(13 Aug 2018, 10:01 pm)BusLoverMum I'm a fan of the snakes and ladders with duplicate numbers.

(19 Dec 2018, 8:47 pm)Andreos1 Recently spent some time in the Highlands. Did the Highland Chieftan there and back, so lots of new rail miles and easily my longest trip on a Class 43.

I've mentioned elsewhere the spotting of an ex-SNE dart in Inverness, but the main highlight of the trip (bus wise), was a ride out on the 10.
Having been on a spare MMC 300 and a branded MMC 300 on the 11, I managed to bag one of the coaches that appeared last year on the 10.
The power difference between the MMC300 and the B11R was more than evident.
The seating comfort similar (more legroom on the coach), but ride quality on the coach a mile ahead. 
There were some narrow streets to the west of Nairn that could cause issues at certain times, but it was fine when I rode it. 
I didn't need to use the on-board toilet, but on arriving at Inverness Retail Park, the driver made use. 
I'd hope it was cleaned and maintained at each end. 
What was noticeable, was that we left Nairn approx 10 late. The driver wasn't in any rush before leaving either. Without hammering the vehicle at all, it arrived at the Retail Park dead on time.
The ride out on the MMC was laboured and on long stretches of straight, flat road, it needed that extra space in terms of gearing. It was screaming at times. The total opposite to the coach. 

Independant wise, D&E Coaches seemed to be the main player. Wheel forward Streetlites seemed to be the mainstay of work around Inverness, although I did see an old school Merc minibus blinded up for a Private Hire of sorts.

(19 Dec 2018, 8:47 pm)Andreos1 Recently spent some time in the Highlands. Did the Highland Chieftan there and back, so lots of new rail miles and easily my longest trip on a Class 43.

I've mentioned elsewhere the spotting of an ex-SNE dart in Inverness, but the main highlight of the trip (bus wise), was a ride out on the 10.
Having been on a spare MMC 300 and a branded MMC 300 on the 11, I managed to bag one of the coaches that appeared last year on the 10.
The power difference between the MMC300 and the B11R was more than evident.
The seating comfort similar (more legroom on the coach), but ride quality on the coach a mile ahead. 
There were some narrow streets to the west of Nairn that could cause issues at certain times, but it was fine when I rode it. 
I didn't need to use the on-board toilet, but on arriving at Inverness Retail Park, the driver made use. 
I'd hope it was cleaned and maintained at each end. 
What was noticeable, was that we left Nairn approx 10 late. The driver wasn't in any rush before leaving either. Without hammering the vehicle at all, it arrived at the Retail Park dead on time.
The ride out on the MMC was laboured and on long stretches of straight, flat road, it needed that extra space in terms of gearing. It was screaming at times. The total opposite to the coach. 

Independant wise, D&E Coaches seemed to be the main player. Wheel forward Streetlites seemed to be the mainstay of work around Inverness, although I did see an old school Merc minibus blinded up for a Private Hire of sorts.

(19 Dec 2018, 9:08 pm)Jamie M WF streetlites are a crime and aren't to be talked about or referenced at any point ever!

...They're hideous!

North scotland is unexplored for me, I'd find it hard to find the motivation to head up that way rather than cheap flights to warmer lands in the summer. Thats if I can have a day off, whatever one of them is

(19 Dec 2018, 9:19 pm)citaro5284 I have done the 10 from Aberdeen to Inverness on one of the new coaches and after 4 hours arrived into Inverness.  Quite surprised when we went through some villages the driver got out and got bundles of newspapers which had been put into the lockers at Aberdeen out and people were waiting to collect them.

Going to be a bit of a shakeup in Inverness in the New Year as D&E Coaches hands over Inverness contracts to Stagecoach.

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/1600776/de-coaches-hands-bus-contracts-to-stagecoach/

(19 Dec 2018, 9:22 pm)Andreos1 Done a few areas up there now. 
Hit on lucky and it can be warmer than back home. No passport concerns (yet) either.

