(08 Jan 2015, 9:45 pm)MurdnunoC wrote If I recall, the extra stand was always there but not used for some reason. Worswick Street had probably closed by 1997 which is why it was needed for the Co. Durham services.

That's probably why I get the stands on that side mixed up.

Aye, Worswick Street had closed around then if I remember right.
The local Gateshead services stopped using it in the early/mid 90's, with them going via Market St, Grainger St and the bottom of Westgate Road (missing out the left turn onto the Bigg Market).

Can't remember using Eldon Square at all until after the changes (was generally Worswick St, Newgate St or Grainger St) when crossing the river.

(08 Jan 2015, 9:56 pm)mb134 wrote Ah okay  Looking back at photo's etc, it makes you realise that everything used to be better (in my opinion anyway) bus-wise. Look at the amount of services, and the vehicles that operated them!  Give me an Olympian, and I couldn't care less about fancy free Wi-Fi, plugs or stop announcements... (I'm sure others would prefer other buses, for other reasons, but that's my memory of what it used to be like)

Aye, same here. Much prefer stock of that vintage.

There is an Olympian or two (and a Superliner coach) in that old picture.