Bus Related Outings and Reviews
Bus Related Outings and Reviews
(15 Jan 2016, 10:21 pm)S813 FVK Well, I wouldn't advise him to spend a few hours there! Only a bus every 30 minutes haha (service 8).
(15 Jan 2016, 10:31 pm)Davie That'll be a fun day out...
(15 Jan 2016, 10:21 pm)S813 FVK Well, I wouldn't advise him to spend a few hours there! Only a bus every 30 minutes haha (service 8).
(15 Jan 2016, 10:31 pm)Davie That'll be a fun day out...
In addition to heading to Middlesbrough for the new Croft Coach Travel service 30 tomorrow, I will quickly swing by Stockton for a few photos on the way to Middlesbrough, I will then head along to Hartlepool which I haven't been to in a while.
(17 Jan 2016, 3:07 pm)Jimmi In addition to heading to Middlesbrough for the new Croft Coach Travel service 30 tomorrow, I will quickly swing by Stockton for a few photos on the way to Middlesbrough, I will then head along to Hartlepool which I haven't been to in a while.
(17 Jan 2016, 3:07 pm)Jimmi In addition to heading to Middlesbrough for the new Croft Coach Travel service 30 tomorrow, I will quickly swing by Stockton for a few photos on the way to Middlesbrough, I will then head along to Hartlepool which I haven't been to in a while.
(17 Jan 2016, 6:34 pm)Kuyoyo Likewise out for the 30 tomorrow, but to disappoint some people, I'm thinking outside the box as to where to photograph it.
(17 Jan 2016, 6:34 pm)Kuyoyo Likewise out for the 30 tomorrow, but to disappoint some people, I'm thinking outside the box as to where to photograph it.
(17 Jan 2016, 6:39 pm)Jimmi For Middlesbrough, anywhere out of the bus station is thinking outside the box in fairness.
(17 Jan 2016, 6:40 pm)MurdnunoC Don't think it serves the bus station to be fair.
![[Image: 7617568188_b4a13c1058_c.jpg]](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/7617568188_b4a13c1058_c.jpg)
Arriva North East 1441 (NK10 CFD) by Tony Kuy, on Flickr
(17 Jan 2016, 6:39 pm)Jimmi For Middlesbrough, anywhere out of the bus station is thinking outside the box in fairness.
(17 Jan 2016, 6:40 pm)MurdnunoC Don't think it serves the bus station to be fair.
Arriva North East 1441 (NK10 CFD) by Tony Kuy, on Flickr
(17 Jan 2016, 6:40 pm)MurdnunoC Don't think it serves the bus station to be fair.It doesn't, terminus is Middlesbrough Town Hall. I'm often guilty of only using the bus station but I do try and do the odd other bit of Middlesbrough every now and again, I quite like this photo I got near the cinema recently: https://flic.kr/p/AxQ7w7
(17 Jan 2016, 6:40 pm)MurdnunoC Don't think it serves the bus station to be fair.It doesn't, terminus is Middlesbrough Town Hall. I'm often guilty of only using the bus station but I do try and do the odd other bit of Middlesbrough every now and again, I quite like this photo I got near the cinema recently: https://flic.kr/p/AxQ7w7
Next weekend I'll be in Manchester and hope to get a few photos whilst I'm there. I will also be getting photos in Northallerton, Ripon and Richmond which I have done a few times although I will also be making my first trip to Harrogate on Transdev's 36 service to/from Ripon.
Here's some photos from my previous trip to Manchester back in March last year.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...0888727948
(17 Jan 2016, 7:18 pm)Jimmi Next weekend I'll be in Manchester and hope to get a few photos whilst I'm there. I will also be getting photos in Northallerton, Ripon and Richmond which I have done a few times although I will also be making my first trip to Harrogate on Transdev's 36 service to/from Ripon.
Here's some photos from my previous trip to Manchester back in March last year.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...0888727948
We used to catch the 131, IIRC. Mid 70s.
(17 Jan 2016, 7:18 pm)Jimmi Next weekend I'll be in Manchester and hope to get a few photos whilst I'm there. I will also be getting photos in Northallerton, Ripon and Richmond which I have done a few times although I will also be making my first trip to Harrogate on Transdev's 36 service to/from Ripon.
