South Gosforth Traction Maintenance Depot
Location
LocationGosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne
England
Coordinates55°00′22″N 1°36′30″W / 55.006°N 1.6084°W / 55.006; -1.6084
OS gridNZ251680
Characteristics
OwnerTyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive
OperatorTyne and Wear Metro
Depot code
  • GF (1973–)
  • 52J (1964–1973)
TypeLight rail
Rolling stockClass 599 Metrocar (1980–)
History
OpenedOctober 1923 (1923-10)
OriginalLondon and North Eastern Railway
Post-grouping

South Gosforth Traction Maintenance Depot is a vehicle cleaning, maintenance and stabling facility used by the Tyne and Wear Metro. It was originally constructed for the London and North Eastern Railway, opening in October 1923.[1]

History

The line passing through the depot was opened on 1 March 1905 by the Gosforth and Ponteland Light Railway.[2] The 8+1⁄4-mile (13 km) branch line consisted of a single-track, running from South Gosforth, Tyne and Wear to Ponteland and Darras Hall, Northumberland. The line closed to passengers on 17 June 1929, but was re-opened as part of the Tyne and Wear Metro network, as far as Bank Foot on 10 May 1981, with a further extension to Newcastle Airport opening on 17 November 1991.

In 1918, a fire broke out at Heaton car sheds, which destroyed the building, as well as 34 cars. This led to a replacement depot being required.[3][4] The site of the depot was acquired by the North Eastern Railway in 1921, with the replacement depot opening in October 1923.[5] At the time, there was 10 lines in the depot building, with a further two serving the repair shop.

The depot was originally used to house rolling stock for the Tyneside Electrics network, which served Newcastle upon Tyne, as well as North and South Tyneside. The network was later converted back to diesel operation in the 1960s.

Prior to the opening of the Tyne and Wear Metro network in the early 1980s, Class 101, 104 and 105 DMUs were a common sight at the depot. These vehicles were used on the North Tyneside Loop, as well as services between Newcastle and South Shields.[6]

Tyne and Wear Metro

Since 1980, the depot has been operated by the Tyne and Wear Metro, and now houses a fleet of 87 Class 599 Metrocars. It is used for stabling, cleaning, maintenance and repair of the fleet.

It is located between Longbenton, Regent Centre and South Gosforth stations, and can be accessed by trains from both east and west. There is also a depot-avoiding line running from east to west, which is not regularly used in public service.

Prior to the arrival of new Stadler Rail rolling stock towards the end of 2021, a satellite depot has been being constructed near Howdon, North Tyneside. The site is currently being used as a temporary stabling and maintenance facility for up to 10 Metrocars, whilst the current depot at Gosforth is re-built. It opened in October 2020.[7][8]

The first phase of demolition of the South Gosforth depot was completed by May 2021. The planned date for completion of the demolition is 2023.[9]

The old South Gorforth Depot closed on 19 January 2023. [10]

References

  1. ↑ Wells, J. A. (1990). The Blyth & Tyne Branch, 1874-1989. Morpeth: Northumberland Library. ISBN 0-9513027-5-2. OCLC 21971553.
  2. ↑ Abbott, Vernon; Chapman, Roy (1990). The Great Metro Guide to Tyne and Wear. Leading Edge Press & Publishing Ltd. p. 13. ISBN 9780948135156.
  3. ↑ Abbott, Vernon; Chapman, Roy (1990). The Great Metro Guide to Tyne and Wear. Leading Edge Press & Publishing Ltd. p. 17. ISBN 9780948135156.
  4. ↑ "The NER Tyneside Electric Multiple Units". The London & North Eastern Railway Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  5. ↑ Wells, J. A. (1990). The Blyth and Tyne Branch, 1874–1989 (Blyth and Tyne): Part 2. Northumberland County Council. ISBN 9780951302750.
  6. ↑ "Tyneside Loop Units". Rail UK Forums. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  7. ↑ "Work starts on a temporary Metro depot in North Tyneside". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  8. ↑ "Temporary Metro depot takes shape in North Tyneside". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  9. ↑ "First phase of Tyne & Wear Metro depot demolition work completed". 5 May 2021.
  10. ↑ White, Chloe (20 January 2023). "Old Gosforth Metro depot closure marks the end of an era for the Tyne and Wear Metro". RailAdvent. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
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