Today's outing has left me, yet again, very satisfied with the £3.75 I paid for it. With the help of a certain Mercedes, I managed a ride on a ''Lime'' B10BLE, a ''Yellow Bus'' Olympian, and lots of other variety within the Go North East fleet. However, as I said in the Go North East: Latest News and Discussion thread, I did have a brief ride out last night after school, to ride a couple of brand new ''X66'' Streetlites. Also, yesterday morning, on the way to school I had a walk down to the market place in Chester-le-Street to see the promotional team setting 5397 up for it's big day. I won't go into detail, but it was a nice trip out to end the long week with. A summary;
16:12 #21 – Chester-le-Street Cone Terrace to Gateshead Transport Interchange – GNE 6062
16:51 #X66 – Gateshead Transport Interchange to MetroCentre Transport Interchange – GNE 5392
17:13 #X66 – MetroCentre Transport Interchange to Gateshead Transport Interchange – GNE 5394
17:34 #21 – Gateshead Transport Interchange to Chester-le-Street Clifford Terrace – GNE 3864
As you can see, nothing special. 6062 was a very quiet ride throughout the entire 40 minutes I was on it, I think when we reached Gateshead there was five people that I counted, myself and two Sixth Formers from my school being the only people to disembark there. Making my way across to the X66 stand, I watched a new Streetlite departing before me, making it the first I had seen in the flesh with my own eyes (in service, of course – I'd seen all of them last Saturday parked in Riverside). Minutes later, and after a queue of around 10 people had formed, number 5392 rounded the bus station, and dropped off it's load from the MetroCentre. Quite a few people I must say, and once I'd taken my, erm, ''luxurious'' leather seat, many more boarded to the point that every set of seats was occupied, although not all seats were taken, if you know what I mean. Once 5392 dropped us off, I waited for the next X66 back to Gateshead, which was 5394. Again, a pleasant ride, with roughly a similar load to 5392. Once back at Gateshead, I waited for the next Durham-bound 21. This was Lolyne 3864, about five minutes late if I remember correctly. Was home for about 18:30, after yet another nice trip out.
Back to today, I aimed to catch my usual 09:40 #78 from my local bus stop, which I arrived at for 09:35. Hoping for any of the batch of 4853-55, I was disappointed when I spotted a red Renown heading down Ropery Lane. I spotted a W at the start of the registration, meaning it was either 4906/08/09. As I flagged it to a halt, I noted it was 4909. Having not been on this particular example in quite a while, I was somehow pleased to see this vehicle, despite it not being a ''Lime''. Driver came bombing across the roundabout, and yet again, I got the impression it was going to overrun the stop. A new face was at the wheel, not one I can say I had seen prior to today; I'm not sure if it's just me, but Chester-le-Street seems to have a new driver or two every week or so. Small passenger numbers, as ever, on the 09:34 out of Chester-le-Street for Sunderland, think there was six passengers already aboard when I got on. I'm sure you all must get sick of me saying how much I love B10s, so I'll just say that 4909 was making some terrific engine noises, and was without a doubt one of the smoothest vehicles I'd travelled on in a while...certainly beats the awful 4904!!
In fact, 4909 was so fast, by my time it got to Park Lane for 10:12, 5 minutes early, meaning it had 10 minutes in the layover bays! Once I was in Sunderland, the heavens had opened. I was disappointed, as I was looking forward to taking a few photos of buses entering and exiting Park Lane, but I opted not to as I didn't fancy killing off my camera! However, luck was on my side, as I remembered citaro5284 telling me that ''Lime'' 4854 would be operating the 10:37 #78 out of Sunderland, which I stayed around for. Was absolutely thrilled when I saw the distinctive green livery in the corner of my eye; when it got to the stand in the interchange, I boarded without a care in the world. Another fantastic B10BLE – I will seriously miss the ''Lime'' branded examples, I don't know how or why, but I've become really attached to them in recent months. Some great kickdowns in the areas around Penshaw Monument, and the views across the countryside in some parts closer to Chester-le-Street were also fantastic.
This B10 was so fast, it arrived in Chester-le-Street roughly around 11:18, and as it turned onto South Burns, a ''Whey Aye Five 0'' branded OmniCity followed behind having come from Durham. I chose to disembark 4854, and joined the relatively short queue for the 50 for South Shields, the bus in question was 5255. While I do live in Chester-le-Street, I have to say I don't always use that many of the services in the area. Aside from the soon-to-be ''Coast & Country'' routes, the ''Angel'', the ''Pronto'' and the 36, I honestly don't travel on the others that often these days, despite doing so in the past. I've probably stopped using the ''Waggonway'' and ''Lambton Worm'' as much since my grandad died. Although I do love the ''Waggonway'' route, as I think it is very scenic, I do rarely use it these days. As for the 50, I've always been a rare user of it to begin with, although at one point I did use it quite often. When we pulled out from Chester-le-Street, we had a pretty decent number of passengers on 5255. I'm not a fan of these OmniCity's, but I'll admit I didn't mind 5255 as much as I thought I would when I boarded. Survived as far as Washington, where I hopped off.
