The LNER Encyclopedia

Looking at spending a day out in Newcastle on a weekday sometime in February - can anyone recommend anything particularly railway related to do? Are there any good railway book/model shops in the centre? A return trip to the superb Discovery museum is definitely on the cards - and also down to the Newcastle Quayside, although I believe nothing at all survives to show evidence of the branch and line on the quayside?

There's precious little of interest these days, the last model shop, Modelzone, closed before Christmas. As for bookshops, there's Waterstones but their railway range is typically limited although I believe that there is a second hand bookshop in the Central Arcade or Grainger Market.

There's nothing left of the branch on the Quayside - even if you know exactly where the tunnel mouth was, it is completely hidden by a grass bank.

John

Nearest Model shop is probably on the Team Valley Pooleys Puffers by Sainsburys.

There's always the Tanfield Railway, as for model shops there's Rolling Stock in North Shields. If the weathers good there's also the Riverside Walk which follows the riverside branch from Byker to Wallsend I believe.

There's also the remains of the original Newcastle - Carlisle line, more recently the Forth Branch, as well as the remains of the Blyth and Tyne branch around Manors and Jesmond.

The Central Station itself is worth a few minutes inspection time. You could also climb the (many) stairs to the top of the Castle Keep for the classic (photographer's) view of the station over the old diamond crossing site. Pay your respects to George Stephenson at his monument (opposite the station) on your way there.

Robinson's bookshop in the Grainger Market usually has a very small selection of railway books but is especially good for locally produced ones. The Market itself is worth a look if you haven't already been there.

If you have the time I would recommend a ride on the Metro to the coast where several of the original stations remain. Tynemouth station is being restored and at weekends has a large flea market with second hand books stalls and occasionally odd things of railway interest. http://www.tynemouthmarkets.com On a weekday just get off the train there and have a quick look before the next one comes.

Again weekends only - unless you are there on a school holiday - there's the Stephenson Railway Museum : http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/stephenson.html

For the Quayside and its railway browse through this (lengthy) discussion: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1308595

Percy

been a 'smoggy' , i'd recomend you learn a few Geordie phases before the visit , or if yer' dont wan' yer' gob smacked - keep it shut



enjoy your visit

Deleted

Thanks for the information all - anywhere accessible by car, and an overnight stay, are unfortunately out of the question, as i'm filling in a free day before giving a talk on the NER in WW1 in Durham in the evening and having a day out courtesy of public transport (which I may come to regret given the three and a half hours it took to take a 46 minutes journey back from Reading yesterday!).

Castle Keep definitely sounds of interest and didn't know you could get to the top. Any pubs recommended for a decent ale and something to eat? A shame about the Quayside but will likely head down there just to say i've been there

Let us know how you get on.

Percy

Rlangham wrote:Any pubs recommended for a decent ale and something to eat?

The Bridge Hotel, between the Castle Keep and the High Level Bridge, is usually pretty good, although I haven't been for a while...

Danby Wiske wrote:

Rlangham wrote:Any pubs recommended for a decent ale and something to eat?

The Bridge Hotel, between the Castle Keep and the High Level Bridge, is usually pretty good, although I haven't been for a while...

Better still, walk over the High Level Bridge to the Central Bar on the Gateshead side 100 metres on the left. Great grub in the bar and decent beer too. Lots of railway memorabilia on the walls, also. If the roof terrace is open there is a grand view over Gateshead East junction and a model loco and carriages exhibit. You never know, if you look inside the door you may be allowed into the Railwaymens Club - just as you walk off the bridge on your right.