There used to be a similar through service, the X4/X14 from Saltburn - Maske - Redcar - Middlesbrough - Darlington - Shildon - Bishop Auckland, however the route suffered reliability issues due to the distance and the service was split at Middlesbrough rather than through works. Then the X14 was axed to bits before being replaced by the X66 between Darlington and Stockton. Only when Go North East came along with the OK1, Arriva decided to improve the X66 between Middlesbrough and Darlington.
Here is one of the DAF SB3000 / Plaxton Prima that were used on the service - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9948527713
As the service got chopped up, it was reduced to using buses, usually a mix of Optare Delta and Optare Prismas, even Leyland Lynxes appeared, managed a Lynx between Bishop Auckland and Darlington, my regret was that I wish I had the time to go to Middlesbrough on it, wouldn't have minded a bit of Lynx thrash along the A66. https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9710740792
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Who needs heroes anyway? Villians have more fun.
Who needs heroes anyway? Villians have more fun.