Here's some photos from my previous trip to Manchester back in March last year.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...0888727948
We used to catch the 131, IIRC. Mid 70s.
Well, today's didn't go so well. Got off to a mixed start as the 5A was over 10 minutes although it chucked up an usual working in the form of 21/X21 branded EcoCity 4814, annoyingly though I rode it into Darlington Town Centre in the hope of getting a photo of it there but unfortunately when I got off it had 'Not In Service' on the screen. In Middlesbrough things just went wrong completely, failed to snap more odd workings plus other things I wanted. Once I got to Middlesbrough I suddenly started to feel totally crap, my head has been feeling strange since around 11am and I think the cold weather is only making me feel worse. Saw Scott Cooper (tyresmoke) whilst I was in Middlesbrough Bus Station this morning as well. Because of me feeling not 100% I sacked off the original plan of heading to Hartlepool, so that's now going to have to wait for another day although there is no reason to hurry there though.
I'll try to provide a review for my outing to Ripon and Harrogate next Monday as I'm unsure if there will be another one before then.
(18 Jan 2016, 1:40 pm)Jimmi Well, today's didn't go so well. Got off to a mixed start as the 5A was over 10 minutes although it chucked up an usual working in the form of 21/X21 branded EcoCity 4814, annoyingly though I rode it into Darlington Town Centre in the hope of getting a photo of it there but unfortunately when I got off it had 'Not In Service' on the screen. In Middlesbrough things just went wrong completely, failed to snap more odd workings plus other things I wanted. Once I got to Middlesbrough I suddenly started to feel totally crap, my head has been feeling strange since around 11am and I think the cold weather is only making me feel worse. Saw Scott Cooper (tyresmoke) whilst I was in Middlesbrough Bus Station this morning as well. Because of me feeling not 100% I sacked off the original plan of heading to Hartlepool, so that's now going to have to wait for another day although there is no reason to hurry there though.
I'll try to provide a review for my outing to Ripon and Harrogate next Monday as I'm unsure if there will be another one before then.
(18 Jan 2016, 1:40 pm)Jimmi Well, today's didn't go so well. Got off to a mixed start as the 5A was over 10 minutes although it chucked up an usual working in the form of 21/X21 branded EcoCity 4814, annoyingly though I rode it into Darlington Town Centre in the hope of getting a photo of it there but unfortunately when I got off it had 'Not In Service' on the screen. In Middlesbrough things just went wrong completely, failed to snap more odd workings plus other things I wanted. Once I got to Middlesbrough I suddenly started to feel totally crap, my head has been feeling strange since around 11am and I think the cold weather is only making me feel worse. Saw Scott Cooper (tyresmoke) whilst I was in Middlesbrough Bus Station this morning as well. Because of me feeling not 100% I sacked off the original plan of heading to Hartlepool, so that's now going to have to wait for another day although there is no reason to hurry there though.
I'll try to provide a review for my outing to Ripon and Harrogate next Monday as I'm unsure if there will be another one before then.
(18 Jan 2016, 9:01 pm)tyresmoke Sorry to make your day even worse hahah!Probably shouldn't have wrote that I saw you in the middle of a number of negatives that happened as looking back it sounds like it was another bad thing that happened
(18 Jan 2016, 9:01 pm)tyresmoke Sorry to make your day even worse hahah!Probably shouldn't have wrote that I saw you in the middle of a number of negatives that happened as looking back it sounds like it was another bad thing that happened
Review of today's outing.
0749 7 Newton Aycliffe - Darlington (ANE 7535)
0900 72 Darlington - Northallerton (Dales & District: T25 SVN)
1015 70 Northallerton - Ripon (Dales & District: YJ64 DXL)
1140 36 Ripon - Harrogate (Transdev Harrogate & District: 36??)
