North East Buses

(02 Oct 2014, 7:54 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Adam - from what I can find there is:

First Aberdeen - Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renowns 62138/62139 - Aberdeen Corporation
First Cymru - Dennis SPD 42681 - Llanelli and District
First Cymru - Dennis SPD 42684 - United Welsh Livery
First Cymru - Dennis SPD 42693 - South Wales 
First Cymru - Dennis SPD 42694 - Thomas Bros. 
First Devon and Cornwall - East Lancs Lolyne 37214- 80 Years of Transport 
First Essex - Dennis Trident 33191 - Westcliff-on-Sea Motor Services
First Greater Manchester - Wright Eclipse Gemini 37289 - Manchester City Transpot
First Greater Manchester - Wright Eclipse Gemini 37297 - Bury Corporation 
First Greater Manchester - Wright Eclipse Gemini 37290 - Salford City Transport
First Greater Manchester - Wright Eclipse Gemini 37430 - Lancashire United
First Greater Manchester - Wright Eclipse Gemini 37451 - Rochdale Corporation
First Greater Manchester - Scania Solar 66869 - Oldham Corporation
First Great Manchester  - Scania Solar 69131 - Bolton Corportation Transport
First Great Manchester - Scania Solar 69166 - Ramsbottom Urban District Council
First Norfolk & Suffolk - Dennis Trident 32479 - Eastern Counties 
First Potteries - Wright Solar 66843 - PMT Colours
First West Yorkshie - Alexander Royale 30843 - Huddersfield ''125 years of transport in Huddersfield'' 
First South Yorkshire - Wright Eclipse Gemini 37048 - Halifax Corporation 
First South Yorkshire - Wright Eclipse Gemini 37229 - Sheffield Transport
First South Yorkshire - Wright Eclipse Gemini 37524 - South Yorkshire PTE
First South Yorkshire - Wright Eclipse Gemini 37230 - Doncaster Transport
First South Yorkshire - Wright Eclipse Gemini 37528 - The Sheffield Corporation Tramways


Thats what I can find. 

Cheers Tom, 25 Vehicles didn't think there would be that many, bet there is a couple more still to add to the above list, I certainly would like to photograph all the above at some point.

And 30843 will not last long in Service that if it is, I think this maybe Preserved.

Trip to Manchester yesterday, and it went like this

0645 Middlesbrough - Manchester Shudehill Megabus M35 50253
0957 Manchester Victoria Station - Ashton Northern 142058
1055 Ashton - Manchester Piccadilly Station Metrolink 3081
1202 Chorlton Street - Rusholme First 42 33855
1225 Rusholme - Wilmslow Road Stagecoach Magic bus 142 17631
1236 Wilmslow Road - West Didsbury Stagecoach Magic bus 143 17615
1315 West Didsbury - East Didsbury Metrolink 3056
1355 East Didsbury - Man Piccadilly Station Northern 323321
1445 Manchester Piccadilly Gardens - Altrincham Metrolink 3049
1559 Altrincham-Stockport Northern 150218
1737 Stockport - Manchester Piccadilly Station Virgin 390010
1831 Manchester Piccadilly Gardens - Trafford Centre Stagecoach X50 19533
2010 Trafford Centre - Manchester Piccadilly Gardens Stagecoach X50 19527
2100 Manchester Shudehill - Middlesbrough Megabus M35 50233

Megabus cost £16 return (£8 each way)
System One Bus/Tram/Train ticket cost £8.60

Trip to Lincoln for the LVVS Open Day
http://www.nebpt.co.uk/rally_details/pg3ev501.html

Was a thoroughly enjoyable day last year, concluding with Fish & Chips on the return trip up North.
Think it was a £20 maximum fare last year, but they got it down to £14. Well worth it - I should be there!

(11 Oct 2014, 9:51 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Trip to Lincoln for the LVVS Open Day
http://www.nebpt.co.uk/rally_details/pg3ev501.html

Was a thoroughly enjoyable day last year, concluding with Fish & Chips on the return trip up North.
Think it was a £20 maximum fare last year, but they got it down to £14. Well worth it - I should be there!

