I almost ended up getting this bus on its return trip back from Seaburn. Metro was running a bit late and would have missed the 99 before, so I decided to get the train back from Central to Sunderland instead. Gutted! 
Oh man..... I almost ended up getting this bus on its return trip back from Seaburn. Metro was running a bit late and would have missed the 99 before, so I decided to get the train back from Central to Sunderland instead. Gutted!
An Optare Versa 11.7m demonstrator in full Go North East livery has been received. After a period of operation from Stanley, it will transfer to another Go-ahead Group subsidiary for continued demonstration. It is 9133: YJ62 FFB.
Anyone have any ideas of which routes it's going on? Hoping it's one that runs into Newcastle - Stanley is miles out!
(23 Jan 2013, 6:59 pm)Michael Seen a Whey Aye five-0 on either 8/78/78A tonight, heading to park lane..
I wonder what services it will go on at stanley, Hope it goes out on the Lime services
(23 Jan 2013, 6:59 pm)Michael Seen a Whey Aye five-0 on either 8/78/78A tonight, heading to park lane..
I wonder what services it will go on at stanley, Hope it goes out on the Lime services
(23 Jan 2013, 6:38 pm)Daniel An Optare Versa 11.7m demonstrator in full Go North East livery has been received. After a period of operation from Stanley, it will transfer to another Go-ahead Group subsidiary for continued demonstration. It is 9133: YJ62 FFB.
Anyone have any ideas of which routes it's going on? Hoping it's one that runs into Newcastle - Stanley is miles out!
(23 Jan 2013, 6:38 pm)Daniel An Optare Versa 11.7m demonstrator in full Go North East livery has been received. After a period of operation from Stanley, it will transfer to another Go-ahead Group subsidiary for continued demonstration. It is 9133: YJ62 FFB.
Anyone have any ideas of which routes it's going on? Hoping it's one that runs into Newcastle - Stanley is miles out!
![[Image: 8411578098_abd0ea6577_b.jpg]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8353/8411578098_abd0ea6577_b.jpg)
The first photo of the new Optare Versa demonstrator has hit Flickr!
Though not yet in-service, it is pictured below at Chester-le-Street depot - to be transferred to Stanley tomorrow.
I can only hope that I'll manage to get a photo of it on the "Lime" 8/78 service, as I believe it'll be a core route they'll be trialing it on!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarke.../contacts/
(Photo by Adam Malarkey).
In other news, one of the Vykings that carry the Vodafone ad was on the 38/61 service today... Something which is becoming more and more frequent!
(24 Jan 2013, 4:44 pm)Daniel I can only hope that I'll manage to get a photo of it on the "Lime" 8/78 service, as I believe it'll be a core route they'll be trialing it on!
(24 Jan 2013, 4:44 pm)Daniel I can only hope that I'll manage to get a photo of it on the "Lime" 8/78 service, as I believe it'll be a core route they'll be trialing it on!
(24 Jan 2013, 8:01 pm)gtomlinson(24 Jan 2013, 4:44 pm)Daniel I can only hope that I'll manage to get a photo of it on the "Lime" 8/78 service, as I believe it'll be a core route they'll be trialing it on!
She's a beauty!
(fingers crossed) Waggonway Waggonway Waggonway!
I know, no hope, though I hear we're in line for an upgrade, I believe GNE are looking at one of the Beamish Museum 1948 QL buses to swap the DAFs with
Finding 3822 looking odd in Yellow Bus branding. I cannot stand that branding, it's terrible!
(24 Jan 2013, 8:01 pm)gtomlinson(24 Jan 2013, 4:44 pm)Daniel I can only hope that I'll manage to get a photo of it on the "Lime" 8/78 service, as I believe it'll be a core route they'll be trialing it on!
She's a beauty!
(fingers crossed) Waggonway Waggonway Waggonway!
I know, no hope, though I hear we're in line for an upgrade, I believe GNE are looking at one of the Beamish Museum 1948 QL buses to swap the DAFs with
Finding 3822 looking odd in Yellow Bus branding. I cannot stand that branding, it's terrible!
(24 Jan 2013, 8:01 pm)gtomlinson(24 Jan 2013, 4:44 pm)Daniel I can only hope that I'll manage to get a photo of it on the "Lime" 8/78 service, as I believe it'll be a core route they'll be trialing it on!
She's a beauty!
