Tyne Commissioners Quay

[Keelman]

Captured in June 1966 this busy scene indicates that the quay was not used exclusively for the handling of passengers travelling on Bergen Line services from the Tyne.
I had always assumed that the tractors had been produced at BMC's British Leyland Truck & Tractor Plant at Bathgate in West Lothian and been brought down by rail but closer inspection of the picture reveals they bear the name of Massey-Ferguson and therefore probably came from this manufacturers tractor plant at Coventry.
I believe the new cars are a mixture of Austin 1100's and Minis which were of course BMC products.
Bergen Lines VENUS looks smart in her white cruising colours while LEDA lurking in the background will look equally well turned out in the familiar black hull and funnel makings of her Norwegian owners.

[magoonigal]

Another great picture. Looks like there could be the odd Mini-Van in the mix as well.

[northeast]

A classic reminder of the 1960's. can it really be half a century ago?
Lots of Massey Fergusons used to go out to Scandinavia, we sent shiploads to Finland and reckoned everyone there must have at least two of them ... but suspected they were sold on to Russia.

[tynebuoy]

No tractors for the poor farmers of Hebburn. Just yoke a passing hippo, whack his a*** and shout tally hooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

[northeast]

No wonder the poor blighter was put out to grass in Whickham, then!

[Whickham]

Does this constitute online abuse?

[tynebuoy]

Not yet but never give up hope.