(30 Jan 2014, 8:36 pm)andreos1 wrote There is a long curve in the road as it comes down to the traffic lights from Heworth and it gives ample opportunity to get your photo right too if you are on the bridge.

I've worked derby day at Sunderland on the Park & Ride before and there wasn't any issues.

I went to Newcastle to see the convoy for the opposite fixture back in October... Was mainly Garnetts and Classic on that one
Couple of shots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61391443@N02/12035068813/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61391443@N02/12035000133/

(30 Jan 2014, 8:48 pm)tyresmoke wrote I've worked derby day at Sunderland on the Park & Ride before and there wasn't any issues.

I went to Newcastle to see the convoy for the opposite fixture back in October... Was mainly Garnetts and Classic on that one
Couple of shots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61391443@N02/12035068813/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61391443@N02/12035000133/

Was it very bad (the crowds etc.)

(30 Jan 2014, 8:50 pm)Tom wrote Was it very bad (the crowds etc.)

This was the departure from Newcastle... So they were basically trickling down and loading up slowly, they all went in one batch (police escort etc) so it was easy enough to photograph them all one by one as they were loading up and moving forwards

We stood outside the Stadium of Light when Carlisle visited recently too and got every coach as it was arriving, or majority of them!

(30 Jan 2014, 5:33 pm)Dan wrote Planning a big day trip out on Saturday - imagine it'll be one of my lovely 14-hour long days...
Might I see anyone? What are your plans if so? :p

Probably recovering from a massive hangover. Planning to go for a sesh in town with friends tomorrow night/Saturday morning. Knowing how early you're up and out Dan, you may see is staggering home

(30 Jan 2014, 10:03 pm)Adam wrote Probably recovering from a massive hangover. Planning to go for a sesh in town with friends tomorrow night/Saturday morning. Knowing how early you're up and out Dan, you may see is staggering home

I will end up being on the first 56 of the morning or something and have a group of drunken messes on my bus! Can guarantee that will happen!

(30 Jan 2014, 10:05 pm)Dan wrote I will end up being on the first 56 of the morning or something and have a group of drunken messes on my bus! Can guarantee that will happen!

haha. I'll try to act sober but I can't guarantee it

Will update through the day...

0711 #56: Stadium of Light to Gateshead (0801am) - GNE 6091
0828 #27: Sunderland Road to Heworth (0836am) - GNE 5223
0849 #X9: Heworth to Peterlee (0917am) - GNE 6044
0927 #X35 Peterlee to Hartlepool (0956am) - GNE 4973
1030 #X35 Hartlepool to Peterlee (1001am) - GNE 4954
1111 #X7 Peterlee to Stockton (1140am) - GNE 4924
1207 #X10 Stockton to Middlesbrough (1220pm) - GNE 6048
1300 (hmm...) X9 Middlesbrough to Gateshead (1410ish) - GNE 6044
X66 Gateshead to Metrocentre
49 Metrocentre to Winlaton
49A Winlaton to Metrocentre
1610 #X66 Metrocentre to Gateshead (1620pm) - GNE 5347
1626 #21 Gateshead to Chester-le-Street (1658pm) - GNE 6063

It'll just be a trip to Sunderland today, not be a big trip for me for a while (well, probably next month).

I was in Manchester over the weekend and purchased a Wayfarer ticket on Saturday, and a System One Day Saver on Sunday, in order to explore. Everything was done on the fly so no real thought or planning went into any of my journeys.

Saturday (Wayfarer)

42 from Fallowfield to Manchester
Tram from Manchester to Ashton under Lyne
Train from Ashton to Manchester Victoria
Tram from Victoria to Piccadilly
Train from Piccadilly to Warrington Bank Quay
Train from Warrington Central to Piccadilly
1 from Piccadilly to Piccadilly Gardens
143 from Piccadilly Gdns to Fallowfield
41 from Fallowfield to Piccadilly Gardens
Tram from Piccadilly Gdns to Piccadilly
Train from Piccadilly to Buxton
Train from Buxton to Piccadilly
Tram from Piccadilly to Piccadilly Gdns
43 from Piccadilly Gdns to Fallowfield

Sunday (System One Bus Day Saver)

X57 from Fallowfield to Piccadilly Gdns
135 from Piccadilly Gdns to Cheatham Hill
135 from Cheatham Hill to Piccadilly Gdns
X50 from Piccadilly Gdns to Trafford Centre
X50 from Trafford Centre to Piccadilly Gdns
42 from Piccadilly Gdns to Fallowfield
43 from Fallowfield to Wythenshawe
101 from Wythenshawe to Southern Cemetery
111 from Southern Cemetery to Piccadilly Gdns
143 from Piccadilly Gdns to Fallowfield

