Its been another week which has seen two original Metrocars leave the Tyne and Wear Metro network for one last journey. That is a journey to the scrapman to be “recycled”, or as most people will call it scrapped.
This time the two which have gone for their last one-way trip are 4087 and 4071.
4087 was the first to depart with the now incredibly familiar sight of a GCS Johnson low loader arriving at Howdon to pick it up. This move took place 24 hours later than planned with it leaving on Thursday 12th March.
Then it was truly a Friday 13th for 4071 when it too made the trip to J Denham Metals at Bishop Auckland.
With these latest two departures there are now just 17 of the once 90-strong class of trains still on the Tyne and Wear Metro network. These are 4009, 4020, 4024, 4027, 4029, 4035, 4041, 4050, 4060, 4061, 4065, 4068, 4069, 4078, 4079, 4081, and 4085.
Not all of these remaining units are operational, but most weekdays do still see some in service. Indeed on Thursday 12th March there were four separate pairings recorded as in use. But the days of regular use are coming to an end. Nexus have previously said they will give more details of their plans for the end of their operating lives in due course.