| Byker Station | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Place | Northumberland |
| Operations | |
| Pre-grouping | North Eastern Railway |
| Post-grouping | British Rail |
| Platforms | 2 |
| History | |
| 1884 | Opened to Workers |
| 1.3.1901 | Opened to the Public |
| 5.4.1954 | Closed |
| Disused railway stations in the United Kingdom | |
| Closed railway stations in Britain A B C D–F G H–J K–L M–O P–R S T–V W–Z |
|
Byker station is a railroad station in Northumberland. It was originally only open to Workers who worked near or on Shields road which the station was tucked behind. The station was then opened and timetabled in 1901. The station was tucked between shields road and the junction on to the main line. Unlike other station on the line it was opened in 1884. In the Workers timetable it was referred to as Byker Platform station.
Contents |
This 6 and a half mile branch which was actually a loop was authorised on 13 July 1871. This would be from Riverside Junction, between Manors East & Heaton, to Percy Main. The reason this branch was suggested is that the nearby line from Newcastle to North Shields via Wallsend was failing to cope with the growing communities around the River Tyne and in the Walker area. W.W. Thomas said "The route consisted for the most of tunnels, bridges, cuttings, retaining walls and embankments - an exceptionally heavy series of works". Also the line was very indirect compared to the Wallsend tracks.
The Line first opened in 1879 under the North Eastern Railway. The stations on route are Byker (from 1901), St.Peters, St.Anthony's, Low Walker (Walker from 1889), Carville, Point Pleasant and Willington Quey before rejoining the main tracks towards Percy Main.
Byker was opened in the North West of the town of Byker slap bang between Heaton & Manor East. It was tucked in at the junction and tucked behind Shields road.
The platform where it squeezed between the tracks was only a foot wide, and it shared its signal box with The Riverside Junction signal box. Unlike Earlier stations it had a metal footbridge that remained until 1964. The signal level station house and waiting room were located middle of the platform.
After the war economy meant that trains were limited to Monday-Saturday peak hours. Then Byke and St. Anthonys were closed quickly after each other in 1954 and 1960. Further economies shared with the main line stopped electric trains and reduced the trains to a few diesel trains.
After this Byker stayed intact but lonely looking it is now under Morrisons car park.