(19 Dec 2018, 10:23 pm)Jimmi Would like to get up to the Highlands sometime but unlikely to be anytime soon, however with the recent LNER seat saver sale I am one day going to be catching train up to Dundee then catch a selection of Stagecoach buses down to Edinburgh to meet my train home, my plan should include a mix of coaches and normal service buses.

Other trips in January / February include: Edinburgh, Glasgow plus some stuff down in Lincolnshire and Norfolk (assuming weather doesn't spoil those plans).

Be a shock to the system as I don't seem to be getting anywhere other than Newcastle lately, lucky if I even see Teesside atm.

(19 Dec 2018, 11:12 pm)Andreos1 One thing I regret about Dundee is not getting on a RM when they were kicking about. 
The 73 is worth a trip out, if only to get a conductor take your fare! 

The IC network across Lincolnshire is decent. Brylaine's route and stock was a favourite. The IC5 would also connect up Lincoln and Boston, bringing you closer to Norfolk. 
There's always the sight of RAF stuff en-route too. Particularly as the IC5 runs parallel to the perimeter fence, runway and BBMF hangar at Coningsby.

(19 Dec 2018, 10:23 pm)Jimmi Would like to get up to the Highlands sometime but unlikely to be anytime soon, however with the recent LNER seat saver sale I am one day going to be catching train up to Dundee then catch a selection of Stagecoach buses down to Edinburgh to meet my train home, my plan should include a mix of coaches and normal service buses.

Other trips in January / February include: Edinburgh, Glasgow plus some stuff down in Lincolnshire and Norfolk (assuming weather doesn't spoil those plans).

Be a shock to the system as I don't seem to be getting anywhere other than Newcastle lately, lucky if I even see Teesside atm.

(20 Dec 2018, 12:17 pm)Jimmi Had a go on the IC5 when I was down that way at the start of the year and it is a fun route to do, better still as I bagged a BMC Falcon thing on it which was certainly a fun experience (YouTube video: https://youtu.be/rV4XaeBTFoU), also managed to bag DAF SB200 / Ikarus Polaris MK52XNN for a short trip on service K59 (YouTube: https://youtu.be/1SDhI7aZlkk).

Also pleased I caught Shaws service 100 between Spalding and Market Deeping considering the plug is about to be plugged on that one (although Delaine are offering a replacement service IIRC), Delaine being another I would like to check more out of.

Would quite like to get down towards Skegness again but difficult to do in a day, may have to do some trips where I stay over in the future.

(21 Dec 2018, 11:16 am)Andreos1 Did the Falcon you rode, have an 'odd'  seating layout? 
Always got mixed up with some of the fleet, with them looking quite similar externally.
Those two you mentioned are both interesting vehicles. 
Sure Scott mentioned once that MK52XNN had spent time at Stephensons of Easingwold. It lacked power whenever I had it down there.

Skeggy is do-able in a day, depending on where you're starting from. If you end up in Horncastle, the route the PC Coaches 10 is a nicer ride to/from Lincoln than the Stagecoach 56. Breaks up the trip to/from Skeggy a bit too. 
The Brylaine A6 and A8 provides decent links to/from Horncastle with Coningsby or Boston (and the IC5) too.

(21 Dec 2018, 3:49 pm)Jimmi Yup, BMC I had was a mix of 2+2 plastic seats similar to Urban90's whilst towards the back was a 2+3 fabric affair but plastic for the back row.

Think I'm doing IC5 to Tattershall - A8 to Horncastle - 56 to Spilsby then B11 to Boston (although connection at Tattershall is a bit tight, only about 3 minutes).

I may take a crack at Skeggy in the spring/summer once the weather improves and the open toppers are back out there.

Did sample the PC Coaches service 47 between Newark and Lincoln and got a hybrid E400 on that which was a nice ride but the hour and a half long journey did drag on a bit towards the end.

(21 Dec 2018, 7:15 pm)BusLoverMum Even the gazette is getting in on the bus reviews
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/breathtaking-sights-reassuring-chat-no-15567543

(01 Mar 2019, 7:18 pm)Malarkey The month of February featured quite a few outings across the region.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/albums/72157702371930702