Planning a Little Trip for Next Month or Maybe a little bit Afterwards, once the Citaros enter Service on the X7 - (Journey Subject to Change)

7:43am - X1 - Washington Galleries to Houghton
8:16am - X35 - Houghton to Peterlee
9:17am - X9 - Peterlee to Middlesbrough
11:30am - X66 - Middlesbrough to Darlington
13:52pm - 7 - Darlington to Newton Aycliffe
15:11pm - 7 - Newton Aycliffe to Ferryhill Market Place
15:26pm - 7 - Ferryhill Market Place to Durham
15:58pm - 50 - Durham to Lambton

*Is there any Services that are Faster than the X66 from Middlesbrough to Darlington?

(05 Feb 2014, 5:22 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Planning a Little Trip for Next Month or Maybe a little bit Afterwards, once the Citaros enter Service on the X7 - (Journey Subject to Change)

7:43am - X1 - Washington Galleries to Houghton
8:16am - X35 - Houghton to Peterlee
9:17am - X9 - Peterlee to Middlesbrough
11:30am - X66 - Middlesbrough to Darlington
13:52pm - 7 - Darlington to Newton Aycliffe
15:11pm - 7 - Newton Aycliffe to Ferryhill Market Place
15:26pm - 7 - Ferryhill Market Place to Durham
15:58pm - 50 - Durham to Lambton

*Is there any Services that are Faster than the X66 from Middlesbrough to Darlington?

The X66 is the only service from Middlesbrough to Darlington, thats why the OK1 was good.

(05 Feb 2014, 5:22 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Planning a Little Trip for Next Month or Maybe a little bit Afterwards, once the Citaros enter Service on the X7 - (Journey Subject to Change)

7:43am - X1 - Washington Galleries to Houghton
8:16am - X35 - Houghton to Peterlee
9:17am - X9 - Peterlee to Middlesbrough
11:30am - X66 - Middlesbrough to Darlington
13:52pm - 7 - Darlington to Newton Aycliffe
15:11pm - 7 - Newton Aycliffe to Ferryhill Market Place
15:26pm - 7 - Ferryhill Market Place to Durham
15:58pm - 50 - Durham to Lambton

*Is there any Services that are Faster than the X66 from Middlesbrough to Darlington?

Only other option is the train that takes about 30 mins, but it's additional expense. Not really worth it for the time you'd save.

I'm going on a bus bash tomorrow with several photo stops included.

I'll be:
Around Eldon Square and Haymarket between 0820 and 0840,
Concord from 1150 to 1205,
Stanley from 1410 to 1425,
Metrocentre from 1515 to 1530 ish,
Gateshead from 1530 to 1545 ish.

If anyone fancies coming along.

Heading out towards Newcastle for the morning...will be heading back towards East Durham going through North and SouthTyneside or Washington, Houghton and Hetton

7:05 Murton-Sunderland Simplicity 8321
7:45 Sunderland-Monument Metro
5334 Haymarket-N.Shields 0842
5334 N.Shields-Battle Hill 0937
5337 Battle Hill-Heworth 1007
5367 Heworth-Concord 1126
6087 Concord-Park Lane 1144

Met Sean in The Toon early doors...now on our to gods country...back to civilisation

From yesterday...

0541 #56 Stadium of Light to Gateshead 0631 (GNE 6086)
0635 #49 Gateshead to Metrocentre 0655 (GNE 5272)
0716 #10 Metrocentre to Hexham 0812 (GNE 6076)
0848 #X85 Hexham to Newcastle 0933 (GNE 5231)
0940 #309 Newcastle to Blyth 1044 (GNE 6102)
1118 #309 Blyth to Cobalt Business Park 1158 (GNE 6101)
1222 #19 Cobalt Business Park to Ashington 1327 (GNE 5245)
1430 #19 Ashington to Cramlington 1505 (GNE 5244)
1533 #17 Cramlington to Wallsend 1624 (GNE 5155)
1643 #1 Wallsend to North Shields 1706 (GNE 5246)
1718 #1 North Shields to Gateshead 1813 (GNE 5266, with a changeover to GNE 5262 at Percy Main)
1820 #27 Gateshead to Heworth 1832 (GNE 5328)
1838 #4 Heworth to Concord 1851 (GNE 5358)

At this point, I was done.
My final journey, which was delayed by god knows how long, had a B9. It got me home later than I had planned, and I felt like crap.
Day was good until then!

(09 Feb 2014, 8:05 am)Dan wrote From yesterday...

