North East Buses

Full Version: Whitley Bay Bus Rally 2016
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
Pages: 1 2
(17 Jul 2016, 10:05 am)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Anyone know if there's any toilets near to the rally site? I ask for obvious reasons!

There are a few hotels, there are some in Waves pool as well
So what's the turnout like today? I've decided to give it a miss, as I was still a bit miffed following Durham last month.
(17 Jul 2016, 10:26 am)Adrian wrote [ -> ]So what's the turnout like today? I've decided to give it a miss, as I was still a bit miffed following Durham last month.
There's a few people passing through but nothing much is going on. Can someone send United liveried Olympian B251NVN out on a shuttle please! There's currently 10 buses in the car park (two Go North East with a StreetDeck on Stephenson Railway shuttle) and about three mote preserved buses currently on shuttles.
(17 Jul 2016, 10:26 am)Adrian wrote [ -> ]So what's the turnout like today? I've decided to give it a miss, as I was still a bit miffed following Durham last month.

I'm tempted to lower the tone in relation to 'turnouts' after Jimmi's post about toilets. But its dinner time and there's kids about... Angel
We passed through briefly as part of our plans for the day. Not much to stick around for, though.

Most amused that the merry go round came from our village!

We did spend part of the morning looking at the back of jimmi' head. Tried and failed to lure some Pokémon to bounce on it Big Grin
(17 Jul 2016, 2:52 pm)BusLoverMum wrote [ -> ]We passed through briefly as part of our plans for the day. Not much to stick around for, though.

Most amused that the merry go round came from our village!

We did spend part of the morning looking at the back of jimmi' head. Tried and failed to lure some Pokémon to bounce on it Big Grin

Much the same story from me, the only thing of real intrest for me was the United liveried Olympian which sadly didn't go out on shuttles (or at least it didn't when I was there).

Saw a few forum members including BusLoverMum, Marcus and Thomas plus a few other familiar faces.

Left the rally at around 13:45 on the 309 with the intention of catching the 19 at Cobalt which sadly I just missed, annoyed me more as it was the Phoenix working I missed, I waited half an hour for the Arriva worked 19 then got off for a wander round Royal Quays before jumping on the Phoenix working 30 minutes later, then caught the ferry to South Shields and I am now on a E200 to Sunderland I will then catch either the 20 or 22 from Sunderland to head home, hoping for the latter but will depend if it's on-time.
(17 Jul 2016, 3:11 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Much the same story from me, the only thing of real intrest for me was the United liveried Olympian which sadly didn't go out on shuttles (or at least it didn't when I was there).

Saw a few forum members including BusLoverMum, Marcus and Thomas plus a few other familiar faces.

Left the rally at around 13:45 on the 309 with the intention of catching the 19 at Cobalt which sadly I just missed, annoyed me more as it was the Phoenix working I missed, I waited half an hour for the Arriva worked 19 then got off for a wander round Royal Quays before jumping on the Phoenix working 30 minutes later, then caught the ferry to South Shields and I am now on a E200 to Sunderland I will then catch either the 20 or 22 from Sunderland to head home, hoping for the latter but will depend if it's on-time.
Hope you have more luck than us. 14:25 angel didn't show, which has left us with 45 minutes to kill in Durham with a heavy bag and intermittent internet.
(17 Jul 2016, 3:23 pm)BusLoverMum wrote [ -> ]Hope you have more luck than us. 14:25 angel didn't show, which has left us with 45 minutes to kill in Durham with a heavy bag and intermittent internet.
I actually arrived in North Shields earlier than anticipated this morning as the 21 arrived in Newcastle early meaning I managed to catch the 10:45 309 to Whitley Bay, got off in the town centre to photograph service 17A then you'll be pleased to hear I found a toilet in the shopping centre, I then walked to the rally stopping at a Chippy on the way.
So it doesn't sound like the rally was up to much then? A shame really, as it's not a bad location for a smaller rally, if you actually get a turn out that is...
(17 Jul 2016, 3:33 pm)Adrian wrote [ -> ]So it doesn't sound like the rally was up to much then? A shame really, as it's not a bad location for a smaller rally, if you actually get a turn out that is...
In my opinion, it really wasn't up to much. There was somewhere between 12-15 buses in attendance with Go North East bringing four (IndiGo North Tyne, Castles Express, Red Arrows and a Tynedale Links MPD), Stanley Travel brought their Leyland Tiger/Plaxton Paramount B10STX and the rest was just the usual mix of preserved stuff. I suppose this is the issue when you attend all the North East rallies, you see the same things at each one. There was a few people walking along the front who had a quick look at the buses and the odd enthusiast about but it wasn't owt spectacular in the way of numbers.
(17 Jul 2016, 3:30 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]I actually arrived in North Shields earlier than anticipated this morning as the 21 arrived in Newcastle early meaning I managed to catch the 10:45 309 to Whitley Bay, got off in the town centre to photograph service 17A then you'll be pleased to hear I found a toilet in the shopping centre, I then walked to the rally stopping at a Chippy on the way.

