Category Archives: Newcastle

15th March picture of the day…

15 Saturday Mar 2025

Posted by in Musings, Newcastle, Photography, Picture of the day, Politics, Travel

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After the fun and games of last week this weekend’s been one of consolidation as I’d a huge tranche of awards pictures to edit and get out to Community Rail Network. This kept me busy all day but by the end of it the job was done, freeing me up to edit the library images I’d taken whilst I was in Newcastle. You can find them in these galleries;

Tyne and Wear metro

Northern rail

LNER

Trans-Pennine Express

Arriva Cross Country

Having been away for a few days I hadn’t been following politics as I normally do. Being home gave me chance to catch up on the latest madness on both sides of the Atlantic. I was pleased to see that in the UK different factions of the Reform party (well, PLC really) are still knocking chunks out of each other! Of course, there’s only going to be one winner out of all this, Nigel Farage, as he effectively owns Reform. However, how this warfare will affect their voting base and attractiveness to floating voters is open to question. We’ll find that out in May.

Meanwhile, across the pond, Donald Trump continues to tear America apart, trashing the country’s reputation abroad whilst damaging its economy at home. The man is utterly without shame. No lie is too outrageous to tell, and no act too stupid. His latest wheeze is to close down ‘Voice of America’ along with Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia. These radio channels have been an extension of US soft power across the globe for 75 years providing an alternative source of news to former communist countries as well as theocracies like Iran and dictatorships in Asia like Myanmar. Vladimir Putin must be laughing his head off! As some commentators have noted, if Trump WAS a Russian asset, what would he be doing differently to what he’s doing now?

It seems that even some of Trump and Musk’s supporters are starting to feel uneasy at the shitshow that’s unfurling. The pain the pair are causing is starting to ripple across the states and the ones that voted for Trump as some of the least capable of weathering the storm. I find it hard to imagine the US is going to put up with four more years of this. Time will tell.

In the meantime, life continues here at Bigland Towers as the pair of us prepare for a new week ahead. I’m hoping to get out with the camera later in the week as the weather forecast is predicting sunshine. I’m not sure where I’ll go just yet but I’ve time to plan…

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with today’s picture, which is another one from Newcastle. I do love a good clock – and this one has added lustre!

The 93-year-old timepiece on the corner of Westgate Road and Clayton Street has towered above shoppers since 1932. The clock was one of two commissioned by Northern Goldsmiths in 1932 outside its branches in the centre of Newcastle. Both clocks were finished in 24-carat gold leaf and adorned with a statue of Venus with outstretched arms to symbolise progress.

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Newcastle explorations…

14 Friday Mar 2025

Posted by in History, Newcastle, Photography, Railways, Travel

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Whilst I was up in Newcastle for the Community rail awards I did have a couple of hours spare each day where I was able to nip out and explore in order to get a few pictures. On the Thursday I opted to explore part of the Tyne and Wear metro system as they’re introducing new trains to replace their existing fleet which dates from the opening of the system in 1980.

The weather was less than ideal due to constant heavy rain showers but I was lucky enough to hit clear weather at the right time. Time constraints meant I couldn’t go too far afield, but I did make it out as far Pelaw, which is the junction of the T&W metro routes to South Hylton and South Shields as well as the national rail routes to Sunderland and the former Leamside line which has been abandoned since the early 1990s

The truncated remains of the Leamside line at Pelaw junction disappear under the T&W metro flyover to the right. The national rail route to Sunderland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough are in the centre whilst the single track to the left is the spur to Jarrow oil terminal.
One of the new Stadler built Class 555s (555004) arrives at Pelaw whilst working the South Hylton – Airport line. This is the first of the new sets I’ve seen since they entered passenger wervice in December 2024. 46 of these 5-car trains are on order. They’ll replace the 90 Metro-Cammell built Class 599s which have worked the system since it opened.
A pair of the original T&W sets (4029 and 4085) pass Felling on their way to South Shields. One of the pleasure of travelling in these seats is the fact the drivers cab only takes up a third of the front, allowing passengers grandstand views of the route from the adjacent seats.

Having sussed out some likely photographic locations on my trip to Pelaw I retraced my steps to Felling station where I found some fascinating (and tragic) local history as well as a surprising survivor of the original railway route.