0541 #56 Stadium of Light to Gateshead 0631 (GNE 6086)
0635 #49 Gateshead to Metrocentre 0655 (GNE 5272)
0716 #10 Metrocentre to Hexham 0812 (GNE 6076)
0848 #X85 Hexham to Newcastle 0933 (GNE 5231)
0940 #309 Newcastle to Blyth 1044 (GNE 6102)
1118 #309 Blyth to Cobalt Business Park 1158 (GNE 6101)
1222 #19 Cobalt Business Park to Ashington 1327 (GNE 5245)
1430 #19 Ashington to Cramlington 1505 (GNE 5244)
1533 #17 Cramlington to Wallsend 1624 (GNE 5155)
1643 #1 Wallsend to North Shields 1706 (GNE 5246)
1718 #1 North Shields to Gateshead 1813 (GNE 5266, with a changeover to GNE 5262 at Percy Main)
1820 #27 Gateshead to Heworth 1832 (GNE 5328)
1838 #4 Heworth to Concord 1851 (GNE 5358)

At this point, I was done.
My final journey, which was delayed by god knows how long, had a B9. It got me home later than I had planned, and I felt like crap.
Day was good until then!

Sounds like it would have been a good day!
I would have just gone to Washington on a 4/50 and changed onto a 2A/2C to save the hassle of the 56!

I'll probably go out next week to various spots to get a few shots of the Cobalts.

For my trip to Edinburgh I'm staying in a Premier Inn, does anyone know what they are like, sleep quality, breakfast etc.

(14 Feb 2014, 9:49 pm)Tom wrote For my trip to Edinburgh I'm staying in a Premier Inn, does anyone know what they are like, sleep quality, breakfast etc.

Stopped in quite a few. I think the beds are decent, nice and comfy and had no issues with the breakfast either. Best breakfast I had was at the one in Oxford (you had to go next door to the pub for it)

(14 Feb 2014, 10:40 pm)citaro5284 wrote Stopped in quite a few. I think the beds are decent, nice and comfy and had no issues with the breakfast either. Best breakfast I had was at the one in Oxford (you had to go next door to the pub for it)

Brilliant, breakfast does look promising like
In this one you just go down to the reception level and it's there. It doesn't stand out on Princes Street though, situated near New Look and hidden away

I went to Aberdeen on Wednesday. It was ok until it rained. Quite an interesting bus scene up there. Photographed the Platnium Geminis that First have. Also photoed some of the following vehicle types:

Volvo B10LA / Wright Fusion
ADL Enviro 350H
Volvo B9TL / ELC Olympus (in Stagecoach swoops)
Bluebird AARE

on 15/02/14 i for the first time came into the North East, mainly covered Darlington but i also covered Newcaste and the Metro Centre, more Details to follow in the morning!

(16 Feb 2014, 12:28 am)Y961 XBU wrote on 15/02/14 i for the first time came into the North East, mainly covered Darlington but i also covered Newcaste and the Metro Centre, more Details to follow in the morning!

A Blog Post will follow later today regarding my time in Darlington!

Had a fairly decent day out today while the sun was shining...

Stadium of Light Metro to South Hylton Metro (GNE 6100 - Service 901)
South Hylton Metro to Pallion Metro (GNE 3803 - Service 901)
Pallion Metro to Millfield (GNE 6016 - Service 901)
Millfield to Sunderland University (Walked)
University to Park Lane (GNE 8324? - Service 2C)
Park Lane to Wearmouth Bridge (Walked)
Wearmouth Bridge to Stagecoach Wheatsheaf depot (Walked)
Stagecoach Wheatsheaf depot to Stadium of Light Metro (Walked)

Took 52 photos, including those that I am going to archive for future release.

(16 Feb 2014, 1:58 pm)Dan wrote Had a fairly decent day out today while the sun was shining...

Stadium of Light Metro to South Hylton Metro (GNE 6100 - Service 901)
South Hylton Metro to Pallion Metro (GNE 3803 - Service 901)
Pallion Metro to Millfield (GNE 6016 - Service 901)
Millfield to Sunderland University (Walked)
University to Park Lane (GNE 8324? - Service 2C)
Park Lane to Wearmouth Bridge (Walked)
Wearmouth Bridge to Stagecoach Wheatsheaf depot (Walked)
Stagecoach Wheatsheaf depot to Stadium of Light Metro (Walked)

Took 52 photos, including those that I am going to archive for future release.

Going out tomorrow as my camera is ready to pick up (yay!) - Probably be Houghton/Hetton/Washington/Chester-le-Street areas.

