(04 May 2014, 5:52 pm)Dan wrote A huge improvement on last year's rally as there was no major name-calling to certain enthusiasts from what I saw (other than me being greeted with the word 'splendid', but that was expected). So much better than the rally down on Teesside last week too.

Started my day off on 'service 2' and I had a ride of a "Tyne Tees Xpress" B9TL brought along by Go North East.
I got back at the Metrocentre about thirty minutes later and before going for something to eat (in McDonalds! ), I took some photos. After I had something to eat, I had a ride of a preserved bus (can't remember which one it was now, but it was on a service which went to Dunston).
After this, I listened to the speech about Ian Hignett. Didn't hear much if I'm honest as I was a few steps away from everyone else, but got involved in the applause at the end. 4710 led the way to Riverside depot with Ian's favourite coach in pursuit, so I had a walk to the depot and was thankfully given the opportunity to take some photographs inside of the depot of 4710 and 7087 together posing underneath the Go North East sign at Riverside. I didn't have to walk back to the Metrocentre as I was allowed to ride 7087 back. Once the vehicle returned to the Metrocentre, it actually went out for a run of service 2 so I had another ride.
By this time, it was about 16:00 and buses had started to leave. For the next hour or so, Go North East buses started to gather at the end of the coach park for photos. Some wonderful photo opportunities there.

Had a great day - thanks to event organisers, GNE, etc.