Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

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Newcastle Central Station, 1951...

Posted by Barry Cram on February 16, 2021, 11:00:54

Re: Newcastle Central Station, 1951...

Posted by john Shearer on February 16, 2021, 11:55:55, in reply to "Newcastle Central Station, 1951..."

Seems like a world away from todays holiday scenes. Newcastle Central was a very busy station and any time.

Re: Newcastle Central Station, 1951...

Posted by Stan Wears on February 16, 2021, 12:42:27, in reply to "Re: Newcastle Central Station, 1951..."

A very famous station indeed. The roof is made from the world's first Steel curved girders made by Hawkes and Crayshaw of Gateshead. The front of the station won the Paris exhibition award in 1856 which was allegedly designed by Newcastle architect John Dobson.It was in fact finished by Thomas Prosser the railway king.It also had the biggest diamond crossing around the 50's

Re: Newcastle Central Station, 1951...

Posted by Geoff on February 16, 2021, 14:09:18, in reply to "Re: Newcastle Central Station, 1951..."

Hawkes,Crayshay and Sons were the main contractor for the steelwork and the building of the High Level Bridge which opened in 1849

John, and Stan...

Posted by Barry Cram on February 16, 2021, 12:58:02, in reply to "Re: Newcastle Central Station, 1951..."

Yes, John, I agree, the image definitely shows a different, more interesting and picturesque world.

Stan, what a mine of information you are. I love your pieces of local historical facts.

Cheers,
Barry.

Re: John, and Stan...

Posted by Mac Cummings on February 16, 2021, 13:03:33, in reply to "John, and Stan..."

Great Memories chaps.
Takes me back to times when we used to get the Pullman to London which must have been very close to 1951.
My mother was the worlds worst timekeeper and we regulary boarded the train as it was pulling out.
On one occasion Mum and I were bundled onto the train at a passing door and Dad managed to get on at the next one. Crazy or what?

Re: John, and Stan...

Posted by George on February 16, 2021, 14:04:17, in reply to "Re: John, and Stan..."

Around 1956 a desperate National Serviceman could be seen tearing through this great station. His objective was the train to London otherwise it was the lockup at Woolwich should he eventually arrive late. That National Serviceman was me having just finished my embarkation leave, my hobnailed boots barely touched the metal stairs as I raced over the bridge to catch the train about to leave the platform. The train was the Talisman - and very posh it was too. Not for the likes of me I was assured by the pompous ticket man on board. My 10/- meal voucher would not have bought me a soup. Nevertheless, I was not thrown off and I made to the barracks in time.

Meals on Board the London/Newcastle train and return

Posted by Liz Dance on February 16, 2021, 14:51:44, in reply to "Re: John, and Stan..."

When I first moved down to London I always used the train for my journeys back and forth to Newcastle etc, the highlight was the fantastic dining car, white freshly ironed table clothes, silver service and waiters in proper uniforms, the food, I have to say was very good and value for the money.

From what I understand food on board trains these days, assuming there is any, is pretty awful.

Across the road from the station

Posted by Stan Wears on February 16, 2021, 16:55:24, in reply to "Meals on Board the London/Newcastle train and return"

In the 1920s Thomas Bell had grocery shop across from the central station. His flour was called Bell's Royal Flour. When the king died it was forbidden to use anything connected with royal, so he had to change the name. He took the Be from Bell's and the Ro from Royal,added a hyphen and today we know it as Be-Ro !!!
Also the support pillars for the High Level Bridge are hollow below the water and solid above the water.

Re: Across the road from the station

Posted by George on February 16, 2021, 20:03:21, in reply to "Across the road from the station"

Lots of cheerful noise. Guards blowing whistles. Loudspeakers giving out important news (which few could interpret). People hurrying to and from their trains. Steam engines huffing and puffing. The deafening whistle scream from the engine setting out on its 6-8 hour journey to London. The call of "Chronicaaal" from Seppy the paper seller. Lots of colourful litter which included so many varied empty cigarette packets. A red cast iron machine which could imprint your name and address onto a metal strip. All this and much more enveloped in the wonderful smell of smoke and steam. Dirty but magic. Thanks for the memory.

Re: Across the road from the station

Posted by Alistair Coulson on February 16, 2021, 20:59:27, in reply to "Re: Across the road from the station"

As a railway "anorak" since being knee high to a steam pipe I'm amazed that people are disregarding that living breathing work of art just a few feet away from them. Been trying to make out the number without sucess.
Familiarity breeds contempt i guess.

Stunning photo Barry.

Re: Across the road from the station

Posted by Bob Park on February 16, 2021, 22:18:09, in reply to "Re: Across the road from the station"

Just wondering if the number is 60147 this would make it an A1 Peppercorn class loco, this loco was named ‘ North Eastern’ probably totally wrong because I am not sure about the number.

The Station in George's words and those fag packets.

Posted by Mac Cummings on February 17, 2021, 10:52:26, in reply to "Re: Across the road from the station"

That "descriptive" George said even more than a mere picture could ever do.
Brings it all back.
Thanks
PS And the station was a great place for us young'uns who indulged in the craze for collecting fag packet labels. I wish that I had never chucked my collection away!!

Re: Meals on Board the London/Newcastle train and return

Posted by John Mills on February 17, 2021, 1:01:39, in reply to "Meals on Board the London/Newcastle train and return"

Leaving home in 1967 and working in Loughborough I always carried a five pound note in my wallet. This was just sufficient to get me back to Hebburn on the train with a couple of drinks in the buffet car, just in case I got homesick (or sacked).

Re: Meals on Board the London/Newcastle train and return

Posted by bob noble on February 18, 2021, 19:44:47, in reply to "Re: Meals on Board the London/Newcastle train and return"

And these are all true stories, and for that I am truly impressed.
Here is to the nex pop up.

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