THE HEART OF NEWCASTLE

Let's start with the vegetable market in Newcastle-upon-Tyne city centre, depicted on an old postcard.

Here's the Bigg Market in 1863. These days it's the heart of the night scene.

Pilgrim Street in the 1930s.

Two views of Grainger Street.

In the middle is Greys Monument.

Worswick Street bus station was centrally situated, but difficult to operate. It's now gone.

A Newcastle Corporation trolleybus in the city centre, looking rather sorry for itself. It was new to Bradford.

A Tyneside Atlantean on New Bridge Street.

A Northern General Leyland National.

Tyne & Wear PTE became Busways and had some unusual vehicles.

Eventually, Stagecoach took over.

Independents seen in the city centre include Low Fell Coaches, Kingsley's and Peter Hogg.

There's time for a few pubs in central Newcastle. This one, the Black Boy, is still going, now renamed the Blackie Boy.

The Bacchus, on High Bridge, is well worth a visit.

Also on High Bridge, the Duke of Wellington.

Here's the Darn Crook, now renamed Rosie's Bar.

Next stop - the Lady Greys.

It's a decent pub, but with a silly name - Pleased to Meet You.

We now find ourselves on Westgate Road, at the Bodega, where this post will conclude for the evening.

Next time, we'll visit Manors, Haymarket, St James' Park and then head out of town.

AROUND CENTRAL STATION

Climbing up from the busy quayside, we soon come across the famous Crown Posada. 

Close by, in September 1928, the Tyne Bridge nears completion.

Directly underneath the north end is the Bridge Tavern, that had its own brewkit in 2017.

Next to the northern end of the High Level Bridge is the Bridge Hotel.

The High Level Bridge carries the railway on top, with a roadway below. George Stephenson's locomotive 'Killingworth Billy' of 1816 was once displayed over the north end.

A Gateshead tram, bound for Dunston, uses the lower deck of the High Level Bridge.

The are great night time views of the Tyne from the High Level Bridge.

Here's a postcard of the various Tyne bridges in the 1920s.

United 245 is about to cross the Tyne Bridge in 1993.

One of the newest bridges to cross the Tyne carries the Metro trains.

The Black Gate and the Castle, guarding the entrance into the city.

From the castle there are great views of Newcastle Central station. This photo, of the famous diamond crossings, is from viaduct level though.

Inside Newcastle Central station in NER days.

Many of the LNER's 'Pacific' locos could be found here.

LNER Sentinel railcar 2135 Integrity leaves Newcastle in 1935.

Into BR times and 46012 is in charge of an up express.

Until the 1980s, a class 03 shunter was based here as the station pilot.

The new LNER, in the form of a soon to be withdrawn HST, at Newcastle in 2019.

A nice survivor is this NER water tower.

On the station concourse is the Centurian, a decent free house.

In adjacent arches below the station, we have Beer Street and Box Social. The latter now has no real ale and has changed its name.

Around the corner, the Split Chimp.

Here's the exterior of Newcastle Central station, when trams were still in use.

To celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977, Newcastle Corporation 123 put in an appearance outside the station.

Ex Newcastle 124, in PTE livery, passes Central station.

Scania 413 by the main entrance in 1986.

Northern General ran the connecting buses to Tyne Commision Quay and the DFDS ferries.

Between them, the Go Ahead Group and Stagecoach run most of the buses passing the station.

Some PTE services used Bewick Street, just across the road from the station, as a terminus.

Very close by, the Victoria Comet.

A few doors down, the Newcastle Tap.

There's also the Head of Steam, on two floors, one above and one below street level. Real ale drinkers should go upstairs.

Just behind all these, on Pink Lane, the Forth.

Marlborough Crescent bus station was just around the corner, used by Venture.

Venture and Northern General served here in the mid 1970s.

Very convenient for Marlborough Crescent was the Dog & Parrot brewpub, seen in 1984. It no longer brews, but is still serving pints.

We end today's tour at the original Big Lamp Brewery, since moved out to Newburn.

Next time, we'll venture into the heart of the city.