It has been confirmed that the first Metrocar is to be preserved at the Stephenson Railway Museum. In a way this will be a homecoming for 4001 as the museum is located where the original Tyne and Wear Metro test track was.
4001 was one of two prototypes (along with 4002) built for the Tyne and Wear Metro network in 1975. The two underwent extensive testing on a 1.5 mile test track from 1975 before they were transferred onto the full network. The test track closed in 1980 with North Tyneside Council acquiring the site in 1982, over the years it has been developed with the first passenger trains running on the line in 1991.
Now 4001 will return to where it all began for it in Tyne and Wear with it being put on static display at a point in the future. The train hasn’t run for a while on the Metro but has not yet officially been withdrawn although the chances of it running again seem to be remote. It retains its special 40th anniversary livery which includes snapshots of the main Metro liveries over its history.
Details of when it will move from Gosforth Depot have yet to be confirmed.
4001 is seen in service at Pelaw carrying the yellow and white livery that is probably most associated with the Metrocars. Whether it receives a repaint into this or retains its special colour scheme remains to be seen. (Photograph by Trevor Hall, 29th August 2016)