1330 36 Harrogate - Ripon (Transdev Harrogate & District: 3619)
1455 159 Ripon - Richmond (Dales & District: YJ60 LTZ)
1625 29 Richmond - Darlington (Dales & District: MP52 PZB)
1705 5 Darlington - Newton Aycliffe (ANE 1506)
Started off on 7535 on service 7 which was pretty busy, not helped by it running late. Annoyed that I walked for the 7 when I could have saved a walk by getting the 5A which got there just before the 7 did.
Last night I got a message from Alex Garwood asking if he could tag along with me today, and I said that was fine, with him meeting me in Darlington where we then got ex Leven Valley T25 SVN on the 72 which wasn't the best I'll be honest.
Next journey was another ex Leven Valley motor in the form of Solo SR YJ64 DXL which was being badly driven it has to be said, he was all over the road and nearly pulled out at a roundabout into oncoming traffic, so sharp braking was required there, was pleased to make it to Ripon alive.
Annoyingly in Ripon the driver of the 159 was the driver who I've had issues with before with him flicking the V's at us once again.
Then my first journey on one of Transdev's new Volvo B5TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3, quite liked the look of the interior although I couldn't seem to fold the trays out on the backs of the seats and they kept coming out at times. Don't know if it was the bus or just the driver but it seemed pretty slow. Eventually we got to Harrogate Bus Station and got stuck inside on the bus ages as we managed to catch up to the bus in front. Got photos where I got called something along the lines of f****** bus weirdos before making the return to Ripon where on this bus there appeared to be no WiFi although this journey seemed to go a bit faster than the journey to Harrogate.
After spending more time in Ripon getting a few photos we waited for our 159 to Richmond hoping that the driver who was on this morning wasn't going to be on, thankfully he wasn't and the fairly recently acquired Solo YJ60 LTZ operating this journey which made us both pretty happy as I don't believe either of us had ridden it and I don't believe Alex had a photo of it, on this journey we ended up sat with some old man having his own bus outing, he talked to Alex for pretty much the whole journey as I was sat in front of them and couldn't hear them for the engine.
Got the 29 back to Darlington, partly because it was the first bus heading there, MP52 PZB was allocated to this journey which made me quite happy, 29 is a canny route as it only takes around 40 minutes on most journeys which is not much longer than the X26/X27 takes and at times it can actually work out to be a faster journey.
Managed to just catch the 5 home with 1506 working the service. Pretty standard journey really.
Thanks for reading, I'm shattered after being out for three days. Heading to Sunderland on Wednesday which is my birthday then that bus tour from Newcastle on Saturday.
On Saturday I had my first proper spotting trip of 2016. I decided to visit independent operators that I had not been to before in the Sedgefield and Durham areas. My outing started just before 8.00 at the Canon, Low Fell. Here I caught surprisingly busy Gemini bodied Volvo GNE 6065 working the 21. This was a nice easy journey. I had to take this bus as the first X12 on a Saturday starts from Birtley. I got an upstairs seat and watched the Angel of the North grow larger as the sun rose. The journey passed quickly and I soon found myself standing at Birtley War Memorial.
After about 10 minutes wait, I was excited to see Arriva Trident 7521 appear working the 08.17 X12. This bus has been upgraded to Sapphire standard and carries branding for the number 6 service. The bus was empty and I was the first passenger of the day, buying an Arriva Day Ticket. I took the front seat above the driver, sat back and enjoyed the journey. One of other passenger got on at Birtley with me. The service picked up more people at Chester but was not more than 1/3 full by the time we arrived on time at Durham after a hearty thrash down the motorway section to Pity Me.
I was expecting to take the Trident to Sedgefield, but we had to change at Durham. The replacement was Wrightbus 7627. Again I was able to get the seat above the driver. We left on time and I enjoyed the impressive views of Durham Castle and Cathedral as the bus went over the Wear. A number of passengers had been picked up at Durham and the bus had a healthy load. More people boarded at Bowburn and Coxhoe and the bus was getting quite full. At Coxhoe we passed Talbots Transport yard which had 6 vehicles present, mainly Transits running on taxi plates.