Be doing it in the car again most likely - different (and more spacious/comfy) car this year.

(11 Oct 2014, 9:53 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]Be doing it in the car again most likely - different (and more spacious/comfy) car this year.

Well... Doesn't take much doing to get better than last year, with regards to the bit in bold!  

(11 Oct 2014, 9:51 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Trip to Lincoln for the LVVS Open Day
http://www.nebpt.co.uk/rally_details/pg3ev501.html

Was a thoroughly enjoyable day last year, concluding with Fish & Chips on the return trip up North.
Think it was a £20 maximum fare last year, but they got it down to £14. Well worth it - I should be there!

Quite tempted! Shall check tomorrow to see if I can make it.

Todays outing went like this:

1232 7 Newton Aycliffe - Durham (ANE 1523)
1334 X22 Durham - MetroCentre (GNE 6016)
1456 100 MetroCentre - Newcastle (SIN 27510)
1600 306 Newcastle - Tynemouth (ANE 1483)
1732 306 Tynemouth - Newcastle (ANE 1499)
1902 21 Newcastle - Durham (GNE 6061)
2015 7 Durham - Newton Aycliffe (ANE 1521)

Haven't done one of these for a while, but I made notes today...

1135 Tyne & Wear Metro - Stadium of Light to Gateshead - Metrocar 4052
1200 Go North East 49 - Gateshead to Cuthbert Street - 5279
1231 Go North East 46 - Cuthbert Street to Central Station - 5237
1301 Go North East 21 - Wilkinsons to Gateshead - 6058
1310 Go North East X10 - Gateshead to Heworth - 6044
1337ish Tyne & Wear Metro - Heworth to Gateshead Stadium - 4005
1359ish Go North East 27 - Sunderland Road to Gateshead - 5316
1405ish Go North East X10 - Gateshead to Newcastle - 6043
1430ish Go North East 45 - Newcastle to Team Street - 5235
1455ish Go North East 10 - Team Street to Metrocentre - 6071
1515 Go North East X66 - Metrocentre to Gateshead - 5390
1537 Tyne & Wear Metro - Gateshead to Stadium of Light - 4052

Photographs taken on today's outing are available to view by clicking here.

I'm thinking of just doing a small trip tomorrow from Chester to Durham and back on a 21, then maybe back on an X2.

Hopefully I'll stick around for a bit and photograph a decent amount of photos, I plan to take them at that spot above the bus station, if anyone knows where I'm talking about.

(24 Oct 2014, 8:32 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]I'm thinking of just doing a small trip tomorrow from Chester to Durham and back on a 21, then maybe back on an X2.

Hopefully I'll stick around for a bit and photograph a decent amount of photos, I plan to take them at that spot above the bus station, if anyone knows where I'm talking about.

Yes I know where you mean, could try North Road where there is more greenery (not the horrible bit, the bit north of the roundabout). 

(24 Oct 2014, 8:32 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]I'm thinking of just doing a small trip tomorrow from Chester to Durham and back on a 21, then maybe back on an X2.

Hopefully I'll stick around for a bit and photograph a decent amount of photos, I plan to take them at that spot above the bus station, if anyone knows where I'm talking about.

If you get an Arriva day ticket, there's plenty better places around Durham. North Road, Millburngate (where the park and ride buses stop), elvet, and near the New Inn. Also places like Framwellgate Moor, and near county hall.

Thanks for the advice, I've listed a few spots in Chester that I want to get a few photos at during the week off, so I'll just have to see how I'll work around them.

(24 Oct 2014, 8:32 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]I'm thinking of just doing a small trip tomorrow from Chester to Durham and back on a 21, then maybe back on an X2.

Hopefully I'll stick around for a bit and photograph a decent amount of photos, I plan to take them at that spot above the bus station, if anyone knows where I'm talking about.

If you want to get above the bus station, go sit on the big wall at the top end of the bus station, ya can get pics looking down on the entrance

North Road outside the Bus Station is horrible and the lighting can be awful sometimes, the photos I took of the service 23 StreetLites look awful, if it wasn't for the fact that there was no other photos of them branded that I was aware of I probably would have deleted them.

