HEADING FOR HEXHAM

From Ponteland we head back down to the Tyne, which we approach at the village of Wylam. Here's the parish church in 1939.

There's a couple of decent pubs in the village. First up is the Black Bull. Wylam beers in here!

There's also the Fox & Hounds.

There was once a railway on the north bank of the Tyne and alongside was George Stephenson's Birthplace, seen here circa 1890.

We must now cross the Tyne, by mean of this bridge photographed in 1959 (Creative Commons License).

Here's the river from the bridge.

On the south bank of the Tyne is Wylam station, with its gantried signal box.

Beside the station is the Boathouse pub.

Further along the railway, westwards, is Prudhoe signal box, controlling the station and level crossing.

There's a handy pub here, the Adam & Eve.

Ever onwards - to Corbridge, with another crossing of the Tyne.

Corbridge has its origin in Roman times. Here's the town centre in more modern days (Creative Commons License).

A selection of cars in Corbridge in 1977.

Cumberland Motor Services once served Corbridge with its Newcastle to Carlisle route.

The Wheatsheaf in Corbridge is a decent place, seen when it was a Vaux tied house.

We now move on to the village of Acomb, just outside of Hexham. Here's Acomb Parish Church.

Some terraced housing on The Green in Acomb (Les Hull - Creative Commons License).

A local bus and coach company had its depot in Acomb - Tyne Valley Services.

Nearby was a scrapyard, which housed this old Associated Daimler bus.

Plenty of other good stuff in there!

Let's rest awhile in the Miners Arms. 

The next post will see us having a tour of Hexham. Take a look at the route here.

LET'S GET OUT OF TOWN

Just on the eastern edge of Newcastle city centre is Manors station, seen here in the 1960s (Author's collection - photographer unknown).

The view from a northbound HST passing through Manors station.

Nearby was Newcastle Upon Tyne Corporation's Manors Power Station with a 4w-4wE loco built in 1901.

The New Bridge, a pub not far from Manors, no longer serves real ale.

Between Manors and the Haymarket area was a coach station. A Cumberland Motor Services Ford/Duple was once found there.

Haymarket is on the northern edge of the city centre. It was once a good place to find Corporation buses.

United Leyland National 3013 approaches Haymarket in 1981.

Northern General MCW Metrobus 3497 on the same occasion.

Nine years later and new operators have arrived. Northumbria and Target Travel.

Today's main bus companies at Haymarket are Arriva ad Go Ahead.

Across the road from the bus station is the Hotspur.

And just around the corner, the Mean Eyed Cat.

Outside the football ground, St James Park, is the Strawberry, seen here as a Scottish & Newcastle pub in 1966 (Author's collection - photographer unknown).

We now leave the city centre behind, to watch them laying tram tracks on Elswick Road.

The Armstrong Whitworth works was at Elswick. Here are some steam locos under construction there, destined for Belgium.

Soon we come to Old Benwell, with a couple of pubs.

Here's the long lost Mechanics Arms on the Scotswood Road.

A line of the North Eastern Railway crossed the Tyne at Scotswood.

However, we head north, to North Walbottle Colliery.

At Westerhope, the depot and buses of Armstrong's Coaches was taken over by Tyne & Wear PTE in the 1970s. The fleet name was retained for a short while.

Here's a PTE bus, lettered for "Blue Bus Services", seen on Newbiggin Lane, Westerhope, in 1994.

Kenton was served by the NER, the station seen here in 1906.

Earlier public transport at Kenton Post Office in 1905, the year the railway opened.

Not far away, Newcastle Airport. Two views here photographed in 1994.

The first train arrives at Ponteland on the 1st of June, 1905.

One of the new fangled NER electric trains was dragged to Ponteland for its photo to be taken

Right, that's it for this post. Next time, we'll be back in more rural Northumberland. Don't forget, ypu can follow the route here.