To some people the Sprinter family of diesel multiple units is nothing more than a collection of sardine cans on wheels, but to the people of the Tyne Valley they are an essential lifeline connecting the rural wilderness with the financial centres of Tyneside and Carlisle.
Built on behalf of British Rail by Metro-Cammell, the class 156 "Super Sprinter" units revolutionised rural, sub-urban and short-distance intercity travel in the mid-1980s. As with most quality British products, they have stood the test of time and still deliver reliable performance more than 30 years later.
Sprinters we salute you!
Today's video features a good range of class 156s trundling back and forth along the picturesque Tyne Valley Line. There is also a cameo appearance by a class 158 "Express Sprinter" piggy-backing a ride on a class 156. The total length of this combination, just shy of 100 metres, makes it a very tight squeeze into Hexham's platform 1.
Meanwhile in the tamper siding to the east of Hexham Station, technicians from VolkerRail are seen refuelling tamper machine DR75302 "Gary Wright" before conducting a spot of maintenance on the vehicle.
There is also a permanent way gang working on the line just beyond the impressive grade 2 listed Hexham signal box. The box, which still controls the 11-mile section between Stocksfield and Fourstones, was opened in 1896 by the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway company. Another box at Wylam shares the same distinctive overhead cabin design.
In normal times Hunterston and Drax-bound coal trains would occasionally pass through Hexham, but unfortunately none of those today. Similarly nuclear flask trains, operated by Direct Rail Services between Sellafield and Hartlepool and Torness Power Stations, occasionally traverse the Tyne Valley Line, but not today.
The following trains are shown in our footage, which was taken on 30th March 2021:
- 2N13: Northern Trains service from Newcastle to Carlisle
- 2A28: Northern Trains service from Carlisle to Newcastle
- 2N15: Northern Trains service from Newcastle to Carlisle
- 2A30: Northern Trains service from Carlisle to Newcastle
- 2N17: Northern Trains service from Newcastle to Carlisle
- 2A32: Northern Trains service from Carlisle to Newcastle
- 2N19: Northern Trains service from Newcastle to Carlisle
- 2A34: Northern Trains service from Carlisle to Newcastle
- 2N21: Northern Trains service from Newcastle to Carlisle
- 2A36: Northern Trains service from Carlisle to Newcastle
- 2N23: Northern Trains service from Newcastle to Carlisle
Footage was captured using Panasonic HC-X920 fitted with a Rode VideoMic Go.
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