NER electric units | |
---|---|
In service | 1904–1938 1920-1955 |
Manufacturer | York Works British Thomson-Houston |
Constructed | 1904–15 1920–28 |
Scrapped | 1962 |
Number preserved | 1 parcel van |
Operators | North Eastern Railway London and North Eastern Railway British Railways |
Depots | Walkergate |
Specifications | |
Traction motors | 2 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 system | Buffers and chains/custom Cowhead couplings |
Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 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[update] one of the parcel vans built in 1904 is in the National Railway Museum collection and on loan to the Stephenson Railway Museum.