We arrived at Sedgefield on time; it had been over 20 years since I last visited. I was surprised at the amount of new housing. The old secure hospital site at Winterton has now been mainly redeveloped into residential and industrial usage. At Sedgefield I looked round the village then made my way to Boynston Grove, the home of minibus operator Lancaster (Smiths of Sedgefield). Unfortunately no vehicles were present and the operator’s house was up for sale. I then walked to the community college. Here I found a single Peugot Boxer parked near the entrance. The minibus operates on a Section 19 Permit.
My next target was the village of Fishburn. I had 20 minutes to wait for the 21, so I decided to take a slow walk there instead. The morning was pleasant; on the way I passed the graveyard for former inmates of Winterton Hospital and had a quick look round. It did not take me long to reach Fishburn, passing remains of the hospital on the way. A Scarlet Band Optare was working a local service but I had an Arriva day ticket so I could not use it.
I’d never visited Fishburn before; it’s a former colliery village with a modern housing development on the edge. My goal was Griersons Travel, and I found their garage just off the main road straight away. I entered the yard but there was no-one around. I did not wish to hang around uninvited so did not take any photos. Luckily a footpath runs around a large section of the yard perimeter. I was therefore able to spot most of the vehicles present. This yard was amazing, most operators get rid of their withdrawn stock but here old vehicles are just parked up in rows. It reminded me of Cochrane’s old White House Farm yard in the 1980s.
My favourite here was LHG447T a 1979 Bristol VRT parked right in the far corner. It used to be used as a school bus but has been extensively cannibalised. Also parked up were two Alexander bodied Atlanteans dating from around 1980 and a Plaxton bodied Volvo B58 dating from 1974. Most of the vehicles still in use were Volvo coaches but there were also some deckers which looked like Leyland Olympians. I counted over 20 withdrawn vehicles of various types parked up. I’m going to try and visit this garage again on a weekday in the hope of getting some photos.
Next a short walk guided by my A to Z brought me to Wayne Taxis Limited. This operator had Ford Transit and Mercedes minibuses parked up near it’s licensed address. Waynes is owned by a branch of the Crake family. Next I visited Tarn Taxis who have a restricted o-licence, there were a number of non-psv Ducatos and Vivaros parked up. Two members of the Tarn Family hold o-licences but both use the fleetname Tarn Taxis.
I made my way back to the main street at Fishburn and did not have to wait long for the 10.32 21A. This was operated by Wright bodied VDL 1422 which was about a quarter full. I took a short journey on this to Trimdon which passed without incident. I alighted and set off in search of Maurice Minibuses. This firm is owned by another member of the Crake family. Unfortunately there were no vehicles at the address I had for them. Faced with waiting half an hour for my next bus, I decided to walk down the bank to Trimdon Grange. Here I passed the former premises of Trimdon Motor Services (TMS), a major local player in late 1980s post-deregulation era. I remember spotting their blue and white vehicles (mainly Bristol LHs) on Tyneside, Teesside and also in Durham. My favourite memory of TMS was being allowed to wander around their old Saltmeadows depot whilst photographing dozens of LHs in various states of repair. The Trimdon yard is now a small industrial estate.
I located the registered operating centre of Tarns Taxis at Trimdon Grange, but this was locked up. So I took a walk along the adjacent old railway line to Trimdon Colliery. The pit here closed a long time ago and the site is now a recreation ground. I walked over this and visited the premises of Elliotts. This minibus operator had 5 vehicles present, 3 of which were PSVs. I had not spotted any of their vehicles before, so this was a good find. Most of the fleet was Mercedes but a Transit was also present. I walked back to the main road at Trimdon Colliery where a few people were waiting at the bus stop. The 57A was due shortly and I resolved to take this service back into Durham.
This bus arrived slightly late at 11.30 being due at 11.23. It was operated by Optare 2838. The bus picked up passengers throughout the journey and was standing room only by the time we reached Bowburn. The trip into Durham was brisk and I had some huge guy sitting next to me. Luckily I had a window seat near the back. The views between Trimdon and Coxhoe were good. The playing fields at Shincliff looked really busy with students playing football when we passed. At Durham I alighted near the library on the bridge over the Wear. I decided to get some lunch and checked my emails in the reference library. I then caught Dart 1321 on the 64 to Gilesgate at the stop close to the library.
