Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · 7d

A bit of #railwayarchaeology at Hampstead Heath with some nice #brutalism of the Royal Free Hospital behind!

#architecture #C20 #LNER #modernism #london

Image of a gable ended painted with an LNER advert

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · 11d

If you want to read the original report in full, Network Rail has very kindly digitised it here:
www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/u...

#railway200 #stocktonanddarlington #darlington #stockton #railway #transport #history #s&dr

www.networkrail.co.uk

Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · 11d

July 1821, George Stephenson reported 'I have minutely examined the County over which your Railway is intended to pass, and I find it practicable that a Line may be attained'

#onthisday 1825, the passengers embarked on the first railway journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway #railway200

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · 16d

Poetry and infrastructure appear to be your jam

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · 17d

Here's a nicer shot of Sir Nigel Gresley at the #heatontraincarecentre! #heaton #railway200

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · 17d

Happy 150th birthday Heaton Train Sheds! Thanks to Northern Trains for organising a nosy around the traincare centre. Was great to see various generations of ECML HSTs on display!
#railway200 #heaton #newcastle #railway #northern #transporthistory #gresley #deltic #hst #highspeedtrain #highspeedrail

Sir Nigel Gresley back home at Heaton Sheds

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · 20d

45 years ago today, Tyne and Wear PTE decided that Gateshead Railway Station should close as the Metro came on stream saying 'the role of the railway station will be substantially reduced' and recommended that 'Gateshead B.R. Station be withdrawn'.

#onthisday #northeasthistory #transport #metro

Picture of Gateshead Station from disused-stations.org.uk

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · 25d

Great to see a vital part of Tyneside transport and culture, and British history preserved! Looking forward to seeing in on display for future generations to enjoy. Well done @northeastmuseums.bsky.social 🥳

www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/me....

Metro’s first ever train is donated to North East Museums | nexus.org.uk

The Tyne and Wear Metro’s first ever train, which dates back to the mid-1970s, is set for a new lease of life with North East Museums. Metro carriage 4001 has been donated to North East Museums by Nex...

www.nexus.org.uk

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Sep 5

Was great to share an aspect of my research with the Urban History Group yesterday, it's been a great conference so far! Many thanks to the @urbanhistorygroup.bsky.social organisers!

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Aug 24

Had a fantastic time at this year's European Society of Environmental History conference in Uppsala, Sweden! Such a varied selection of panels and a met some great people! Thank you @eseh.bsky.social organisers!

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Aug 11

It's been a while since my last post but it's important to wish a loved one happy birthday. Happy birthday @my-metro.bsky.social ! 🥳🚇

Image: Newcastle Evening Chronicle, 07.08.1980

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Feb 21

It was tremendous fun to share some of our Life Stories of Infrastructure research philosophies, methods and findings at Newcastle City Library. I enjoyed sharing work in an interesting and engaging way and was great to have a sell-out public show!
#researchengagement #transport #history #mobilities

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Feb 11

I am delighted to announce that more tickets have been released for a public workshop I am hosting at Newcastle City Library next Thursday evening. Come along if you want to hear about the #tyneandwearmetro and share your history of transport!
#transporthistory

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/life-stori....

Life Stories of Transport Infrastructure

People make transport infrastructure, but how do they move on them? A public presentation of PhD research.

www.eventbrite.co.uk

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Jan 20

Had my first ride on a new #Metro! Was great to have a much quieter and smooth journey. I must say, however, where are the hanging handles. People were falling over onto eachother as the train accelerated and decelerated. Seems like an oversight to me! #tyneandwearmetro #train #publictransport

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Jan 14

Part three of my northern #archive tour, #Liverpool. Never been to an archive with a better view! More libraries need a roof top terrace, well done Liverpool Record Office. Sadly I couldn't quite see the #Queenswaytunnel that I'd been reading about!

#archives #history #transporthistory

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Jan 9

Some excellent evening entertainment... I'm not quite sure what the point of the article is but it I enjoyed reading it.

#metro #poormetro #scrapingthebarrel #tyneside #tyneandwearmetro

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Transport expert praises Tyne and Wear Metro despite breakdowns

A blog post claims the Tyne and Wear network is Britain's most progressive railway.

www.bbc.co.uk

Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Jan 8

Part two of my northern archive tour has taken me to #Manchester! A #monorail study amongst some #rapidtransit goodies today! Not something I anticipated but a fun surprise.

#archive #1960s #transport #history

Cover of a monorail feasibility study for Manchester

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Reposted by Adam Dixon

Stephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · Jan 7

“This is the railway that devolution built. A railway designed for local needs… It’s symbiotically Tyne & Wear’s railway, but the Metro is Britain’s innovation railway too. It’s local but it’s not parochial.”

This short love letter to the Tyne & Wear Metro is well worth a read.

Britain's most progressive railway - Jonathan Bray

With the opening of the Northumbria line and the arrival into service of new Metro trains it feels like a good time to tell the story of Britain’s most progressive urban rail network… There’s two key...

jonathan-bray.com

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Jan 7

Part one of my northern archive tour, Sheffield! Excited to see what's in store today! Good to be back in my one time home too.
P.s. Only slipped over on the ice once!

#archive #sheffield #northernengland #yorkshire

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Jan 6

Having visited the some of the provinces of #SierraLeone, it's fascinating to read this article by Milo Gough in the Conversation about new city development in the country. Shame I didn't get chance to visit the #archives in #FourahBay!

theconversation.com/from-a-colon...

From a colonial hill town to Idris Elba’s island masterplan: what do these Sierra Leone developments tell us about urban elites?

Sherbro Island City’s vision of an elite urban development brings to mind some of the colonial thinking around the construction of Freetown’s Hill Station enclave a century ago.

theconversation.com

Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Dec 20

Somehow!

Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Dec 20

Another exciting new development on Tyneside! The #pedestrian #tynetunnel inclined lift is fantastic!

#sustainability #transport #tyneside #urbanmobility #cycling #tyneandwear

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Dec 20

My review of the #NorthumberlandLine: Great to see a historic line back in use and the old stations being resurrected but the single track workings do cause some delays and we were held at a few reds. At least Northern kept us happy with free mince pies!
#transport #tyneandwear #christmas #railway

Double Arrow sign for Ashington station.

Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Dec 20

Wow it's just like trying to get round the Metro 60 years on!

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Adam Dixon @adam-dixon.bsky.social · Dec 19

So the new Metro can't even run the full system as the #GatesheadHighway falling to pieces. Meanwhile, Tyne Bridge being repaired, A1 Bypass being worked on, Tyne Tunnels reduced to a tunnel at weekends, work to start on Redheugh Bridge, no evening ferries. At least the pedestrian tunnel has a lift.

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