(02 May 2014, 6:46 am)Dan wrote 4911 will be going into corporate livery as far as I know, thereby removing another "brand" (if you want to call it a brand) from the network. Promotional liveries have really had their day it seems, and Go North East have gradually removed these from the fleet - quite often by directly withdrawing the vehicles (in the case of the DAFs). You'll notice that a number of 'pointless' brands are being removed from the network and these are being turned into corporate livery services (such as "South Tyne" 5, "Pulse" services 67/69, etc) - I believe this is done in mind to increase the overall quality of brands in the network.

5274 is getting freshened up, yes. It retained its "Red Kite" red base livery which is slightly different to the shade of red of Go North East's corporate livery. The others (5247-49) were all repainted in late 2012 if memory serves, so won't be due for repaint just yet.

(02 May 2014, 6:46 am)Dan wrote 4911 will be going into corporate livery as far as I know, thereby removing another "brand" (if you want to call it a brand) from the network. Promotional liveries have really had their day it seems, and Go North East have gradually removed these from the fleet - quite often by directly withdrawing the vehicles (in the case of the DAFs). You'll notice that a number of 'pointless' brands are being removed from the network and these are being turned into corporate livery services (such as "South Tyne" 5, "Pulse" services 67/69, etc) - I believe this is done in mind to increase the overall quality of brands in the network.

5274 is getting freshened up, yes. It retained its "Red Kite" red base livery which is slightly different to the shade of red of Go North East's corporate livery. The others (5247-49) were all repainted in late 2012 if memory serves, so won't be due for repaint just yet.

(02 May 2014, 11:57 am)Racer_Experience wrote 5274 used to be on the angel then was sent to Stanley as a spare for anything it was never a red kite anyhow change of subject heading to Hexham to see if 5210 is branded I will let you know if it's done or not could be on 688 or something I've only seen it on 2 routes 74 and 688 am glad 8228 has finally gone can I say it "HORAY NO MORE DARTS"

(02 May 2014, 11:57 am)Racer_Experience wrote 5274 used to be on the angel then was sent to Stanley as a spare for anything it was never a red kite anyhow change of subject heading to Hexham to see if 5210 is branded I will let you know if it's done or not could be on 688 or something I've only seen it on 2 routes 74 and 688 am glad 8228 has finally gone can I say it "HORAY NO MORE DARTS"

(02 May 2014, 12:10 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote "HORAY NO MORE DARTS" - Pretty sure there is quite a lot of Mini Pointer Darts left, which means there is still Darts, give it another Year or 2 and you can say that Bazza

(02 May 2014, 6:52 am)Michael wrote I agree, it wasn't really a brand, was just advertising, it's the same as 4847 for Beamish, which will probables go when the 128 ends.

(01 May 2014, 9:30 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Sounds like a plan!
Actually, nah - having seen some of the residents whilst they are wearing clothes...

Busman - Lumley it is then!

(02 May 2014, 3:14 pm)Robert wrote Also going back a bit to when the crash involving a Red 'Northern' decker at Leadgate/Iveston while operating Scholars service 822. The bus was 3886 and now carries a new front (obviously) which I have to say does stand out from the rest of the bus.

(02 May 2014, 4:54 pm)citaro5284 wrote When was this, as the only one I am aware of recently at Iveston was 3821, which caused it to be withdrawn?

(02 May 2014, 4:49 pm)busman101 wrote I hear the Popular Front have been out on car parking disruption duties again tonight - another bus stuck in Avenue Vivian according to the radio message overheard on the bus.

Not sure Lumley's much better really !!!

(02 May 2014, 4:54 pm)citaro5284 wrote When was this, as the only one I am aware of recently at Iveston was 3821, which caused it to be withdrawn?

(02 May 2014, 5:22 pm)Robert wrote This article tells us all about the accident: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/11117092.Car_driver_hurt_in_collision_with_double_decker_bus_near_Leadgate/?ref=rss

3821 couldn't have been the bus involved in this accident as the 822 runs onto the X's (X30/X31 in particular) so uses a Dennis Trident Plaxton President with the occational B7 Plaxton President or Lolyne been used so I can only assume that 3821 was withdrawn due to a separate incident that just happend to be in the same area.

(02 May 2014, 5:45 pm)citaro5284 wrote The incident the article mentions is the one with 3821. The vehicle was operating light to Consett from St Bedes when the RTA occurred.

(02 May 2014, 6:46 am)Dan wrote 5274 is getting freshened up, yes. It retained its "Red Kite" red base livery which is slightly different to the shade of red of Go North East's corporate livery. The others (5247-49) were all repainted in late 2012 if memory serves, so won't be due for repaint just yet.