(fingers crossed) Waggonway Waggonway Waggonway!
I know, no hope, though I hear we're in line for an upgrade, I believe GNE are looking at one of the Beamish Museum 1948 QL buses to swap the DAFs with
Finding 3822 looking odd in Yellow Bus branding. I cannot stand that branding, it's terrible!
(24 Jan 2013, 8:01 pm)gtomlinson(24 Jan 2013, 4:44 pm)Daniel I can only hope that I'll manage to get a photo of it on the "Lime" 8/78 service, as I believe it'll be a core route they'll be trialing it on!
She's a beauty!
(fingers crossed) Waggonway Waggonway Waggonway!
I know, no hope, though I hear we're in line for an upgrade, I believe GNE are looking at one of the Beamish Museum 1948 QL buses to swap the DAFs with
Finding 3822 looking odd in Yellow Bus branding. I cannot stand that branding, it's terrible!
Surprisingly relevant to previous posts, "Waggonway" branded 4987 was working "Lime" service 8/78 today, as can be seen in the photograph I captured half an hour ago:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgrahamm/8413576497/
Potential decent photo opp on Sunday 3rd February
With Newcastle Bank in Birtley being closed the 21 and 28 will be on diversion through the day
These services will divert via Lamesley Road (serving first westbound 28A stop), then follow Lamesley Road until reaching Coal House A1 Roundabout, then via A1 southbound back to Angel of The North and normal route on A167 Durham Road (21) or Long Bank (28).
So great opportunity to catch the 21 down the Team Valley and Lamesley, which is fairly photogenic. Car park at Lamesley St Andrews Church and Coalhouse Roundabout will be good spots. Also see how those hybrids cope with the Western Bypass hill back up to the Angel too! Opportunity to capture them on the bypass from Allerdene Railway Bridge
(25 Jan 2013, 8:47 pm)gtomlinson Potential decent photo opp on Sunday 3rd February
With Newcastle Bank in Birtley being closed the 21 and 28 will be on diversion through the day
These services will divert via Lamesley Road (serving first westbound 28A stop), then follow Lamesley Road until reaching Coal House A1 Roundabout, then via A1 southbound back to Angel of The North and normal route on A167 Durham Road (21) or Long Bank (28).
So great opportunity to catch the 21 down the Team Valley and Lamesley, which is fairly photogenic. Car park at Lamesley St Andrews Church and Coalhouse Roundabout will be good spots. Also see how those hybrids cope with the Western Bypass hill back up to the Angel too! Opportunity to capture them on the bypass from Allerdene Railway Bridge
(25 Jan 2013, 8:47 pm)gtomlinson Potential decent photo opp on Sunday 3rd February
With Newcastle Bank in Birtley being closed the 21 and 28 will be on diversion through the day
These services will divert via Lamesley Road (serving first westbound 28A stop), then follow Lamesley Road until reaching Coal House A1 Roundabout, then via A1 southbound back to Angel of The North and normal route on A167 Durham Road (21) or Long Bank (28).
So great opportunity to catch the 21 down the Team Valley and Lamesley, which is fairly photogenic. Car park at Lamesley St Andrews Church and Coalhouse Roundabout will be good spots. Also see how those hybrids cope with the Western Bypass hill back up to the Angel too! Opportunity to capture them on the bypass from Allerdene Railway Bridge
There was a major clog up at Eldon Square this afternoon. 3803 decided to break down and parked up in one of the park-up bays. When the tow truck came, the only way to get to the bus was to park directly infront of it, closing off the bus station. Only stands H, J and the Set-Down stand were accessible. This lead to a massive queue of buses and then blocked off the exit of the Haymarket bus station. Fair to say there were many unhappy drivers.
Looks like it wasn't the only bus to break down in Eldon Square either. Found this photo by TVT Photos of 6014 broken down in the bus station too!
4 more GNE deckers at Heysham Docks today.
Go North East NK62FAA - http://maljoe.piwigo.com/picture?/10632/category
Go North East NK62FDM -http://maljoe.piwigo.com/picture?/10633/category
Go North East NK62FDN - http://maljoe.piwigo.com/picture?/10634/category
Go North East NK62FHE - http://maljoe.piwigo.com/picture?/10635/category
These seem to be coming fast now, looks like these are gonna be really early, wonder if GNE will keep them until march or put them out when ready and move the citaros to the 27 so they can get ridf of more old buses.
