(14 Dec 2019, 10:49 pm)busmanT wrote The fire that destroyed 4939 was at Hogarth Coachworks in Birtley, prior to the vehicle being delivered to Go North East (14 October 2001) - I can’t now recall exactly why it was there, but I think on behalf of Scania.
I knew it was something to do with Scania considering they were responible for replacing it, anyway after a little bit of digging, it was as a result of a possible arson attack at Hogarths which according to the article I found said it could be one of those linked to a gang of serial arsonists who were going around at the time.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/3093934.stm