Tyne & Wear Metro test track
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Tyne & Wear Metro test track by Dr Neil Clifton as part of the Geograph project.
The Geograph project started in 2005 with the aim of publishing, organising and preserving representative images for every square kilometre of Great Britain, Ireland and the Isle of Man.
There are currently over 7.5m images from over 14,400 individuals and you can help contribute to the project by visiting https://www.geograph.org.uk
Tyne & Wear Metro test track
Image: © Dr Neil Clifton Taken: 6 Aug 1976
The Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive pioneered the use of modern light rail in Britain when they built their Metro system, which was converted from unwanted ex-British Rail lines, connected by tunnels under central Newcastle. When the first car, No 4001, arrived, it had to be tested, so a special test track was laid out at Backworth where this could be done. Here No 4001 is seen in the distance on the Backworth test track, in 1976. It would be another four years before the first part of the Metro was opened to the public.
Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
Image Location
Latitude
55.016667
Longitude
-1.496714