Newcastle East Railway Crossing

 Newcastle station was noted for its complex set of diamond crossings and was often said to be the Largest Railway Crossing in the World.

Newcastle Railway Crossings 1900

Newcastle Railway Crossings

The east of Newcastle Station had lines for the East Coast Main Line to Edinburgh, from termini platforms to North Tyneside,  South Northumberland and the Tyne Valley, as well as to a passing loop leading around the passenger station. 

Those lines crossed over lines which led to the High Level Bridge. Over the bridge they routed to South Tyneside, NE Durham and passed through Gateshead to the East Coast Main Line to London.

When the crossing evolved in the late 19th century, the only railway bridge across the Tyne adjacent to the station was the High Level Bridge to the east. The King Edward Bridge did not open till 1906.

Newcastle Railway Lines
ECML & Suburban lines

Newcastle Railway Lines
ECML & Suburban lines

Newcastle Railway Lines
Newcastle East Railway Crossing

------0------

Newcastle Railway Crossings 1907

Newcastle Railway Crossings 1912

Newcastle Railway Crossings 1914

Newcastle Railway Crossings 1930's

Newcastle Railway Crossings 1954 J27

Newcastle Railway Crossings 1954 North Briton

Newcastle Railway Crossings 1960s

Newcastle Railway Crossings 1960's Deltic

Newcastle Railway Crossings 1963

Newcastle Railway Crossings 1971

Newcastle Railway Crossings 1978

Newcastle Railway Crossings 1979

Newcastle Railway Crossings 1981 Deltic

In 1974 construction of the Tyne and Wear Metro system commenced. Much of the route utilised the existing suburban train lines of North and South Tyneside. As part of the development an underground station was built at Newcastle Central Station which opened in 1981. In 1987 a railway station on the Tyne Valley Line opened at the Gateshead Metro Centre and the emphasis moved to trains moving through Newcastle rather than terminating there. 

The consequence of these developments was the reduced need for the eastern termini platforms, and the need for additional through platforms. As a result the eastern termini platforms were converted to a car park, additional platforms were built on what were previously passing loops and Tyne Valley services were re-routed over the King Edward Bridge. 

Newcastle Railway Crossings 1992

Newcastle Railway Crossings 2016
 LNER Thompson Class B1 61264

Newcastle Railway Crossings 2018