North East Buses

(23 Dec 2014, 10:36 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote [ -> ]Well....I do promise my mam and dad I'll be back before a certain time! , I suppose I can go out earlier, like.

Might walk into Chester for 09:30, and get the 09:40 #X25 over Gateshead way and see what I end up doing. Might try and get on an X43, hopefully an Olympian!

I didn't really have a plan for today, I just decided to go over to Sunderland see what I felt like doing - so I think I can do the same for Gateshead.

Just a warning that all the OAPS come out at 0930 so they can get on the bus for free, so it could be busy and possibly even worse tomorrow with Christmas eve shopping.

Also just ignore anyone giving you glares if you are taking photos.

A trip to South Shields turned into an adventure for prawns.

0801 #88 Scotch Estate - South Shields 8294
0915ish Metro South Shields - Central Station 4023
0944 Train Newcastle - Metrocentre 1420xx
1000 #S1 Metrocentre - ASDA 8266
1019 #97 MetroOasis - Metrocentre 826x
1030ish #10  Metrocentre - Eldon Square 6073
1055 #45 Haymarket - Regent Centre UNi'd Pulsar
1129 Metro Regent Centre - Brockley Whins 40xx

Did you find the prawns though?

(24 Dec 2014, 2:40 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Did you find the prawns though?

Yes.

My Plan for Tomorrow is as follows, A bit of Bus Spotting/Shopping and then off over my Dads Friends House for a House Party on the night, so quite an action packed day.

08:13 - 2C - Lambton to Sunderland - 08:41
09:20 - 9 - Sunderland to Jarrow - 09:55
10:29 - Metro - Jarrow to Heworth - 10:38
10:41 - 4 - Heworth to Washington Galleries - 11:00
11:18 - X1 - Washington Galleries to Newcastle - 11:51
12:30 - 10 - Newcastle to Intu MetroCentre - 12:44
**Dinner/Shopping Break**
14:25 - X66 - Intu MetroCentre to Gateshead - 14:35
14:40 - 21 - Gateshead to Low Fell - 14:50

Left the house at 10:20, and got to Front Street for 10:45. Got a drink from a newsagents and headed over to the 50.

#50 - Chester-le-Street Front Street to Washington, The Galleries - (10:49 --- 11:06) - 4926 - Scania L94UA/Wright Solar
--- Very smooth, with a nice friendly driver. I hadn't been on any of the 4926-31 batch in a while, so it made a nice change. Would have preferred 4934 or 4935 though, as I've yet to ride either. ---

Hovered around the bus station for a short while, and noticed 6055 pull in on the X1 (Newcastle-bound), absolutely packed. I was contemplating waiting for another X1 to come, and I was lucky as 6050 appeared behind, with about half a dozen people on. The huge queue abandoned 6055 for 6050 - me being one of them.

#X1 - Washington, The Galleries to Gateshead Transport Interchange - (11:13 --- 11:38) - 6050
- Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2
--- Nice and quiet when we left, about twelve seats free downstairs and around the same upstairs. However, when we got to Wrekenton, I'd say at least twenty people got on. When we got to Gateshead, I hopped off. Overall I was pleased, as I rarely use the X1, and may start doing so ---

#49 - Gateshead Transport Interchange to intu MetroCentre Interchange - (11:46 --- 12:10) - 5282 - Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro
--- Only about ten people on, so nice and peaceful in contrast to my ride on 6050. Enjoyed it. ---

Went up to the WHSmiths located just outside the bus station at the MetroCentre, and got my mam a copy of Women's Own, and my dad the first football mag I saw.

#X43 - intu MetroCentre Interchange to Stanley Bus Station - (12:35 --- 13:01) - 4904 - Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown
--- I absolutely love the route of the X43 - dare I say one of the most beautiful routes GNE operate? Slightly irritated that it wasn't an Olympian, as when we got to Stanley I saw all but one of their Olys parked up doing nothing. Nonetheless, it was a nice journey, and another B10BLE ticked off my list. ---

#8 - Stanley Bus Station to Chester-le-Street South Burns - (13:11 --- 13:36) - 4855 - Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown
--- I was absolutely thrilled to see a green vehicle coming into the bus station at 13:09. When I realised it was on a Sunderland-bound #8, I felt my legs go. Loved every second of the quiet ride. Only about 7 or 8 people throughout the whole of the journey. ---

#21 - Chester-le-Street South Burns to Chester-le-Street Clifford Terrace - (13:54 --- 13:57) - 6065 - Volvo B5HL/Wright Gemini 2
--- So relieved when this showed up - I had a t-shirt, a hoody and a superdry coat on yet I was still freezing. Made a decent journey. Not much you can say about it. ---

Overall, I'd give the day 7/10. I copped 2 B10BLEs, rare workings on the 50 and X43, and managed another journey on the X1. No Olympian on the X43 and Tom not showing up lost it 3 points.