I'm now planning my days out for the next week. I may head to Darlington again on Sunday to see how certain services interwork and if any of the Sunday allocations have changed.

On Monday I may go to Peterlee and Durham to catch new buses and service changes and possibly Darlington and also catch the new Aycliffe Town Bus, unfortunately I'm a bit short on time.

Wednesday I may head to Sunderland on the 21/X21.

Well, I've now finished my final Explorer day of the year due to upcoming Christams Work starting (might be doing further examples but more than likely they will be for Christmas shopping etc) and it went a bit like this (first bit in italics was before Explorer)

0750 Stillington - Durham Road Hardwick Road Ends Leven Valley 84 V331CVV
0810 Durham Road Hardwick Road Ends - Durham Arriva X1 7620
0930 Durham - Consett GNE 15 6012
1036 Consett - Stanley GNE V8 641
1200 Stanley - MetroCentre GNE X43 3832
1300 MetroCentre - Newcastle Eldon Square GNE 10 6079
1700 (1728!) Newcastle Eldon Square - Stockton GNE X10 6044
1840 Stockton - Norton Road Trent Street Stagecoach 36 22064

Tomorrow, I'm off to West Yorkshire for my final 'explore' before starting Night shifts.

Successfully hunted down a ride on a Yellow Bus this morning as they're gradually being withdrawn:

09:28 #X25 Eighton Banks - Gateshead (3877)
09:50 #X66 Gateshead - Metrocentre (5389)
10:30 #X43 Metrocentre - Stanley (3832)
11:15 #8 Stanley - Chester-le-Street (4901)
12:10 #X25 Chester-le-Street - Eighton Banks (3864)

Did a short run to Durham & back today.

#21 - Chester to Durham
(11:44 - 12:05) - GNE 6063
#X2 - Durham to Chester
(12:55 - 13:15) - ANE 1454

I took a few crappy photos while I was out, I would appreciate it if you could check them out on Flickr. My name is MarcTheA4.

The highlight of the day was seeing 60009 power through CLS, put me in a pretty good mood.

Will look out for your flickr Marcus

(25 Oct 2014, 2:27 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]Did a short run to Durham & back today.

#21 - Chester to Durham
(11:44 - 12:05) - GNE 6063
#X2 - Durham to Chester
(12:55 - 13:15) - ANE 1454

I took a few crappy photos while I was out, I would appreciate it if you could check them out on Flickr. My name is MarcTheA4.

[NEGATIVE SQUARED LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B]The highlight of the day was seeing 60009 power through CLS, put me in a pretty good mood.[/B]

Wouldn't have minded seeing that myself.

(25 Oct 2014, 2:27 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]Did a short run to Durham & back today.

#21 - Chester to Durham
(11:44 - 12:05) - GNE 6063
#X2 - Durham to Chester
(12:55 - 13:15) - ANE 1454

I took a few crappy photos while I was out, I would appreciate it if you could check them out on Flickr. My name is MarcTheA4.

The highlight of the day was seeing 60009 power through CLS, put me in a pretty good mood.

Cant find your flickr mate

Here's a link to Marcus' Flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127739730@N02/

Hey Marcus, liking your pics so far mate, look forward to see more of your work...1 criticism mate...

In Durham, it would be best to have been sitting on the Wall mate, you have the top of the in your shots...

Below is an old photo of mine, you will see what I mean

(25 Oct 2014, 7:16 pm)marxistafozzski wrote [ -> ]Hey Marcus, liking your pics so far mate, look forward to see more of your work...1 criticism mate...

In Durham, it would be best to have been sitting on the Wall mate, you have the top of the in your shots...

Below is an old photo of mine, you will see what I mean

Found your old Account Fozz - https://www.flickr.com/photos/neareabusp...919316684/

I think this Photo is Awesome - https://www.flickr.com/photos/neareabuspics/9919316684/

(25 Oct 2014, 7:41 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote [ -> ]Found your old Account Fozz - https://www.flickr.com/photos/neareabusp...919316684/

I think this Photo is Awesome - https://www.flickr.com/photos/neareabuspics/9919316684/

Been trying to remember that account for ages, lost all my login details, which means I now have a load of flickr accounts where I forgot the login lol...