My day out yesterday:
Chester le Street to Concord 50A GNE 5260.
Concord to Heworth M2 GNE 603.
Heworth to Jarrow 27 GNE 5315.
Jarrow to Fellgate 9 GNE 4912.
Fellgate to Jarrow 9 GNE 5254.
Jarrow to North Shields 9 GNE 4912.
North Shields to Whitley Bay 1 GNE 5261.
Whitley Bay to Newcastle 309 GNE 6110.
Newcastle to Chester le Street 21 GNE 6058.
Chester le Street to Waldridge Park 34A GNE 4959. (Same driver on the first and last bus of my day out).
A good day out for sightings of Metro replacements and some great sunshine at the coast for some GNE and Arrival photo shots.

yesterday:

metro to pelaw - refurb
wait 20 mins and then
4001 to south gosforth
4002 to regent centre
7621 to haymarket
10B to metro centre
22046 to freeman hosp
38 to whickham view
30 to fawdon terminus
walk to fawdon metro
4083 to airport and back to regent centre
33 to pilgrim street
27X to heworth
metro to jarrow - refurb
4962 to scotch estate

today:

metro to park lane - refurb
56 to gateshead
4941 to metro centre
train to newcastle
metro to monumet
metro to st james and back to north shields - 4084
310 to haymarket
metro to central
train to metrocentre
train to sunderland
45 mins at sunderland
metro to brockley whins

Went to Scarborough on the bus with my friends yesterday. Never again. Next time I'll take the train. Anyway, it went as follows:

07:25 GNE X1 Wrekenton - Gateshead (6051)
08:05 GNE X10 Gateshead - Middlesbrough (6048)
09:25 ANE X93 Middlesbrough - Scarborough (4651? (it was NK05 GXE)
16:45 ANE X93 Scarborough - Middlesbrough (same Omnicity)
19:10 GNE X9 (Middlesbrough - Gateshead) 6044
20:24 GNE 56 (Gateshead - Wrekenton) 6093?

How on earth do buses manage to get up those incredibly steep hills between Whitby and Scarborough? My Omnicity literally crawled up at below 5mph. Was absolutely packed coming out of Whitby. People standing from the front to the back. Out of the PVR of 5, there was only 1 E400 allocated.

Well one is off to South Yorkshire on Saturday to try and track down First SY heritage livered buses.

Going out my comfort zone today...

I normally tend to stick to where I know, unless I go somewhere for another reason...

Heading for Hexham and coming back through Derwentside and Durham, possibly CLS...

9:38 Murton-Sunderland Simplicity 61
10:30 Sunderland-Hexham Train 2N19
12:41 Hexham-Consett Venture 689(Solo 652)
13:56(11 mins late)Consett-Durham
14:40 Durham-Murton East Durham 535

Was going to hit Stanley, Chester and Fenchouses(if the FPP dont mind of course, dont want guerillas giving me atomic wedgies lol)

I just went to durham for a bus home

I travelled down to Leeds on Wednesday taking advantage of the Megabus free ticket offer using the M20 service with 54205 on my outward journey and returning on 54209.
On arrival in Leeds I took the City Bus which is a quick way of getting an overview of the city and the best vantage points for bus activity, at 50p its good value too. If you are travelling by Megabus you arrive in stand 1 and the City Bus is in stand 2 so it’s very convenient. Details of the City Bus can be found on The West Yorkshire Metro website.

With the journey down to Leeds taking 2 hours there was plenty of time to check out the bus activity in the City with the following points noted.

The major operator First Bus had the allocations that you would expect of their inner city services mainly Volvo Gemini’s with some modified for guided busways. There were quite a few Hybrids clearly visible by their silver livery under the Dynamo brand. There were also a number of Wright Streetcars with the brand name of Hyperlink.

Arriva had a reasonable number of buses in Leeds most in standard livery although route branding was quite common. The Arriva hybrids in Leeds use a similar colour scheme to the ones used on the 308 in Newcastle. I wanted some photos of the Arriva Optare Tempo’s from the Castleford depot and had no problem finding them.

Yorkshire Tiger had a number of buses in the city although they do appear to avoid the bus station. I was able to get some photos of the new Tiger livery on some of their buses that have recently been repainted.

Transdev have branded services with various colour schemes running services to Harrogate, Keighley, York and The Yorkshire coast areas.

Geldarts one of the independents had several buses in the City and they now appear to have a standard blue fleet colour rather than the random colours that they have used in the past.

The city bus station was busy with Megabus and National Express services as well as a few Stagecoach services.

This was my first opportunity to spot some King Long coaches in day tourer and tri-axel types operated by Hunters Coaches.

I can recommend a visit to Leeds and I will certainly be looking out for the next release of free tickets from Megabus with the view to making a return visit.