As someone who has followed the hobby of railway modelling for some twenty years I was prompted to take this shot not for the ship but for the detail in the foreground.
The 1937 extension to the quay was built to serve the established passenger and cargo services running between the Tyne and Norway, passenger trains arriving at the quay did so on LNER metals.
From 1950 until the mid 60's the named train 'The Norseman' ran from Kings Cross to Newcastle on Wednesdays and Fridays and was one of the fastest timed expresses on the East Coast Main Line. The Pacific locomotives which brought the trains from London would be replaced by smaller engines at Newcastle for the last part of the journey to North Shields.
The Commissioners Dock Master was also the station master, a rare combination!
Following the cessation of rail services to the quay the transit sheds were demolished but in this view taken in 2011 part of the station platform, two buffer stops and lengths of rail were still extant.
Oh! that ship, it's a big, bland car carrier, 'nuf said!