(19 Jun 2014, 8:06 pm)aureolin At the end of the day he's about 70 and he's calling a teenager names on Facebook.

(19 Jun 2014, 6:12 pm)Dan Heh... love being the topic of conversation between bus enthusiasts - especially when it's a load of old tosh! Although a tiny bit irritated, this situation has more so humoured me, hence the location of this post.

I'm not making this post to spark up an argument or anything, more so just to give my side of the story for those enthusiasts that commented on the Facebook status and are members of this forum. Thankfully, this story is the one which is entirely truthful and can be backed up by Liam (as he was with me at the time).

Making the most of the Volvo B5TL demonstrator, Liam and I decided that we would ride it on "Toon Link" services 31/32. Through connections exist on "Toon Link" service 31 whereby passengers can continue their journey on "Toon Link" service 32 to Blaydon, and this is what we had intended to do.


Although the vehicle had racked up quite an awful delay earlier in the day (20 minutes late at this point), neither Liam nor myself expected that the services it was working would be regulated.

Upon arrival at Winlaton, all passengers excluding Liam and myself alighted the vehicle. Little did we know, the return journey back to Newcastle on "Toon Link" service 32 had been regulated. Thankfully, the driver of the vehicle checked the vehicle prior to pulling away out of service, and he discovered that both Liam and myself were still on-board the vehicle. The driver informed us that, due to his delay, he had to return back to Newcastle out of service and that we would have to get off the bus. We picked up our things, and we followed the driver downstairs and alighted the vehicle.

The Facebook status below makes an interesting read, when you know the truth...



Later comments include further blatent lies from the OP, suggesting that the vehicle moved whilst out of service with Liam and I on-board... If that were the case, I think the driver would be the one who was on the firing line and not us given that we were not doing anything wrong by using the service through to Blaydon (as advertised on the timetable).

Oh.. and spot the comment about another enthusiast who regularly has comments made about him as well! These enthusiasts are like a broken record.

Ooh, and it's news to me that I 'blatantly wander into prohibited areas to take photographs', mind...

Do think most of this derives from spite and jealousy. Shame they say these things where the other person cannot defend themselves - the OP of the Facebook status didn't say a word on the bus or at the bus station either - hahahah!

(24 Jun 2014, 4:17 pm)Marcus I know exactly how you feel - it's happened to me loads of times when people have caught a glimpse of something then assumed something.

I honestly do feel sorry for both you and Liam - hopefully we'll never have them try that on NEB

They seem, from what I have seen, to be that one group of people that comes with every hobby that stand from afar and criticise those who ACTUALLY BRING the information to the enthusiast field.

(25 Jun 2014, 9:17 am)marxistafozzski Some enthusiasts are just childish if you ask me, is it any wonder some get a hard time...my friends 10 yr old son is more grown up than some of these idiots, it is because of this I tend to keep my distance from enthusiasts, I have no problem with the very few enthusiasts I have met and spent time with, I may have only met them a handful of times, but I would go as far as calling them friends, but I tend to be loner when I am out enthusing(is that a word or have I made a new one up)...I have seen enthusiasts using there muscle to get the photo, enthusiasts jumping into the path of buses to get the photo and see all the backbiting on the Internet and I just can't be arsed with a bunch of thirty-faced(not just 2 faced ?) set of twats who insult, name call etc and seem to get a hard on from it...No time for it basicaly

(25 Jun 2014, 3:32 pm)Marcus Can't agree more. I'm also a bit of a loner - I've seen a few of you lot out and about (mainly Dan) but I've never really met anybody and hung around - although I am planning a few.

Also, 'enthusing' seems to be more of an American word

Some enthusiasts just don't care about others - most of them just think they are the best in the community and don't have time for stuff like NEB

(25 Jun 2014, 3:35 pm)Dan Eesh! I have only seen you the once - this isn't fair!!

(25 Jun 2014, 3:42 pm)Marcus Once in CLS quite a while back, and a couple of times in Sunderland. Think I saw you in Gateshead as well once.

Where did you see me like?

(25 Jun 2014, 3:45 pm)Dan Was once in Chester and I think you were with your best mate Pat Armstrong!

I decided to go and get a drink from Poundland though!

(25 Jun 2014, 3:32 pm)Marcus Can't agree more. I'm also a bit of a loner - I've seen a few of you lot out and about (mainly Dan) but I've never really met anybody and hung around - although I am planning a few.

Also, 'enthusing' seems to be more of an American word

Some enthusiasts just don't care about others - most of them just think they are the best in the community and don't have time for stuff like NEB

(25 Jun 2014, 4:50 pm)aureolin I've only met very few. Bumped into Adam M a couple of times, and also Bazza. Met Dan briefly at the Stagecoach open day. Seen Gary Mitchellhill out and about a few times too.

(25 Jun 2014, 4:50 pm)aureolin I've only met very few. Bumped into Adam M a couple of times, and also Bazza. Met Dan briefly at the Stagecoach open day. Seen Gary Mitchellhill out and about a few times too.

(25 Jun 2014, 5:10 pm)Jimmi I'm really shy, I've never spoke to any enthusiasts when I've been out and about, but I have seen a few taking photos and noting down allocations.

(25 Jun 2014, 5:32 pm)aureolin You should get yourself to the Seaburn rally in August. There'll be a good handful from NEB I'd imagine.

(25 Jun 2014, 5:32 pm)aureolin You should get yourself to the Seaburn rally in August. There'll be a good handful from NEB I'd imagine.

(25 Jun 2014, 5:36 pm)Tom Shit - I always forget about that, and I went and booked a short weekend away in the Lake District over that weekend.

(25 Jun 2014, 5:40 pm)aureolin Shame. we were going to all go for a few after. first round on Andreos.