Marcus

After failing to get a Yellow Bus Olympian the other week, I will be having another attempt tomorrow - this time I think I will get the X22 to the MetroCentre and hang round there for a bit and get a few photos and then head to Newcastle for some time for some photos and possibly hang around until I see one and then see where the day takes me.

Which services do you think I will be most likely to see a Yellow Bus?

After failing to get a Yellow Bus Olympian the other week, I will be having another attempt tomorrow - this time I think I will get the X22 to the MetroCentre and hang round there for a bit and get a few photos and then head to Newcastle for some time for some photos and possibly hang around until I see one and then see where the day takes me.

Which services do you think I will be most likely to see a Yellow Bus?

I'm going to try and get on a Yellow Bus, too! Desperate for one more ride.

The X30/X31 seems to get quite a few. So does the X70/X71, but judging by rare and odd workings reports I'd say the X30/X31 would be the best bet. The X43 too, but it was 4904 on Saturday!

Maybe the 15, too. But I would think the 3 Volvo B7s will be on, more likely than an Olympian.

Might do....

#8 - Chester to Stanley
(09:45 --- 10:12)
#X30 - Stanley to Gateshead
(10:30 --- 11:00)
#X66 - Gateshead to MetroCentre
(11:06 --- 11:16)
#X43 - MetroCentre to Stanley
(11:30 --- 12:00)
Lunch & Photos Break
#X30 - Stanley to Gateshead
(12:30 --- 13:00)
#21 - Gateshead to Home
(13:09 --- 13:49)

(29 Dec 2014, 5:13 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote [ -> ]After failing to get a Yellow Bus Olympian the other week, I will be having another attempt tomorrow - this time I think I will get the X22 to the MetroCentre and hang round there for a bit and get a few photos and then head to Newcastle for some time for some photos and possibly hang around until I see one and then see where the day takes me.

Which services do you think I will be most likely to see a Yellow Bus?

I'm going to try and get on a Yellow Bus, too! Desperate for one more ride.

The X30/X31 seems to get quite a few. So does the X70/X71, but judging by rare and odd workings reports I'd say the X30/X31 would be the best bet. The X43 too, but it was 4904 on Saturday!

Maybe the 15, too. But I would think the 3 Volvo B7s will be on, more likely than an Olympian.

Might do....

#8 - Chester to Stanley
(09:45 --- 10:12)
#X30 - Stanley to Gateshead
(10:30 --- 11:00)
#X66 - Gateshead to MetroCentre
(11:06 --- 11:16)
#X43 - MetroCentre to Stanley
(11:30 --- 12:00)
Lunch & Photos Break
#X30 - Stanley to Gateshead
(12:30 --- 13:00)
#21 - Gateshead to Home
(13:09 --- 13:49)

The X43 was a President today.

I think it may be a struggle during the school holidays, as not many vehicles are required on the road. You'd expect that the Olympians wouldn't go out for anything other than a very last resort.

(29 Dec 2014, 5:23 pm)aureolin wrote [ -> ]I think it may be a struggle during the school holidays, as not many vehicles are required on the road. You'd expect that the Olympians wouldn't go out for anything other than a very last resort.

That's what should happen but of course it probably won't so hence why I will attempt this trip tomorrow and probably attempt it again during term time at some point soon.

Today's Explorer trip - my first proper trip since October

0750 Stillington to Stockton Leven Valley 84 SN05HDF
0836 Stockton to Darlington Arriva X66 4650
0940 Darlington to Richmond Arriva X26 4644
1146 Richmond to Darlington Arriva X27 4646
1252 Darlington to Durham Arriva 7 1520
1500 Durham to Hartlepool Victoria Road Arriva 57a 7435
1632 Hartlepool York Road Ramp to Stockton Stagecoach 36 27174
1820 Stockton to Stillington Leven Valley 84 SN05HDF

I was out on a Day Rover today. It was a bit of a pain in the arse for photos, as the sun was really low. I tried to get a few photos of MAX services, but didn't have much luck when it came to Omnicities, and it was a bit of an Arriva mismatch in general. Everything allocated anywhere.

