(04 Aug 2015, 10:18 pm)R852 PRG wrote Only bus routes that I can remember from when I was young were; the 778 and 775 (Sunderland to Consett), 729 (think that Chester-le-Street to Stanley?) 809 (Chester-le-Street to the MetroCentre), 734 (I think that one was sort of a part of the 34/34A nowadays, if I remember correctly it was always a little minibus Metrorider little breadvan type of thing) and then the 724 as well I think (Newcastle to Bishop Auckland). Then I think I can remember a 21, 21A and a 21B...? There was also the 551 to South Shields, I think. It's possible I'm thinking about something I've seen on Flickr rather than a memory (either way it's something I remember) but the X50 (South Shields to Durham). Also got a very vivid memory of an Arriva Optare Delta on a bus to Durham from Chester-le-Street. Apologies for going off-topic but I thought I'd chip in with the 'old buses' discussion.
I vaguely remember the 809 and the 551. (ETA 551 was South Shields to Sacriston - now remember I saw it on my trips to Washington)
There did used to be a lot more 21 routes, stopping at different places - I think the 21B might have been a Sunday bus. Going through CLS, I think they took the road behind the bus depot, so you got a good look inside - you have to crane your neck, now to see anything (though we spied a Pronto languishing in there, on Monday)
IIRC, Arriva also ran a proportion of the 21 buses. I tended to avoid them, as the buses were grotty and had to be caught in the old underground Eldon Square bus station and there were quite a few days of industrial action!
And back when I lived in Low Fell, late 90s, early noughties, the 27 went up Dryden road. I liked that bus route. The 1 also definitely did not carry on all the way to Whitley Bay - that particular change took me by surprise, as it was pretty unpredictable! I think I aught the 1 back from Newcastle more often than the 21, as the frequency of each was such that they almost alternated and the 1 had the open air stops from outside the Odeon.