Today's outing was just a short trip out to be honest, with my parents both working today, I was using my grandma's as a base.
I was awoken by my sister's voice just after 09:00 (no need for the alarm clock!!), saying she was going to walk along to my grandma's. I was still a bit tired, but couldn't be bothered to waste another day, sitting along there (or in my own house) watching daytime television, so I got myself ready for a short trip out somewhere, with no real plan to hand.
#36 - Chester-le-Street Durham County Cricket Ground to Houghton-le-Spring Church - (09:51 --- 10:12) - Go North East 5300 - Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro
After calling at my grandma's briefly for some breakfast, I made my way along to my local stop on the road to Sunderland, getting there with ample time at c.09:43. I watched 4854 fly past on the 78 to Sunderland moments later, and noted how busy that journey appeared to be on a weekday, in comparison to a weekend, where it's practically empty. I was hoping Deptford would throw something nice out, such as a red B9 (6099 or 6100) or possibly a Vyking. Alas, I saw a gold Mercedes heading down Ropery Lane, and had to make do with that.
After boarding the bus roughly on time (this 36 journey is usually pretty late!), and getting my day ticket, I noticed the machine had printed out a dodgy ticket, where just about everything was faded. I thought it would prove to make the day difficult (having a day ticket where you can barely see the price you paid for it!) but luckily I didn't have any problems. 5300 wasn't the best way to start the journey, there were few people on when I boarded, but as we made our way through Fencehouses, Avenue Vivian and into Houghton-le-Spring, the bus began to fill up a bit. The engine was quite rough, and the brakes felt quite hard when even the slightest of pressure was put on them, not to mention the horrible state I have to say the interior was in! Not a big fan of these Mercs...the only ones I can stand are the Connections4 examples; they still sound brilliant, and have brilliant seating!
#X1 - Houghton-le-Spring Church to Washington, The Galleries Bus Station - (10:15 --- 10:33) - Go North East 6004 - Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2
After disembarking 5300, and feeling somewhat like Andy Dufresne when he escaped Shawshank Prison in ''The Shawshank Redemption'' (brilliant movie - stars Morgan Freeman and you really do forget about race, gender, etc. throughout the movie; and everyone just clings onto 'hope' - watch it!), I watched for anything good coming through. Despite my love of the 5358-5368 batch on the 4, I couldn't be bothered with over half an hour on one to Washington, so waited for an X1 to come through. Within a minute or two, a ''Red Arrows'' B9TL came into sight, and I boarded.
Normally, when on an X1 from Houghton-le-Spring to Washington, it's quite packed, but I'd never experienced a weekday journey as far as I remember. Full downstairs, but on the upper saloon, loads of seats were free. I sat towards the rear, and let the bus fly towards Washington. I have to say, before anyone challenges them, the Volvo B9TLs on the X1 are still going strong, even the 6001-6007 batch are in good condition! Sounds to a minimum, engine was barely noticeable, and rattles were rare throughout the entire journey. Brilliant vehicle to ride, much better than 5300 beforehand, I just wished 6005 had showed up, listen to the sounds that Adam describes!
#85 - Washington, The Galleries Bus Station to Concord Bus Station - (10:35 --- 10:53) - Go North East 570 - Tranbus MPD/Tranbus Mini Pointer
After leaving the X1 at Washington, as I prepared to walk up into the Galleries itself, I noticed on one of the boards, an 85 was due for Concord. I was planning on a ride to Heworth anyway, so chose to ride this to Concord, then a 4 to Heworth to fulfill the prophecy. Within moments of joining the queue, 570 appeared, and I was happy to see an MPD would provide one of my journeys from today; having not been on a Dart in ages, let alone an MPD! Pleased to ride an MPD again, after such a long time without doing so, but 570 wasn't the nicest journey from today. Options of where to sit were obviously limited, and I found myself just above the step, with literally no legroom. Couldn't be bothered to find somewhere else, so just made the best of a bad situation.
Engine sounded okay, was pretty distinctive of a Dart, something I hadn't heard in quite a while, so that was something of a novelty! I hopped off at the terminus of Concord, and felt like taking my camera out for some photos. However, something kept putting me off. Eventually, a 4 turned up, along with a convoy of others; after a lengthy driver changeover, I boarded 5358.
#4 - Concord Bus Station to Heworth Metro Interchange - (11:02 --- 11:11) - Go North East 5358 - Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro
A quick look back through my logs shows that 5358 was the last Connections4 Citaro I was on, which was slightly disappointing (not a fan of getting the same vehicle again on a service I rarely use!). However, it was a nice ride, just like the last time. The seating was good, the rattles were adequate, and the engine sounded like most Citaro engines, just a bit nicer!
As we headed along the Felling By-Pass, I saw a Lime green Streetlite heading along, northbound. That got me somewhat quite happy, as I fathomed this was a new vehicle on delivery to Saltmeadows (possibly a vehicle that aureolin later photographed there today). Had a very smart white destination with ''123 Hanover Displays'' on the front blind, whereas on the back it had ''Go Ahead North East'' or something like that. Quite a nice sight to see, I wish I had been aboard to inhale the ''new bus'' smell. After getting off at Heworth, I walked between the two parts of the bus station looking for anything good, when I saw a red B9 come in on the X36 for Sunderland.
#X36 - Heworth Metro Interchange to Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange - (11:25 --- 12:12) - Go North East 6099 - Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2
I had never been on either of the red B9s at Deptford prior to this journey, so it was something new to me. Obviously, little difference to a Fab56 example, but still...haha! Only 1 passenger was aboard when I joined the bus, and the remaining half a dozen passengers who boarded at Heworth sat downstairs, meaning I had the entire upper deck to myself. Certainly a highlight from today; heading through the beautiful countryside, powering along long stretches of road, etc, all by myself upstairs on a double decker. I feel like there is some sense of peace you experience when you're upstairs, probably just me.
A brilliant ride into Sunderland, even if we did get a bit stuck in traffic when entering the city centre. Had a little wander around Park Lane, looking for anything to photograph, before I purchased a Sausage, Bean and Cheese Melt from Gregg's, and headed to that spot outside the bus station for some photos. Didn't take too many, and eventually my 78 back to Chester-le-Street came into view, with the destination set for the return journey back.
#78 - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange to Chester-le-Street Durham County Cricket Ground - (12:36 --- 13:14) - Go North East 4901 - Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown
Boarded 4901, which had pulled in a few minutes early, and sat at my regular seat on a single decker. 4901 has always been my favourite out of the Stanley batch of former ''Lime'' vehicles (4897-4902), it has always sounded spot on, been clean inside when I've used it, and the rattles and squeaks were to a minimum. Not many passengers on, unlike the 78 I had seen leaving when coming in on the X36, which was about 2/3 full. Quiet ride back home, and with 4901 being my last ride of the day, it ended on a pretty positive note!
Hope you enjoyed reading, feel free to like - don't get the impression I do these because I'm desperate to push my ''liked posts'' count up! I do them because I enjoy keeping a detailed journey log, and something to reflect on.
Marcus
I waited and waited until 7506 trundled along at 11.57, assuming at this point it was the 11.58 X22 early, indeed I held this opinion until, at Cramlington road ends a virtually empty 7523 pulls up alongside and takes off, we followed it for quite a while but it had gone by the time we were on the A1. Very disappointed by 7506's performance.