83 - Biddick to Galleries (GNE)
X1 - Galleries to Newcastle (GNE)
44 - Haymarket to Regent Centre (ANE)
X10 - Regent Centre to Haymarket (ANE)
310 - Haymarket to North Shields (GNE)
310 - North Shields to Haymarket (GNE)
56 - Newcastle to Concord (GNE)
4 - Concord to Galleries (GNE)
2A - Galleries to Biddick (GNE)

I'm going to try and use up the GNE ticket I have tomorrow, and do something similar to this:

4 - Biddick to Heworth (GNE)
X10 - Heworth to Stockton (GNE)
X7 - Stockton to Peterlee (GNE)
X35 - Peterlee to Houghton (GNE)

I plan to try and get some photo of the Prince Bishops Solars on route, so will probably work my way down towards The Raintons, and then back up to Sunderland.

(29 Dec 2014, 10:26 pm)aureolin wrote [ -> ]I was out on a Day Rover today. It was a bit of a pain in the arse for photos, as the sun was really low. I tried to get a few photos of MAX services, but didn't have much luck when it came to Omnicities, and it was a bit of an Arriva mismatch in general. Everything allocated anywhere.

Think I was on 7501 when you photographed it, any idea what time you took the photo?

(29 Dec 2014, 10:35 pm)mb134 wrote [ -> ]Think I was on 7501 when you photographed it, any idea what time you took the photo?

I'd say half 11ish?

(29 Dec 2014, 10:40 pm)aureolin wrote [ -> ]I'd say half 11ish?

Aye sounds about right,  don't know how I didn't see you like! Always look at that corner when going through there

Cant remember the times

265 Murton-Gilesgate
20A Gilesgate-Durham
6 Durham-Bishop Asda
Tesco Free Bus-Tesco Tindale Crescent
6 Tindale Crescent-Durham
265 Durham-Murton

0843 7 Newton Aycliffe - Durham (ANE 1522)
0934 X22 Durham - MetroCentre (GNE 6016)
1223 43 MetroCentre - Stanley (GNE 3825) Was around 10 minutes late.
1329 X30 Stanley - Newcastle (GNE 5253)
1550 X2 Newcastle - Durham (ANE 7618)
1652 7 Durham - Newton Aycliffe (ANE 1519)

Managed to get out and about in the run up and throughout the Christmas period.

Rather than mention the ins and outs of each trip, will just mention certain parts.

Got a run out on the X15 and X18. Bad back by the end of the two trips and couldn't get WiFi working. Both were E400's and the engine (sorry Davey Bowyer), the engine seemed fine on both rural sections and the A1.

Had a canny wait for the X1 on one trip. Turned up after waiting 30mins and got into Gateshead 15mins longer than the timetables duration. Standing throughout downstairs saloon and on the stairs. Didn't see how busy upstairs was.

Got a ride of 4921 (will have to check 100% to confirm - but was an un-refurbished Renown). Cracking little bus, with only a screech from the back once or twice and no rattle at all from the fixtures or fittings.

Used the 4 a few times, with mixed results. Long waits at times, crowded vehicles at times too. Had one which turned up dead on time, but got me to where I wanted to be, approx 10mins late - due to passenger loads. Traffic wasn't bad at all, but everyone seemingly wanted to be on this bus.
This included sections of route shared with other services between Fatfield and the Galleries.

Used one of the new late 4's from Heworth. Saw a handful of people jump on the previous 82/83. But by the time the 4 came, a similar number of people were waiting.
Loads were decent, with people boarding en route and not just disembarking - including the section beyond Fallowfield Way, into Penshaw and Shiney.

Had long waits and several examples of standing (as per usual) the 20's.

Was meant to be back by 3:30, but couldn't resist a ride on 3832 to Rowlands Gill.

#17 1114 Home to Cramlington 1215 - GNE 6025
#X11 1225 Cramlington to Haymarket 1225 - ANE 7611
#10 1305 Eldon Square to Metrocentre 1325 - GNE 60??
#43 1401 Metrocentre to Stanley 1445 - GNE 5338
#X43 1500 Stanley to Metrocentre 1525 - GNE 3830
#46 1530 Metrocentre to Rowlands Gill - GNE 3832