Present your case

If there’s a locomotive that you think needs to be offered ready-to-run, here’s the place to voice your opinion…

The place to voice your opinion on potential new models.

Locomotive: Tyne & Wear Metro Unit Gauge: ‘OO’ Proposed by: Neil Crombie, Wirral What is it?

The Tyne & Wear Metro is an oft-overlooked system, despite the fact that it moves 37 million people a year on its near-50 miles of track. It’s Britain’s second largest metro system, combining very historic parts of the railway with new stretches of line. What London Overground achieved in the 21st century, Tyneside Passenger Transport Authority did in the 1970s! It’s hard to believe that the Metro is 38 years old (the first part opened in August 1980) and yet its distinctive trains have only appeared in ‘OO’ gauge in the form of an old Dave Alexander kit. They were built by Metropolitan Cammell but based on a German design. Prototypes 4001 and 4002 were delivered in 1975, with 4003-4090 following between 1978 and 1981. They’re still in service, having been modified and refurbished a few times since. How many other train fleets can claim the same?

What would make it viable?

I believe these units would be a popular and viable model as they’re unusual and different to every other multiple unit previously offered. The original units have been in service for nearly 40 years and are suitable for layouts set in the 1980s up to the present day. A number of liveries are available, from the original Tyne & Wear scheme up to the present day livery. The units are not confined to the Tyne & Wear Metro system, they also run on Network Rail lines (they’re Class 994 on TOPS) to enable the extension of the system to Sunderland. Also, in the 1980s, British Rail ran freight services on part of the Tyne & Wear Metro network and this could widen the scope for potential layouts. There are many models that can be operated alongside these units.

Can I see a real one?

All 90 two-car sets still survive, although at the time of writing only 88 are in service. They’ve been fully refurbished and you can see them operating every day of the week, all over the Sunderland and Newcastle area. You’ve still got a bit of time to enjoy them too, as they’re not planned for replacement until 2024.