This was a busy bus which got busier at Gilesgate. Everyone getting on seemed to have a baby or small children. Luckily the journey did not last long. On the way I spotted Durham Shopmobility’s sole vehicle, an Iveco parked up near the old comprehensive school. At Gilesgate I visited the premises of Nicholson (North East Coachways). I was able to get some decent photos outside the depot. The garage door was open so I was also able to spot most of the vehicles inside. A recent acquisition is S602ACT a Mercedes minibus named Lucy. After this depot visit I walked back to the nearby Tesco and waited for my next bus.
This was another Dart, 1324 working the 13.19 64 to Arnison Centre. I took this back into Durham and alighted opposite the bus station. Entering the bus station I spied East Lancs bodied VDL 7455 about to depart to New Brancpeth on the 48. After forcing my way through the usual throng of people, I just made it as the doors were about to close. I took this beast for the steep climb to Bearpark. I had the seat above the rather miserable driver so was able to get a good view of the lovely scenery. I spotted what I could in the bus station on the way out. Next it was a good bit of rural thrash up to Bearpark and then down the gradient to Ushaw Moor. We passed the premises of restricted o-licence holder Durham Careline Limited at Bearpark but no vehicles were present. I got off this bus near the cross-roads at Ushaw Moor. Here I paid a quick visit to Murray (A Murray Travel) who operates two 16 seat Ford Transits. These were parked up by the operator’s residence. I had not visited this operator before so this was another good find.
A brisk walk brought me back to the cross-roads, where I could see the 43 approaching in the distance. I ran to the nearest stop only to be confronted with an out of use sign. B*ll*cks I thought as the bus turned the corner and started to ascend the bank up to Bearpark. Luckily it stopped to let an old guy off who took his time. I belted round the corner caught it within a whisker. The bus was East Lances bodied DAF 7444 working the 14.23 service. I went upstairs and was able to get the front seat. Opposite me was probably the most miserable looking Gothette I had ever seen. She would have caused a saucer of milk to curdle at twenty paces. I just looked out the window and watched the scenery all the way back into Durham.
On returning to Durham, I was confronted by a crowd of over twenty miserable looking Gothettes. It must have been some form of convention! Groaning at the prospect of being stuck in the bus station with them, I decided to take a trip upto Framwellgate. I wanted to visit the premises of Durham Agency Against Crime Limited. This Section 19 Permit holder operates two minibuses using the fleetname EDDY Youth Bus. I had not visited their premises before. My ride was busy Dart 1321 again working 14.57 64 services, she was full of people returning home after an afternoon’s shopping. I was not on the bus for long and we soon arrived at Framwellgate. I found the EDDY garage with little difficulty and both vehicles were parked up in the yard. This was a new operator for me and I was pleased to spot their vehicles. I did not have to wait long for a bus back into Durham, Dart 1327 working the 15.12 64 which was also rather busy. We had a nice slow decent into Durham and I admired the Cathedral and railway viaduct.
At Durham I decided to walk up to the railway station to photograph rail replacements. I was greeted with vehicles from Jim Hughes, Glen Valley, Enterprise and Garnetts which I got some cracking photos of. Also present were minibuses from Talbots and Holmes (D & S Minibuses) dropping off groups heading to Newcastle for a night’s drinking. I was pleased to spot Holmes’ Sprinter as I’d not seen this owner-operator before. I then spent a bit of time at Durham roundabout spotting and getting photos. Luckily the Gothettes had dispersed and it was just the usual semi-drunk chavs with Staffies sitting at the tables. Some random kid offered to sell me a bike but I declined. Spotted was GNE Dart 571 working the X21 to Bishop, it was crammed.
At 15.50 I caught my last bus of the day which was Wrightbus 7627 (for the second time) working the X12. I took this for a thrash all the way back to Low Fell and alighted at the Cannon. This bus was also quite busy with shoppers returning home. The journey passed rather quickly and I watched the sunset. It had been a good day, the only operator I had visited previously was Nicholson, and this was my second visit to his premises. I’m definitely going to try and get to Fishburn again soon. The only change I would have made to the day was to take the bus from Fishburn straight to Trimdon Colliery. Saturday coming I’m hoping to go on the bus tour from Newcastle which is visiting Tyne Valley Coaches and Tourmaster garages amongst others. Hope to see you there.