Just to the East of Felling station are the steps of an old footbridge. On the Northern pier is this blue plaque which commemorates the Felling mining disaster of 1812 in which 92 people were killed. The rail connected pit was just to the North-West of the bridge although nothing remains of the site now.

Next door to the old footbridge is the original station building which dates from 1843. It was built by the Brandling Junction railway and remained in use until 1896 when it was replaced by a new station on the widened lines (which are four-track here).

I wish I’d had time to explore further but the clock and the weather were against me. But, I can see me making a return trip soon as there’s lots to explore in the area. Who knows what unexpected gems I’ll find next time?

I’ve a small favour to ask…
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Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

The 2025 Community Rail awards.

13 Thursday Mar 2025

Posted by in Community rail, Community Rail Network, Newcastle, Photography, Railways

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Sorry this is a bit late as the two days of the awards were hectic to say the least. Now I have all the pictures edited and the winners names are out – so I’ve added a link to the Community Rail Network website and details of who the winners were.

Here’s a selection of pictures from the evening which includes the range of presenters and guest speakers at the event.

The scene is set and the tables all laid at the Civic centre in Newcastle.
With just a couple of minutes left before the awards start guests take their seats. There was a record attendance of over 500 people this year, the biggest awards in its 20 year history. More people wanted to attend than the venue could accommodate.
This year the awards trophies have been redesigned. 19 of them await collection by deserving groups and individuals.
Vicky Pipe (now Head of Audiences and Programmes at Bletchley Park) was one of the two main hosts for the evening.
Our other main presenter was Martijn Gilbert, MD of Hull trains and LUMO. LUMO were the awards headline sponser.
Peter Wilkinson (Department for Transport, Major Rail Projects Group) has been a long-time supporter of community rail. He gave an address celebrating the work of volunteers at this years awards which he’s attended for many years.
The irrepressible rail broadcaster Tim Dunn presented two of our awards.
The father of community rail, Prof Paul Salveson presented a special trophy to Hazel Lavery, who’s organised all 20 of the community rail awards.
Headline winners for their outstanding contribution to community rail were Kent Community Rail Partnership.
After the serious stuff was over the tables were cleared, the band appeared and the dancefloor filled up!

Now I can relax a little bit and concentrate on adding some of the other pictures that I managed to take during a few hours free time in Newcastle…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Rolling blog. Newcastle bound…

12 Wednesday Mar 2025

Posted by in Community rail, Community Rail Network, Newcastle, Photography, Railways, Travel

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11:52.

Dawn and I are currently in Leeds, having travelled here from Halifax in order to jeet up with other members of the Community Rail Network team before continuing our onward journey to Newcastle.

After getting a raxi to Halifax station, the first leg with Northern was a breeze. A Hull bound service which starts from Halifax was sat – burbling away – at the platform when we arrived so there was no shortage of seats.

Our trusty chariot from Halifax to Leeds. Three-car 158757 has worked across the North since it was built.

We’ve chosen a good time to leave as the Metrological office has just issued a yellow warning for snow in our area! The weather’s certainly cold enough for it and hanging around Leeds station was certainly ‘Baltic’. Now we’ve met up with four colleagues aboard the 11:45 to Newcastle.

14:15.

We’ve arrived after a journey that seemed to take no time at all – mainly because we were all busy! En-route we passed under moody skies, ominous looking clouds and the occasional shower but (thankfully) no snow. Now the team’s checked into our hotel in central Newcastle. We’ve a few hours before we’re needed at this evening’s reception, so whilst the rest of the tean use the hotel as a workbase I’m off out with the camera…

A BR era class 156 sits under Newcastle station’s magnificent curved roof.

20:50.

Phew! A busy few hours. I headed out in almost sub-zero temperatures to get some pictures of trains crossing the Tyne. This meant standing another bridge just upriver where the wind chilled the bones. Typically, just as I arrived, the sun disappeared and didn’t reappear until the last few minutes before I left! Here’s a small selection. I’ll add captions tomorrow.

Heading home to thaw out and change a few of us met up afterwards in the magnificent tiled surrounding of the Centurion bar on the station for a quick drink

Before meeting up with other CRN staff and members at the nearby Lumo trains office where the company had very kindly laid on a drinks reception. It’s quite a building their office is in!

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Community Rail awards with cake at the Lumo office.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312