Bus Related Outings and Reviews
Bus Related Outings and Reviews
I might as well sum up my day yesterday, and do something I've not done before, a bit of commentary on it....
0750 Stillington to Stockton Royal Oak Stagecarriage service 84 - E200 12 (YX14RZG)
Normal day, normal first bus of the day. A bit more rattlely that its sister but it gets me from a to b so I'm not fussed.
0843 Stockton Wellington Square to Newcastle Eldon Square Go North East 'Tyne Tees Express' X10 - B9TL 6048
Nice for a change for this to arrive in Stockton a few minutes before its due time, meaning it actually got to the stand before the 59 due off a minute after. Normal B9 run, and on-time all the way.
1000 Newcastle Haymarket to Blyth Arriva 'MAX' X10 - DB300/Gemini 7608
As I walked up from Eldon Square into Haymarket, one of the newly refurbished Geminis departed for Blyth on one of the Quroum runs, so naturally I was on the first bus to Blyth in pursuit. Thankfully I manage to get the X10 as it doesn't seem to take as long compared to the X11 due to the route in Cramlington (even the route around Newsham doesn't seem as long as the X11 route around Northburn). Arrived in Blyth for the first time since the changes to find the respective Gemini (7602) sat outside the library.
1135 Blyth to Cramlington Manor Walk Shopping Centre Arriva service X9 - Pulsar 1504
After a walk to the front doors of the depot and a few photos, it was time to sample a refurbished Pulsar to sample Thorntons' latest work. Originally intending to go back to Regent Centre, I ended up bailing in Cramlington after passing the other Gemini (7601) at South Beach on a late X7. Bar getting a photo of the other refurbished Pulsar and the Dart on the 58, it ended up being a wasted trip as, Blyth being Blyth, their spare bus was sent out to replace 7601.
1228 Cramlington Manor Walk Shopping Centre to Newcastle Haymarket [b]Arriva 'MAX' X11 - DB300/Gemini 7611[/b]
Another Gemini. This one didn't seem as quick off the mark as 7608 but it still got me into Newcastle on time.
1400 Newcastle Eldon Square to Stockton Church Road [b]Go North East 'Tyne Tees Express' X10 - B9TL 6043[/b]
A text and a phone call off a mate during an hour photoing in Newcastle saw me heading back to Teesside on the next X10 to get some loan Darts. Only one way to describe this journey - roasting!
1521 Stockton to Yarm Medical Centre Arriva Service 7 - Solo 2826
Meeting my mate off a 36 and a quick trip, we ended up on a slightly late running 7 and one of the more reliable Solos at Stockton. The aim was to photo the two Darts then catch at least one of them back. They both ended up going up to Willey Flatts together, so we waited to see which one turned up first...
1627 Yarm Medical Pratice to Stockton Castlegate Centre Arriva Service 7 - Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 1303
And 1303 turned up first. Good to get to see first hand how tight it was getting this round the Bridge Road diversion.
1653 Stockton Castlegate Centre to Yarm Bridge Street Arriva Service 7 - Dart SLF/Alexander ALX200 1105
And because we ended up on 1303, we ended up heading back to Yarm. Mainly because one of us (I.e. Me) fluffed photos of the 17s and 1105. Because it was post 1600, the 7 runs on a reduced frequency so this was quite busy. Bailed on Bridge Street to get photos and wait for the 17s.
1724 Yarm Bridge Street to Yarm Spitalfields Arriva Service 17s - Solo 2805
1759 Yarm Spitalfields to Yarm Bridge Street [b]Arriva Service 17s - Solo 2805[/b]
Included these together, as they were basically there and back. Both knowing the lad doing the shuttle, we hoped on to the other end to find out where it had been sitting all day and having a chat (discovering it changed its terminal point due to traffic on its first trip). Photos at dusk in somewhere you don't normally see a Solo or two 17s together.
1803 Yarm Bridge Street to Stockton opposite Castlegate Centre Arriva Service 7 - Solo 2826
Same Solo as earlier after the decision was taken to get back to Stockton rather than waiting for 1105 to work the first 7A into the town.
Upon arrival in town, my mate returned home while I hung around for a while longer (as well as getting some tea). The disappearing Stagecoach Staff Bus was interesting as well.
2122 Stockton Wellington Square to North Tees Hospital Stagecoach 'Connecting The Dots' 59 - E300 27157
Apart from 27249 working the last staff bus, the 'Dots' are radio-less so the older ones are now once again on evening 52s and 58/59/61s. A quiet journey with 8 passengers on from town, ending up with just 2 by Tithe Barn and even then I was the only person to travel the whole route.
