'Royal' Metro preserved for future generations
BBCAn original Metro train which carried Queen Elizabeth II is being transported to a museum where it will be preserved for future generations.
The monarch travelled on the Tyne and Wear Metro carriage 4020 - also known as The Royal Train - when she officially opened the network back in 1981.
The vehicle is being taken from Wallsend, North Tyneside, to Washington, near Sunderland, where it will go on display at The North East Land, Sea and Air Museum.
Museum chairman David Charles said getting to exhibit the "iconic" carriage was "kudos" for the venue.
"I'm really excited, because I have lived with this project for probably three years," he said.
"There's a little bit of kudos for the museum because this is a nationally significant rail item. It is really important.
"Everybody, until these interviews go out, believes it's going to Beamish - it's not."
Nexus major projects director Paul Welford said the trains were "part of the culture".
"People can remember all sorts of journeys on the Metro," he said.
"These ones have had their day, obviously they're difficult to maintain and we've got new units that are much more state of the art, but they've still got a place in the hearts, these old units, because of that history."
'Biggest endeavour'
The carriage is part of the original Metro fleet which made its final timetabled journey on Friday.
Although passengers might occasionally still see some of the trains on the network, the bulk of the service is now provided by 46 new Stadler trains.
Charles said the carriage heading to Washington was one of just three trains being preserved in the region.
A 120ft (37m) lorry is transporting it from Howdon to the museum, carrying the vehicle on the A19 to Seaton Burn and the A1 south to Washington.
"It's the biggest endeavour we've ever done," he said.
The chairman added longer-term plans included offering a "Metro experience", which would recreate the feeling of sitting at the front of the carriage and "driving" the train.
Adam Dixon, who is helping the museum develop the attraction, said it was really important to preserve history and hoped the train would inspire future generations to take up a career in public transport.
People will be able to see the carriage from Wednesday and go inside by the end of the year.
It comes amid long-awaited plans to extend the Metro route to Washington by 2033.
"We've brought the Metro to Washington", Charles joked.