Thanks for reading.
Charles
I currently live in Stoke-on-Trent (ex Hartlepool and Manchester) and today decided for a ride out on local indipendant's new venture the c84 from Crewe to Chester expecting to catch ex GNE trident 3060 they acquired for the service.
Image my surprise and delight when Leyland Olympian H119 SAO turned up for the thrash through the Cheshire countryside! At the grand age of 26 years this bus is superb! Not a single rattle from the Alexander bodywork and has enough power to keep up with the stream of traffic on the country lanes.
The vehicle is operated by Routemaster Buses of Natwich who I much admire. Their splendid green livery fits in well in the rural environment. The driver is very pleasant, bus is immaculately kept and running on time. It's great to see a good number of passengers using this commercial service too. My ticket is a company branded piece of card which the driver hand writes 'day saver 1/2/16 £5' and signs. He seems to do the same for concessions passes too. It summarises the classic idea of the indipendant; smart buses, community oriented routes and excellent customer service with a personal touch.
It's not often I now get to ride a vehicle older than me these days, does anybody else know of any other Leylands still earning their keep in regular stagecarraige work?
Well today i had a realy good day out making a movie for the first time of mpds and renowns
0947 x36 562 faber road to red house
1000 99 564 red house to southwick
1012 56 6098 southwick to concord
1038 86 570 concord to washington
1053 2a 8323 Washington to barnwell
1117 238 635 barnwell to shiney row
1134 x1 6006 shiney row to middle herrington
1140 38 565 middle herrington to east herrington
1147 4 39706 east herrington to vine place
1208 metro 4081 park lane to seaburn
1223 99 564 seaburn metro to faber road
1313 x36 562 faber road to john street
1325 e2 36468 john street to park lane
1347 61 4924 park lane to ryhope road
1402 x21 4814 ryhope road to park lane
1423 36 4905 park lane to stadium way
1439 4 36085 stadium way to faber road
Today i rode 4 different mpds
An excellent experience today
Thanks for reading
6th February 2016
Tickets:- [Bus] Free promotional voucher (Arriva All Zones) £0.00 / [Rail] Under-16 Anytime Single 1st £4.95 / [Metro] Adult Zone A Single £1.70
0946 #X20 Ashington - Newcastle | Arriva Northumbria ADL ALX400/Volvo B7TL 7446
1030 #X11 Newcastle - Cramlington | Arriva Northumbria Wright Eclipse Gemini 2DL/VDL DB300 7625
1158 #X10 Cramlington - Newcastle | Arriva Northumbria Wright Eclipse Gemini 2DL/VDL DB300 7625
1250 #X12 Newcastle - Middlesbrough | Arriva Durham County Wright Pulsar 2/VDL SB200 1442
1557 #X66 Middlesbrough - Darlington | Arriva Durham County Scania OmniCity CN94UB 4654
1707 #7 Darlington - Durham | Arriva Durham County ADL Enviro400/ADL Trident 2 7540
1832 1E48 Durham - Newcastle | Arriva CrossCountry Class 220 Voyager 220026
1850 Yellow Central Station - Haymarket | Tyne and Wear Metro MetroCar 4011
1915 #X22 Newcastle - Ashington | Arriva Northumbria ADL Enviro400/ADL Trident 2 7526
2016 #1 Ashington - Seaton Hirst | Arriva Northumbria Dennis MPD 1763
A good outing yesterday, Jimmi joined me between 1030 and 1830. I decided to test out my new Canon DSLR today, and it performs very well, with colours and objects at high speed.
I have another free voucher to use, so I'm hoping on visiting Hexham on the 85/685 on Saturday, and if I feel up to it, Carlisle. I might have a look around Hexham and take some photos hoping for a recently repainted MPD until the next 85/685 turns up.
Today, I'm bored so I'll be taking photos in various places around Ashington, hopefully getting photos of the interesting manoeuvres that the X22 will have to do tomorrow.
The photos from yesterday are now on my Flickr, click on the link in my signature.
Tommy
