I started off with an Arriva Solo on the 56 to Durham Bus Station. Given that it only works a short route on a Sunday, it was bang on time, but it was quite a busy journey heading through to Durham, given that it was the 0922 service I used. Once I got to Durham, I decided to have a walk to Tesco for a drink and a breakfast bar. I'd literally walked out of the Tesco door and I heard a rumbling in the distance. I look up towards North Road roundabout, and I see 4708 and 4710 waiting for a gap in traffic to cross the roundabout on to North Road. I managed to quickly make my way further up the street, dropping everythin in the process, trying to get my Camera out and ready in time! Luckily enough though, I managed a shot of both heading down towards Millburngate.
As it was getting to about 0950, I decided to cross over and wait outside the old Argos shop to see what the first shuttle of the day was. Not long after, I found out, as ex-United Bristol RE 6080 came round the corner. There was only a few of us waiting, so I boarded, and it was only a short sit before we were off to Howlands. This was actually the first time I've used a Bristol RE, and 6080 is an excellent runner for a vehicle of it's age. It was a real pleasure of a journey.
Once I got across to the Rally site, it was pretty quiet, so I decided to have a quick look at the stalls, to see if there was anything of interest. I only really bother with North East models, and there wasn't anything there that really took my fancy. For anyone who collects models in general though, there was a fantastic selection.
I then decided to get a few shots of vehicles queuing up for the shuttle service (next to the P&R building), before heading up to the car park being used for the buses. There was plenty on display once again, and it was great to see three fantastic Atlanteans on display again - Newcastle Busways EJR111W , South Shields Busways SCN268S and Tyne and Wear PTE UVK290T. After getting a few shots of these and others, the two Nationals caught my eye. It was great to see them both side by side, and only seeing them 'in the flesh', do you appreciate how good of a restoration job both examples are.
Marcus had pointed out the 4710 was heading out on the 1100 shuttle, and I managed to hop on that on the way out of the car park, before it went round and into the queue. There was a few of us from NEB sat at the back, and I'm glad I managed to occupy the back seat to appreciate the journey in true National fashion. We ended up looping the P&R site twice, and then picked up before heading out towards Durham. A fantastic journey, a bus that sounds perfect, and full of power! Once we got to North Road, a load of us jumped off and got plenty of photos.
I decided to hang around North Road to see what was next in, as we had bumped into Malarkey by this point too. A rather ill-sounding 4843 came into Durham on the X22, but luckily another Northern bus turned up and pulled in behind - this time in the form of MetroBus 3501. We headed over for this, and straight to the upper deck for an enjoyable journey back to Howlands. It's the first time I've been on preserved 3501, and it's a fantastic restoration.
After another brief look round, another journey to Durham embarked on us. This time in the form of Routemaster RML2686. Front seats upstairs occupied, and we headed back to North Road. Rather than heading straight back to Howlands on this though, the decision was made to pop into Greggs for some lunch. Another journey back to Howlands was made on Go North East's 5235.
Heading back to Howlands, we bumped into Dan, and had another look around the Rally site, before heading back to Durham for the final time. This time on ShawBros UFJ292. The same Arriva Solo was my 56 back home, which I can safely say is the worst bus I've ridden on all day.
Photos will be up later / when I can be arsed.
ANE 2810 - Coxhoe to Durham
United 6080 - Durham to Howlands
Northern 4710 - Howlands to Durham
Northern 3501 - Durham to Howlands
RML2686 - Howlands to Durham
GNE 5235 - Durham to Howlands
Shaws UFJ292 - Howlands to Durham
ANE 2810 - Durham to Coxhoe