(02 May 2014, 6:11 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote I would of thought with the Red Kite Omnicities being 8 Years Old, that the Repaint of 5274 would be an indicator of New Vehicles for the 45/46, because if one Vehicle was Painted Per Week it would take us to Mid/Late August, just in time for New Buses Arriving in say Early September, Although Last Year the First of the Former Metrolink now Waggonway/Northern Solars were not Repainted until June 2013, but with the South Tyne 5 Cadets and Driver Training Coaches also being Repainted, I suppose could put there Repaints back a few weeks.

(02 May 2014, 6:17 pm)Tom wrote The Red Kite will get upgraded if the Crusader receives the B5LH as rumoured. The Citaros would go onto the Red Kite, while the Red Kite Omnicities would go onto the 17. The remaining Citaros could then go onto the X70/X71, with the Omnicities transferring to Riverside for the Pulse services.

(02 May 2014, 6:40 pm)Robert wrote Or all could go to Percy Main as there would only be enough Omnicities to replace 5151-5158 and not 5159, 5165 and 5166. The 4 on the X70/X71 could go there allowing those 3 to be withdrawn plus a spare for the 9 and 17.

(02 May 2014, 6:45 pm)Tom wrote The 17 is operated by two Lolynes anyway. 5159 could be replaced, but not 5165 or 5166 -

5234 replaces 5151.
5235 replaces 5152.
5236 replaces 5153.
5237 replaces 5154.
5238 replaces 5155.
5239 replaces 5156.
5240 replaces 5157.
5241 replaces 5158.
5242 replaces 5159.

I'd imagine 5165 and 5166 would be replaced by cascaded Solars or B10BLE's.

(02 May 2014, 5:47 pm)Robert wrote The incident which happend on April 1st was heading towards St Bedes School on a Scholars service 822. As I said before the 822 uses a Northern branded decker as it then goes onto another service. Look at this quote for example: “The driver of the bus and passengers were unhurt.” If the bus was going to Consett light. Why would it have any passengers on it? Obviously suggests that it wasn't and as a student at that school I can quote what a student said when they walked in 'I missed the bus and it crashed'.

Either way, if it was 3821 that was involved (which I doubt) in this accident then 3886 has also been involved in a RTA where its front has had to be replaced completely.

(02 May 2014, 6:45 pm)Tom wrote The 17 is operated by two Lolynes anyway. 5159 could be replaced, but not 5165 or 5166 -

5234 replaces 5151.
5235 replaces 5152.
5236 replaces 5153.
5237 replaces 5154.
5238 replaces 5155.
5239 replaces 5156.
5240 replaces 5157.
5241 replaces 5158.
5242 replaces 5159.

I'd imagine 5165 and 5166 would be replaced by cascaded Solars or B10BLE's.

(02 May 2014, 7:02 pm)peter wrote How about:
5310-5319 get branded for the Red Kite displacing 5234-5242 to Percy Main (and a B10BLE at Stanley into disposal as a branded spare would be introduced). Then 5328-5330 and 5332 would go into standard fleet livery for use on the X70/X71 displacing 5250, 5253, 5254 and 5273 to Percy Main. At Percy Main 5151-5159 could then be withdrawn from service while 5165, 5166, 4911 and 4912 could then be displaced to Riverside allowing 5160-5163 to be withdrawn. Lastly, 4913 could transfer to Riverside either due to newer buses running from Percy Main, the loss of a spare vehicle or in return for a double-deck to allow Percy Main to become B10BLE free.

(02 May 2014, 7:07 pm)Marcus wrote But 5332 has just been branded for the Crusader in recent months, unless that brand is getting new buses this year (seems to get a lot of upgrades if you ask me). You seem to be forgetting 5337 and 5338, they could brand one of those instead of 5332 or brand them both?

(02 May 2014, 7:11 pm)citaro5284 wrote Marcus - have you not sorted out your PM's yet

(02 May 2014, 7:27 pm)Marcus wrote I've just been flicking through flickr and stumbled across this photo by Bazza;

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/14072667701/in/photostream/

I'm just wondering why about a dozen people are needed sitting down on a driver training run. Are they examiners, or instructors?

(02 May 2014, 7:27 pm)Marcus wrote I've just been flicking through flickr and stumbled across this photo by Bazza;

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/14072667701/in/photostream/

(02 May 2014, 7:37 pm)citaro5284 wrote Chances are they are route learning.