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Location notes
Byker is a suburb of Newcastle. It is just to the east of Newcastle city centre, and is served by the Tyne and Wear metro. The ECML also runs in cutting just to the north, a short walk away.
Railway type and traffic
The bridge carries the east west lines of the Tyne and Wear metro, to and from St. James and Newcastle city centre. The bridge was built in 1979 new for the metro, and the actual path that it follows into Byker station from Manors was originally planned for a motorway but that was abandoned, and the Metro follows that route instead. When opened, it won an architectural award!
Environment
The Shields road area of Byker is a main shopping area, with the likes of Morrisons and Netto on this street. This is also a busy traffic area, despite the Shields road by-pass, which takes a lot of traffic away. Although its urbanised, the bottom end is exposed, so it could get windy.
As this is Newcastle, don't wear a Sunderland FC jersey!
As this is Newcastle, don't wear a Sunderland FC jersey!
Road directions
From the A167:
Take the exit for Byker and Wallsend, which is the Swan House roundabout. Follow the roundabout until you get to the exit, and carry along this road, New Bridge Street. You will actually come close to Manors Metro and BR. Go straight on though, and keep following this road, until you come to a roundabout, where the concrete metro bridge crosses the road. At this point, go up the slip road, which is shields road. You will pass a BP garage on your right. Carry on up, and then after the roundabout, immediately turn right, which is Clifford Street. Carry on until you get to either a car park, or parking space.
From the coast road:
Take the last interchange with slip road, which may be marked either Heaton, Byker, or Chillingham Road. Take the first exit, and follow it till the next roundabout, and then take the third exit, and this is Shields Road. At the next roundabout, go straight over it, and you will be on Shields Road.
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Ouseburn Metro Viaduct, Byker map co-ordinates
Take the exit for Byker and Wallsend, which is the Swan House roundabout. Follow the roundabout until you get to the exit, and carry along this road, New Bridge Street. You will actually come close to Manors Metro and BR. Go straight on though, and keep following this road, until you come to a roundabout, where the concrete metro bridge crosses the road. At this point, go up the slip road, which is shields road. You will pass a BP garage on your right. Carry on up, and then after the roundabout, immediately turn right, which is Clifford Street. Carry on until you get to either a car park, or parking space.
From the coast road:
Take the last interchange with slip road, which may be marked either Heaton, Byker, or Chillingham Road. Take the first exit, and follow it till the next roundabout, and then take the third exit, and this is Shields Road. At the next roundabout, go straight over it, and you will be on Shields Road.
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Ouseburn Metro Viaduct, Byker map co-ordinates
Parking
Parking is a short walk away. This is located at Clifford Street, which runs parallel to Shields Road, after the roundabout. As you go up Shields Road, Clifford street will be the first on your right.
Incidentally, this road passes the metro station as well, so you may get to park there. Bear in mind that this is a residential area as well, so park courteously.
Incidentally, this road passes the metro station as well, so you may get to park there. Bear in mind that this is a residential area as well, so park courteously.
Public transport
Plenty of buses, run by both Stagecoach in Newcastle and go north east
Byker Metro station is a couple of minutes walk away from here. For times go to the Tyne and Wear Metro website and click on the metro logo.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Byker Metro station is a couple of minutes walk away from here. For times go to the Tyne and Wear Metro website and click on the metro logo.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
There is a Morrisons supermarket across the road, and a BP garage next to the location. Both are open late. There are plenty of other shops further up Shields Road. Alternatively, Newcastle city centre is a short metro or bus ride away.
Accommodation
Tourist information in Newcastle can advise accordingly, on 0191-277-8000
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Ouseburn Metro Viaduct, Byker
Streetmap links
Ouseburn Metro Viaduct, Byker general view map
Ouseburn Metro Viaduct, Byker close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Ouseburn Metro Viaduct, Byker
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Ouseburn Metro Viaduct, Byker
Googly map
Ouseburn Metro Viaduct, Byker general view map
Ouseburn Metro Viaduct, Byker close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Ouseburn Metro Viaduct, Byker
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Photographic notes
Shields road and the surrounding area are main roads into Newcastle City Centre, and access to the Tyne bridge, from Walker and St Peters, as well as Byker. Traffic noise is constant. The route is a major bus route, and is also very busy with pedestrian traffic, especially with Morrisons supermarket nearby.
The best direction to look with your camera is towards St.. James (eastbound), as you can see trains coming from Manors a long way away, and can thus be ready for them. Trains going towards St. James are harder to get, as you will have to keep looking over your shoulder, and, if possible, listen. It may be possible to capture them as they head away from you.
As an alternative, walk down the main road onto Byker Bridge, and you can capture shots of trains heading towards St James coming towards you. You can also look over your shoulder and see trains coming from St. James, and be ready for them.
The best direction to look with your camera is towards St.. James (eastbound), as you can see trains coming from Manors a long way away, and can thus be ready for them. Trains going towards St. James are harder to get, as you will have to keep looking over your shoulder, and, if possible, listen. It may be possible to capture them as they head away from you.
As an alternative, walk down the main road onto Byker Bridge, and you can capture shots of trains heading towards St James coming towards you. You can also look over your shoulder and see trains coming from St. James, and be ready for them.
General views - All photographs © Robert Clarke unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west
Looking towards St. James
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
