faced the Newcastle to Carlisle line; I never go sick of watching the train, that has stayed with all my life, even at the age of 79.
I never worked on the railway, but most of my family did. My grandfather worked for NER as long ago as 1909 until his retirement in 1953. He was a Rolleyman and subsequently a Mechanical Horse driver was real horses were fazed out. He lived in Dale Street which was a row of 32 Railway owned houses on the west side of the King Edward bridge.
The people that lived in Dale St maintained an incredibley high standard. No noise! Front steps watched and pummey stoned several times a week! Curtains clean and tidy....as so on!
Adjacent to to Dale st, upto the early 1950s were situated stables where the LNER had, I would think, 200 horses. Rumour had it that my grandfather, consumed so much drink whilst delivering around Newcastle, that his horse used to bring him back to the Depot in the afternoon! Happy Days!