There was a queue of around 30-40 people waiting for the ''Red Arrows'' X1 heading to Newcastle. I joined them, as I was hoping for an Olympian when I got through there, and 6007 showed after a 5-10 minute wait. Bus was absolutely packed when we left, every single seat was taken, but as I knew there were elderly people in the queue behind me, I chose to stay downstairs and give them a chance with any seats remaining upstairs – so only a man and myself were standing. Half a dozen boarded in Springwell Village, and about half of that number disembarked. A small handful left in Wrekenton, while about 10 people boarded. Absolutely rammed while we headed down Old Durham Road, I think I heard the driver talking to control about the bus being full and setting the destination off or something along those lines. Quite a number left in Gateshead, and a few seats were freed up, however they were eaten up in moments! By the time we got to Eldon Square, the rain had started yet again, and it was awful hanging around for something good to show. I was told by citaro5284 that most of Stanley's Olympians were out of service, so I hopped on the next bus for the MetroCentre that came into the bus station; in the form of 6083 on the 10A.
Front seats upstairs by myself for this journey, and I think about 5 OAPs were downstairs. Put my headphones in and enjoyed the smoothness of the B9TL engine, and as we drew close to the MetroCentre, I saw a selection of Olympians in the Coach Park. It was chucking it down, and I remembered that citaro had told me 3823 would be operating the 13:15 #X31 out of Newcastle, and 3813 the 13:30 #X71, it dawned on me as I crossed the bridge to the Coach Park that I would be wasting my time going across to see the Olympians, at the same time it also came to me that they were on Soccerbus X50 duties. As I double-backed to the bus station, I checked my phone for the time, it was 12:57. I knew I wasn't going to make it to Newcastle in time for 13:15, but possibly for 13:30. I also realised that 3823 and 3813 are both heavily associated with Robert – I couldn't decide whether or not to have a ride on his wife (3823) and see how he reacts when he reads this, or have a go on his ex (3813) and rub it in his face how good the experience was. Deciding to inflict maximum romantic pain on him, I opted to go with his wife to see what she was like. To do this, I had to get the X66 to Gateshead, where I had ample time to catch it at 13:25. However, after 5332 (which was operating this X66, much to my disapproval...) departed we hit some traffic on Handy Drive. Got to Gateshead at 13:22, 3 minutes before the X31 was due. After waiting over 10 minutes more than scheduled, a yellow double decker rounded the corner into the interchange...
With it's distinctive front panel, I knew this was definitely 3823. Inhaling the somewhat distinctive smell of an Olympian, and after showing my Get Around to the driver, I headed to the upper saloon. Sad to see a family with two little children sitting at the front (groan...), I sat one set of seats behind the stairs. Pleasant ride on this Olympian, thrilled I managed to squeeze a ride into today's adventure. The family left in Sunniside, and once we got within about 10 minutes of Stanley, the nice seats at the front became available. Taking advantage of these, I enjoyed the remainder of the journey up to Stanley. Once we pulled into the bus station, I made my way downstairs to leave. The time was 14:07, and the 8 for Sunderland was due at 14:15, so I hung around for a bit until I saw a red B10BLE fly around the roundabout. I identified it as 4896, a once ''Lime'' branded vehicle. Isn't it funny that when a bus emerges from the paintshop in it's new livery, you can't get your head around it in it's latest guise, but after a long time, you've gotten so used to it's current livery, you can't imagine it in it's old livery? That's exactly how I feel with 4896, as well as some of the Stanley-based Renowns (4897-4902) and the former ''Whey Aye Five 0'' Scanias 4926-4931. Always been a favourite of mine, and I know 4896 is popular amongst other enthusiasts too. It can handle long stretches of roads with little need for the foot to be put down, not to mention it's incredible speeds. A brilliant vehicle for time-keeping, throughout this brilliant ride back to Chester-le-Street, we stopped at quite a few stops as we were ahead of schedule. When we did arrive back in Chester-le-Street, this 8 was good for timing.
A quick trip into Tesco ensued before I saw an ''Angel'' B5 head along North Burns and come to a halt at the North Burns diversion stand. I must also comment on how well the works in Chester-le-Street seem to be coming along. The town doesn't look like a bombsite anymore, in fact it also looks like it's old self. Quite nice to see that the works seem to have come along pretty fast, although I must add, from what I've seen, the builders take a lot to be desired......no comment! 6067, the Durham-bound 21, was my last bus of the day. 3 OAPs downstairs, me at the rear, and I imagine a couple upstairs. Nice way to end the day (that rhymes for those interested), and I was home for 15:00.
A log of today:
09:41 #78 - Chester-le-Street Durham Country Cricket Ground to Sunderland Park Lane Interchange - GNE 4909
10:33 #78 - Sunderland Park Lane Interchange to Chester-le-Street South Burns - GNE 4854
11:20 #50 - Chester-le-Street South Burns to Washington The Galleries Bus Station - GNE 5255
11:42 #X1 - Washington The Galleries Bus Station to Newcastle Eldon Square Bus Station - GNE 6007
12:34 #10A - Newcastle Eldon Square Bus Station to MetroCentre Transport Interchange - GNE 6083
13:05 #X66 - MetroCentre Transport Interchange to Gateshead Transport Interchange - GNE 5332
13:35 #X31 - Gateshead Transport Interchange to Stanley Bus Station - GNE 3823
14:16 #8 - Stanley Bus Station to Chester-le-Street South Burns - GNE 4896
14:41 #21 - Chester-le-Street North Burns to Chester-le-Street Clifford Terrace - GNE 6067
Hope you all enjoyed this week's review!
I have to thank citaro5284 for today, as he helped me seek out a few of my aims for the day, keeping me updated, and it wouldn't be right to not give him credit where it's due.
Marcus
