(04 Apr 2018, 8:04 pm)MurdnunoC wrote The 51/52 was rerouted between Heworth and Gateshead via the 648/649 route when the latter was curtailed to terminate at Gateshead Metro. Prior the route of the former operated direct via Sunderland Road. The 27 was also amalgamated into the 51/52 between Gateshead and Wrekenton. Beforehand, it operated via Old Durham Road, Beacon Lough Road and Easedale Gardens instead of Gateshead Library and Dryden Road.
I don't know exactly when the 'new' 51/52 came about, but I reckon it must have been the early-mid 2000's - I certainly remember using it around 2000/01. If I had to guess, I would estimate 2004 as that's when the 610/611/632 etc. were renumbered and revised.
I can't remember the 27 operating via Old Durham Road, but can remember the 51/52 going via Sunderland Road. For a period, seemingly operated only by Mk1 Metrobuses.
I can remember the 27 operating along Durham Road between Gateshead and Dryden Road, prior to it shifting to Prince Consort Road. Never quite understood the change and why that was the service picked to go along past the library etc.
The early 2000's was my lost period for public transport, but if I remember right, the 27 had been played about with quite a bit leading up to that period.
An extension to Shields to replace the 527 came about I think and that could have tied in with the period around the Shields depot closure.
I seem to remember there was also a period where the 51/52 stopped operating along Easedale Gardens to/from Wrekenton and I think that was mid/late 90's. May have been slightly earlier.