(12 Nov 2013, 2:10 pm)GMitchelhill wrote Wouldn't mind seeing the Optare Tempo SR hitting the road in the local area.
People always think I'm making this up but I'm not and I wish to god I had a phone flashier than a Sony Brick (it was the 90s) and I could have photographed it but...
The 709 broke down at Birtley War Memorial so we were directed to Birtley Town Centre stop to await the next 221 or 723 or something like that.
Along comes the early morning Arriva 723. An Optare Metrorider. I nearly died with delight. On I hopped in the back seat (paying for the privilege) and we got to the then Jolly Miller when said Metrorider expired.
Awaiting at the Jolly Miller for the next bus and what is this in the distance I see....it's a Solo with simply Newcastle on the display. Driver pulls over opens doors and shouts 'I'm the 724' (what a nice thing to shout) Turns out one of the ex OK vehicles had expired and passengers had been transferred from Birtley onto a diverting X23 and a Solo was picking up the slack from Eighton Lodge (no Angel then) to Newcastle. Alas we stopped at every stop with the driver shouting I'm the 724 at bemused punters.
That's quite a terrible anecdote but I love it.