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  Michael Rising: Tyneside Memories

“Aged to perfection” Michael Rising recounts his enthusiasm acquired with his early introduction to the railway scene as a small boy and describes the area as experienced through his lengthy career in railway signalling.

With the passage of time, the scenes he witnessed and world he describes have mostly disappeared, buried under a sea of redevelopment, and are fast fading from first hand memory. Even more so where people who actually worked at these locations are concerned. Quite a few of the places mentioned no longer appear on the railway map at all; others that survive bear little or no resemblence to what went before.

The pictures in the videos were variously taken by Michael or collected by him from various sources and are are accompanied by layout diagrams variously drawn by Michael or one of his signalling friends.

The geographic locations of places mentioned by Michael can be seen on a current OS Map using the links you will find below each of the videos. Click on any of the locations and the map will place this location at the centre of the map panel, roll the mouse over the icon(s) to reveal what they represent. Increase the scale using the scale selector on the left to separate closely positioned icons.

Copyright

Copyright © of the FARSAP videos belongs to the Friends of the National Railway Museum.
The material may be freely used except for sale or advertising purposes.

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1 Tyne Dock to Green Lane

In this video, Michael describes his introduction to the local railway scene and activities as a small boy and then traces how his enthusiasm developed and led on to a career in railway signalling. Michael then takes us on a detailed description of the lines in and around Tyne Dock, fully illustrated by pictures he himself took in the 1950s and early 1960s when the place was still a hive of railway freight activity.

This video is intended for viewing at a maximum screen resolution of 720 pixels wide by 400 pixels high. Please be aware that viewing at a larger size may result in a loss of clarity and a 'grainy' appearance.

Places mentioned in Video 1: Boldon Colliery, Brockley Whins, Green Lane, Harton Junction, Pontop Crossing, Tyne Dock.

Places mentioned in Video 1: Boldon Colliery | Brockley Whins | Green Lane | Harton Junction | Hedworth Lane | Pontop Crossing | Tyne Dock

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2 Pontop Crossing to Boldon Colliery

This second video continues straight on, starting with a railway level crossing which he describes as being the centre of gravity if not the world: one of the few places that existed where one main railway line crossed another on the level. It was also involved with another rarity - the sight of National Coal Board trains being driven along British Railways' lines.

This video is intended for viewing at a maximum screen resolution of 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels high. Please be aware that viewing at a larger size may result in a loss of clarity and a 'grainy' appearance.

Places mentioned in Video 2: Boldon Colliery, Green Lane, Hedworth Lane, Pontop Crossing.

Places mentioned in Video 2: Boldon Colliery | Green Lane | Hedworth Lane | Pontop Crossing

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3 Hedworth Lane to Barmston

We continue in the south-south westerly direction in this third video, starting with Hedworth Lane and ending on the approach to the Washington sprawl, just north of the present day A1231 east-west dual carriageway.

This video is intended for viewing at a maximum screen resolution of 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels high. Please be aware that viewing at a larger size may result in a loss of clarity and a 'grainy' appearance.

Places mentioned in Video 3: Barmson Lane Crossing, Downhill Lane Crossing, Hedworth Lane, Southwick Junction, Three Horse Shoes, Washington Lane Crossing, West Boldon.

Places mentioned in Video 3: Barmston Lane Crossing | Downhill Lane Crossing | Hedworth Lane | Southwick Junction | Three Horse Shoes | Washington Lane Crossing | West Boldon |

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4 Washington

The fourth instalment brings us across the A1231 to Washington Station, Chemical Works and Washington South Junction.

This video is intended for viewing at a maximum screen resolution of 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels high. Please be aware that viewing at a larger size may result in a loss of clarity and a 'grainy' appearance.

Places mentioned in Video 4: Chemical Works, Washington, Washington South.

Places mentioned in Video 4: Chemical Works | Washington | Washington South

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5 Washington and surrounding area

This concluding instalment continues the story of Washington South Junction chronicling the gradual decline that set in. Michael then heads southward to Biddick lane and Penshaw North before returning to Washington Station and going on to Wardley.

This video is intended for viewing at a maximum screen resolution of 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels high. Please be aware that viewing at a larger size may result in a loss of clarity and a 'grainy' appearance.

Places mentioned in Video 5: Biddick Lane, Penshaw North, Usworth, Usworth Colliery, Wardley, Washington, Washington South.

Places mentioned in Video 5: Biddick Lane | Penshaw North | Usworth | Usworth Colliery | Wardley | Washington | Washington South

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Video Credits

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Can you help?

The project would love to hear from you, especially if you worked or still work in a signal box, and you are willing to provide reminiscences and / or pictures. Please contact the webmaster in the first instance.

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