We powdered our noses and picked up lunch in Newcastle before catching the 308. Needed a leg stretch after jumping straight off a slightly late running 22 onto the 21.
(17 Jul 2016, 3:43 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]In my opinion, it really wasn't up to much. There was somewhere between 12-15 buses in attendance with Go North East bringing four (IndiGo North Tyne, Castles Express, Red Arrows and a Tynedale Links MPD), Stanley Travel brought their Leyland Tiger/Plaxton Paramount B10STX and the rest was just the usual mix of preserved stuff. I suppose this is the issue when you attend all the North East rallies, you see the same things at each one. There was a few people walking along the front who had a quick look at the buses and the odd enthusiast about but it wasn't owt spectacular in the way of numbers.

It's not well advertised. It was put out once by the organisers on social media, and at quarter to 10 on a Friday night at that. The post received one reaction, so they'll have not boosted it either.

There were only 9 vehicles listed for attendance on the website, as oppose to 22(?) I count having attended last year. I'd not expect much more than 15, but I think that'd be a minimum you'd expect to see, otherwise the small site still looks bare.
It's a shame this one is a little lacking, as it probably has the nicest site and the best potential for shuttle trips out of all the sites used, so far this year. Seaburn possibly even better for shuttle routes, but we can never get to that one to compare it.
(17 Jul 2016, 6:17 pm)BusLoverMum wrote [ -> ]It's a shame this one is a little lacking, as it probably has the nicest site and the best potential for shuttle trips out of all the sites used, so far this year. Seaburn possibly even better for shuttle routes, but we can never get to that one to compare it.

I rode one shuttle which was Leyland National YFY4M, don't know if this was the official route but I didn't enjoy it so much as the traffic just made it a slow trundle along the Promenade, bus was great though.

Seaburn was a good event last year, there was a decent selection of stuff there plus there is a few other bits such as classic cars. The shuttle route is actually pretty decent but they are all the same route.
(17 Jul 2016, 6:35 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]I rode one shuttle which was Leyland National YFY4M, don't know if this was the official route but I didn't enjoy it so much as the traffic just made it a slow trundle along the Promenade, bus was great though.

Seaburn was a good event last year, there was a decent selection of stuff there plus there is a few other bits such as classic cars. The shuttle route is actually pretty decent but they are all the same route.

We ended up at a classic car rally in Pickering on that weekend, last year. I was brought up going to those things pretty regularly!
One of the people that work on the list of what goes out on shuttles lives round the corner to seaburn metro and seems to enjoy seaburn the best but thinks the route should be a bit different
Judging by pictures this looks like one of the worst bus rallies for a while - I can't recall it or any rally being so quiet.

So glad I didn't waste my time today!
(17 Jul 2016, 7:25 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Judging by pictures this looks like one of the worst bus rallies for a while - I can't recall it or any rally being so quiet.

So glad I didn't waste my time today!

I couldn't even be bothered uploading photos from the rally today, instead I uploaded: IndiGo 679 on the 17A, Arriva 2816 and Phoenix NJ11EJX on the Nexus supported service 19 which is the last Sunday before GNE takeover these runs. It's bad when I'm continuing to prioritise my collection for the independent operators (didn't have a photo of that Phoenix Solo, so that pleased me).
(17 Jul 2016, 7:43 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]I couldn't even be bothered uploading photos from the rally today, instead I uploaded: IndiGo 679 on the 17A, Arriva 2816 and Phoenix NJ11EJX on the Nexus supported service 19 which is the last Sunday before GNE takeover these runs. It's bad when I'm continuing to prioritise my collection for the independent operators (didn't have a photo of that Phoenix Solo, so that pleased me).

That says something then! Some nice shots there, shame the E200 wasn't on the 19 as that has been out the last couple of times I've saw the night time 17.
Went this morning and one of the lowest turnouts I have seen at a rally. United Olympian wasn't there when I got there (10:50am), guess this was out on an excursion possibly. Didn't stay long due to the low turnout. Was going to go on a trip out but wanted to get back to the Tyne Valley Line to see the Flying Scotsman going along it. Hopefully Seaburn next month has a better turnout of buses and will try to get a excursion as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
(17 Jul 2016, 7:46 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]That says something then! Some nice shots there, shame the E200 wasn't on the 19 as that has been out the last couple of times I've saw the night time 17.

Thanks Tom Smile

I needed that Solo anyway, so I was pleased that was on. I should sharp get the E200's plus their other acquisitions next Monday as I'll be going round getting photos of as much of the retendered Nexus contracted services as possible, especially the ones operated by Phoenix. Will have a few rides on the services as well.
The Rally I went to in Nottingham had around 20-25 vehicles attend. Managed trips on Turbocharged Atlantean ARC666T, ex Northern Atlantean 3299 and National Mk2 C724NRC. Although I admit it was a small rally I wasn't disappointed as it was the first time there, but I felt it wasn't a rally that I be able to do every year.
Pages: 1 2