Wow today was a hot day, plenty changeovers all around, we had at least 10 in Middlesbrough alone! 4030 on 27/27a and 4069 also managed a few trips too as a changeover, before having to be binned off again! I later ended up with it on 17A for my last round trip as a changeover. 1512 ended up on 28s after it's day on PR work in Stockton (which finished about 1520)

Is there something wrong with the Omni's or Darts that resulted in a Sapphire being out on the X66?

(12 Jul 2014, 7:45 pm)JoshP wrote Is there something wrong with the Omni's or Darts that resulted in a Sapphire being out on the X66?

Possibly just a changeover given the heat today. I went through 3 buses in 3 hours this afternoon...

(12 Jul 2014, 7:45 pm)JoshP wrote Is there something wrong with the Omni's or Darts that resulted in a Sapphire being out on the X66?

There often seems to be an Omni missing from the X66 at the moment , 4644 has to be the most unreliable as it is often off.

I think Darlington may have been short recently, which is why the spare Sapphire has been working other services, wasn't helped last week when we were down an EcoCity for press events.

(12 Jul 2014, 8:13 pm)Jimmi wrote There often seems to be an Omni missing from the X66 at the moment , 4644 has to be the most unreliable as it is often off.

I think Darlington may have been short recently, which is why the spare Sapphire has been working other services, wasn't helped last week when we were down an EcoCity for press events.

As I go past Faverdale depot on my way to work. Everyday this week there has always been a couple in dead row and few in the workshops and 1 or 2 usable spares one of which is a Sapphire. Like Scott says its probably been due to today's heat. Both Omnicities (4645/57) I was on today on X66 were fine.

Also 1724 was on X26 this morning.

7445 is providing extra capacity on service 306 today.

(13 Jul 2014, 3:17 pm)Dan wrote 7445 is providing extra capacity on service 306 today.

As is 7458.

The 306 has always been very popular on a Sunday. When Arriva had to conserve the Tridents (7430-7435) and also save fuel by using B10BLE'S, quite often, there would be a Palatine 2 working the 306 on a Sunday.

(13 Jul 2014, 5:53 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote The 306 has always been very popular on a Sunday. When Arriva had to conserve the Tridents (7430-7435) and also save fuel by using B10BLE'S, quite often, there would be a Palatine 2 working the 306 on a Sunday.

The 306 is usually a popular service through the week. Tynemouth-Whitley Bay isn't as good though.

(13 Jul 2014, 6:01 pm)Tom wrote The 306 is usually a popular service through the week. Tynemouth-Whitley Bay isn't as good though.

If the passenger numbers pick up again on the 306, what they could do when the 5 year rule for the 308 comes to an end is upgrade both the 306 and 308 to Sapphire with them both interworking to improve reliability and have a consistent standard of service. Blyth would operate 10 with Jesmond operating the other 7 (or 8 if between the extension on the 306 is kept). 1 spare would be kept in Blyth and 1 in Newcastle.

7488 on 81/81A today

1724 on X66

1457 on 17a

1913 on the 21a as a replacement for the late running 4001.

4652 on 17A

4043 broken down in M'bro centre. Must have been a 28 as some got off and on to the next 28, but it was only a short so some had to get back on 4043!

(16 Jul 2014, 8:14 am)Kuyoyo wrote 1457 on 17a

(16 Jul 2014, 9:11 am)Kuyoyo wrote 1913 on the 21a as a replacement for the late running 4001.

(16 Jul 2014, 12:32 pm)David McGloin wrote 4652 on 17A

(16 Jul 2014, 4:10 pm)Roland Pratt wrote 4043 broken down in M'bro centre. Must have been a 28 as some got off and on to the next 28, but it was only a short so some had to get back on 4043!

Driver had a Unison jacket on rather than Arriva!

Nk55 myr has been on 35a

As ever, Blyth was Blyth today and threw up quite a lot of odd workings... Hybrids on just about every other route besides the 308, MAXs out and about on the coast and a number of other routes too...

By no means did I photograph them all, so unfortunately I can't record them here...

X10/X11 Gemini 7617 on X4
Prestige 4068 on X10
B10BLE 4501 on X21

1923 worked at least 1 trip on the 5 this afternoon.

Meanwhile, OmniCity 4654 spent at least part of the day on 9/27a - but finished the day by becoming only the second example to work Stockton's service 6 and the only example to have worked it since the March change. Seen below in Stockton on the 1810 from Middlesbrough to Fairfield on the penultimate day of operation of that trip

(17 Jul 2014, 6:05 pm)Dan wrote As ever, Blyth was Blyth today and threw up quite a lot of odd workings... Hybrids on just about every other route besides the 308, MAXs out and about on the coast and a number of other routes too...

By no means did I photograph them all, so unfortunately I can't record them here...

X10/X11 Gemini 7617 on X4
Prestige 4068 on X10
B10BLE 4501 on X21

Not to mention the 3 Nexus Solos on the 55, poor show Jesmond! Not impressed - 2801, 2802, and 2871. Meanwhile they had 2848 on the 335.

1425 on X66

Not sure if it counts as rare as I heard it has been off the road for a while but 2503 was on 55 today

(18 Jul 2014, 6:19 pm)Coppercap40 wrote Not sure if it counts as rare as I heard it has been off the road for a while but 2503 was on 55 today

Did you notice anything different about it?

(18 Jul 2014, 7:26 pm)tyresmoke wrote Did you notice anything different about it?

https://flic.kr/p/okztoC
https://flic.kr/p/okztw3

this was the first time I had seen it so no idea what to look for !!

2503 on 55 today and which depot does 33 at Morpeth

(19 Jul 2014, 8:56 am)jaimz13 wrote 2503 on 55 today and which depot does 33 at Morpeth

Mix of Ashington and Blyth interworked with 57A and short X14s

(19 Jul 2014, 8:58 am)tyresmoke wrote Mix of Ashington and Blyth interworked with 57A and short X14s

ah right thank you

4659 just replacing 1512 on 9s