It's all black and white to me 20221008--009
Metrocars 4006 and 4059 approach Percy Main, working 09.25 St. James - Pelaw (train 127).
Between 12th September and 3rd December 2022 (inclusive) no trains were running between Pelaw and South Shields, while "Metro Flow" work was being undertaken to double the system's remaining single track sections by taking over the adjacent Network Rail freight line to Jarrow Oil Terminal. In addition, on this day no trains were running between Pelaw and South Hylton as a result of industrial action by the RMT union, which meant the relevant workstation at Tyneside signalling centre was not staffed.
When the Tyne and Wear Metro first opened, yellow was a very dominant colour. While most metalwork and woodwork at stations was painted dark brown, wall panels were off-white (pale cream) with a yellow band, and doors and other fancy bits were yellow. Station signs were also yellow (with black lettering). Other colours subsequently replaced the dark brown at many locations, although the Sunderland extension abandoned the use of yellow and off-white, opting for pastel and brighter versions of a number of different colours for the panelling.
Almost thirty years after the first section opened, new station colours began to appear at refurbished stations (so none on the Sunderland line), still using off-white (pale cream) for panels but now painting things black and using black station signs (with white lettering, albeit with the addition of the Metro logo as a yellow square). Percy Main station gained new shelters as part of its refurbishment, and illustrates very well how the black and off-white scheme was applied to the modern stations. Yellow is still Nexus's "Metro" colour, however (red is used for buses, blue for the Shields Ferry, and lilac for National Rail). The railway here is situated on an embankment, and when this section of line was converted to Metro operation (between August 1980 and November 1982) the original station buildings were demolished and basic replacement shelters (and steps and ramps as necessary) were built - unlike most on the north side of the North Tyne Loop, which retained their buildings.
This was a weekend visit to the north-east for a family get-together for a significant birthday. Unbroken sunshine was forecast for the Saturday morning (when I had nothing planned), but the RMT strike meant very few mainline trains were running - so again I turned my attention to the Metro, where the first of the replacement trains for the original units is now on test at the manufacturer's test facility.
To see my non-transport pictures, visit www.flickr.com/photos/137275498@N03/.
It's all black and white to me 20221008--009
Metrocars 4006 and 4059 approach Percy Main, working 09.25 St. James - Pelaw (train 127).
Between 12th September and 3rd December 2022 (inclusive) no trains were running between Pelaw and South Shields, while "Metro Flow" work was being undertaken to double the system's remaining single track sections by taking over the adjacent Network Rail freight line to Jarrow Oil Terminal. In addition, on this day no trains were running between Pelaw and South Hylton as a result of industrial action by the RMT union, which meant the relevant workstation at Tyneside signalling centre was not staffed.
When the Tyne and Wear Metro first opened, yellow was a very dominant colour. While most metalwork and woodwork at stations was painted dark brown, wall panels were off-white (pale cream) with a yellow band, and doors and other fancy bits were yellow. Station signs were also yellow (with black lettering). Other colours subsequently replaced the dark brown at many locations, although the Sunderland extension abandoned the use of yellow and off-white, opting for pastel and brighter versions of a number of different colours for the panelling.
Almost thirty years after the first section opened, new station colours began to appear at refurbished stations (so none on the Sunderland line), still using off-white (pale cream) for panels but now painting things black and using black station signs (with white lettering, albeit with the addition of the Metro logo as a yellow square). Percy Main station gained new shelters as part of its refurbishment, and illustrates very well how the black and off-white scheme was applied to the modern stations. Yellow is still Nexus's "Metro" colour, however (red is used for buses, blue for the Shields Ferry, and lilac for National Rail). The railway here is situated on an embankment, and when this section of line was converted to Metro operation (between August 1980 and November 1982) the original station buildings were demolished and basic replacement shelters (and steps and ramps as necessary) were built - unlike most on the north side of the North Tyne Loop, which retained their buildings.
This was a weekend visit to the north-east for a family get-together for a significant birthday. Unbroken sunshine was forecast for the Saturday morning (when I had nothing planned), but the RMT strike meant very few mainline trains were running - so again I turned my attention to the Metro, where the first of the replacement trains for the original units is now on test at the manufacturer's test facility.
To see my non-transport pictures, visit www.flickr.com/photos/137275498@N03/.