My panoramic shot of Park Lane Interchange

Today so far:

0911 #56 - Stadium of Light to Concord - GNE 6091
1000 #X56 - Concord to Wrekenton - Stanley Travel Plaxton Centro
1025ish #28 - Wrekenton to Newcastle - GNE 4959
1100 #X10 - Newcastle to Peterlee - GNE 6046
1201 #21 - Peterlee to Newton Aycliffe - ANE 4812
1300ish #21 - Newton Aycliffe to Peterlee - ANE 4813
1429 #22 - Peterlee to Sunderland - ANE 14xx
1515 Metro - Sunderland to Fellgate - T&WM 4021
1545ish Metro - Fellgate to Stadium of Light - T&WM 4015

1201 #21 - Peterlee to Newton Aycliffe - ANE 4812

1300ish #21 - Newton Aycliffe to Peterlee - ANE 4813

Did you get off in Newton Aycliffe because you were enjoying 4812 so much you didn't want to spoil the experience by staying on until Darlington

At least you managed to get a bus straight back to Peterlee otherwise you'd have died of bordom waiting an hour for the next one, there is only so much time you can kill in Aldi, Poundstretcher and Tesco Extra (seriously Newton Aycliffe must be the only town in the UK that doesn't have a pound shop, even really posh towns have a pound shop, Ferryhill even has one for gods sake!).

(25 Oct 2014, 6:32 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Here's a link to Marcus' Flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127739730@N02/

Oh thanks, I always forget to link stuff!

(25 Oct 2014, 2:54 pm)aureolin wrote [ -> ]Wouldn't have minded seeing that myself.

Oh, it was amazing! I noticed the platforms were absolutely packed, and I initially thought a TransPennine or something would be stopping around that time - and then when I heard that mesmerising whistle everybody got up and got over to the edge of the platforms. I think most people were there just to see it, there were about five people who were actually using proper cameras on tripods, etc.

West Yorkshire 25/10/2014

0720 Thornaby - Leeds Railway Station TPE 185103
0920 Leeds Bus Station - Wakefield Arriva Yorkshire 1522
1050 Wakefield - Dewsbury Arriva Yorkshire 58
1238 Dewsbury - Huddersfield Arriva Yorkshire 1811
1415 Huddersfield - Leeds White Rose Centre Arriva Yorkshire 1608
1555 Leeds White Rose Centre - Leeds Cornmill Interchange First West Yorkshire 36224
1849 Leeds Railway Station - Thornaby TPE 185143

Cost of rail fare: £8.95 (£4.00 to Leeds, £4.95 from) then £7.70 for a West Yorskhire Bus & Train Dayrover (despite not using the train at all - but that was due to having no concrete plan).

And that's it for trips in 2014 for me - nightshifts start in the morning (3am start  , moves to 1am at some stage ) for up to 11 weeks.

(26 Oct 2014, 3:00 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Did you get off in Newton Aycliffe because you were enjoying 4812 so much you didn't want to spoil the experience by staying on until Darlington

At least you managed to get a bus straight back to Peterlee otherwise you'd have died of bordom waiting an hour for the next one, there is only so much time you can kill in Aldi, Poundstretcher and Tesco Extra (seriously Newton Aycliffe must be the only town in the UK that doesn't have a pound shop, even really posh towns have a pound shop, Ferryhill even has one for gods sake!).

One could suggest that Arriva should have used lines relating to air conditioning in their marketing for service X21 - 4812 is certainly good for that!

Saw on the Live Map that 4813 was running 10-15 mins late, and realised that the quickest way of getting to Fellgate was on that 21 followed by the X10 to Heworth (versus X66 to Stockton then X10 to Heworth, or 7 to Durham followed by the onward connections).

X10 was running late, so decided to see what the crack was with the new 22 instead - now on the Metro to Fellgate (on time!!!)