NER electric units

NER electric units
Preserved 1904 NER electric Motor Parcel Van No. 3267 in the Stephenson Railway Museum
In service1904–1938
1920-1955
ManufacturerYork Works
British Thomson-Houston
Constructed1904–15
1920–28
Scrapped1962
Number preserved1 parcel van
OperatorsNorth Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
British Railways
DepotsWalkergate
Specifications
Traction motors2 x 125 hp (93 kW)
2 x 140 hp (100 kW)
Electric system(s)600 V DC third rail
Current collector(s)Contact shoe
Coupling systemBuffers and chains/custom Cowhead couplings
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The NER electric units were electric multiple units that ran on the Tyneside Electrics, a suburban system based on the English city of Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1904 the North Eastern Railway electrified suburban services on Tyneside with a third rail at 600 V DC and built saloon cars that ran in 3-car to 8-car formations. More cars were built between 1908 and 1915 to cope with increased traffic. In 1918, a fire at Walkergate car shed destroyed 34 cars and replacement cars were built in 1920.

In 1938, to allow the extension of electrification to South Shields, the 1904–15 stock was replaced by the LNER electric units. The 1920 stock was refurbished and operated the South Shields service until 17 May, 1955 when they were replaced by British Rail built Class 416 units.

As of July 2012 one of the parcel vans built in 1904 is in the National Railway Museum collection and on loan to the Stephenson Railway Museum.