Footage of the original Tyne and Wear Metro trains in action during 2004 and 2005 has recently been added to Nexus’ YouTube challenge as the countdown to their official withdrawal continues. Shot by former Metro worker, Gordon Armstrong, it was filmed across the network and shows the trains in their brightly coloured 1990s livery plus some advertising liveries too.
Gordon, who died last year aged 74, used to work in the Metro control room before he retired and was able to shoot the film at various locations having obtained the correct permits. Locations include the QEII Metro bridge when it was still painted white, the old Gosforth Depot, and the now former South Shields Metro station.
Gordon’s former wife, Michaela Brown said: “Gordon had a passion for film making and photography. He loved it. It is amazing to see his Metro video getting some attention all these years on from when he made it. I still have the camera that he made it with. He captured the old trains when they were at their peak. He’d have been over the moon to see the focus on this now. It’s sad that he’s not around now to see it.
“Film making was a labour of love for him. He’d immerse himself in any project that he was working on. The Metro one was close to his heart as he worked there for so many years.”
Phil Taylor worked with Gordon at Nexus and was able to assist him when he was shooting the film. Phil said: “I was an operations supervisor and I helped Gordon to get all of the correct permits he needed to get on the tracks to film the trains. He got some great footage. He put a lot of work into it.
“I remember it like it was yesterday when we both went out to shoot the trains in 2004. It’s hard to believe it’s now 22 years later and those trains are about to be phased out.
“Gordon was a great guy. I think he’d be chuffed to bits to see his film now taking on this significance. He has documented the old trains for future generations to look back at. It’s great to see his work on the Nexus YouTube channel.”
Gordon died last year in Thailand where he had been living for the past eight years. He is survived by Michaela and his two sons, Jack (who works as a Metro driver) and Campbell (who works in events management).
- The film can be viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/qKpGXPrnZC4?si=JkhMDy3maiv4DCwF