(28 Mar 2015, 8:56 pm)northern156 wrote I was in completely different locations today
SNW 27142 0643 685 Greenhead to Eldon Square
Decent little ride on 27142, one of my less travelled on E300s on 685. It has developed an amusing whining noise when a good amount of power is put down at high-ish RPM. Had to wait to catch up with time in several places as it really was a flying run in. Sat right at the back, Wifi didn't work though which isn't really surprising!
ANE 1442 0820 X2 Eldon Square to Chester-le-Street Market
Got to Eldon Square with the aim of heading to Chester. Having passed the previous 28A on Percy Street and not fancying a 30 minute wait for the next one, I thought about getting the X25. Looked at the journey time and compared it to the X2 which was 10 minutes faster plus 'Maxed' Pulsar 1442 was pulling into the stand! Great little bus plus a good driver too, full power pretty much everywhere. Something about the Max Pulsars for me though which makes them feel 'empty' - I think it may be the new seating though.
Got to Chester Market and walked up to the Wicket Gate for a proper Spoons breakfast, just had a traditional one plus coffee but it filled me right up. Walked up Front Street to see some builders pissing about really, one of them was holding a shovel like a guitar and they were shouting on. After my brekkie, I walked up to the main street that the 21 used to go on, expecting to find one pop along. As I walked up, one of the shuttle buses passed me and I didn't fancy waiting 20 minutes for the next so walked all the way back, past the station, to the market. Not too keen on Chester now after today.
GNE 4958 1002 28 Chester-le-Street Market to Birtley
Riding the 'Waggonway' was one of the main aims for me today so I was quite pleased to find Scania 4958 stood at Stand L working the 1002 to Newcastle. Was about to go on a Lime Volvo B10BLE but it was stood with hazards on and the destination to not in service, minus a wiper! The nearside wiper arm had stretched right down the front of the bus and looked knackered. Driver was on the phone for a good 10 minutes and it soon set off with no-one on board.
I quite liked the 28, nice little run although it takes a good while! If I had a few more hours in the day I would've alighted at Beamish and had a go on the trams etc.
Hopped off at Birtley hoping to get an 82 to Heworth as I passed a Cadet on it as I passed on the X2 earlier on.
GNE 6022 1044 21 Birtley to Eldon Square
I looked at the timetable and noticed that Heworth on the 82 took an hour so didn't fancy it really! To my delight, President 6022 turned up on a 21 for Newcastle so I hopped on board that, sat on the lower deck at the back. Cue me being hit by someone's rucksack, a young child going on and on and on and on and on and on..... and I eventually got to Eldon Square!
ANE 1588 1215 306 Haymarket to Whitley Bay
ANE 1588 1330 306 Whitley Bay to Haymarket
Knew the driver on this and my mate was on too so had a little jolly to Whitley Bay. One of the best Streetlites I've been on but that's not really saying much!
TWM 4047 4013* 1444 Haymarket to Monument
TWM 4041 4035* 1448 Monument to St James
Little one-stop hops on these Metrocars, I needed a Hybrid Enviro 400 fix so this was a strategic move to get one!
SNE 19150 1452 62 St James to Blackett Street
I took the first bus that came past which was a standard Enviro 400. Pretty busy, I sat in the 'elderly' seats near to the front of the vehicle on the lower deck.
SNE 12067 1500 40 Blackett Street to Wallsend Interchange
Both a 39 and 40 came along at the same time so I went on the 40 to Wallsend. Really good journey on this, never got too busy and the sun came out too(!)
Sat right at the back on the lower deck to get the battery noise (that sounds a bit sad doesn't it?)
GNE 5152 1530 17 Wallsend Interchange to Cramlington Shops
I saw this dual-doored Volvo B10BLE in front at Wallsend so jumped on board, planning to go to Forest Hall or Killingworth to then come back to Newcastle. However, both these locations came and gone - the reason mostly being I saw the connecting services leave right in front of my eyes! Stayed on to Cramlington which was the final stop. Was quite glad when I got to Cramlington as the driver wasn't the best by any measurement - full brakes everywhere, harsh steering and a few kerbs mounted. Some roundabouts he'd put on full throttle to not notice a car coming then to slam the brakes on!! Popped into Sainsburys and got some chocolate chip shortbread and fizzy strawberry laces.
ANE 1493 1640 X13 Cramlington to Haymarket
I was wanting to get either an ALX200-bodied Volvo or an ALX400-bodied DAF back to Newcastle but in came 1493 and stood for a few minutes on X13 so I played it safe on this. Very good journey again, straight down the A1 really!
ANE 2842 1700 46 Haymarket to Gosforth
Wanting to get the 1745 85/685 home, I had just less than an hour to play with so went on the nearest Optare Solo I could find. Decent enough journey up to Gosforth, pretty good speeds they can get up to!
ANE 7494 1715 43 Gosforth to Haymarket
Caught the next bus I could back to Newcastle; a lovely B7TL which was another type of vehicle I could cross off my list for today! Nothing really to be said due to it being such a short journey.
ANE 4663 1745 85/685 Eldon Square to Haydon Bridge to Greenhead
Very good end to the day with yet another Jesmond driver I know, had a bit chat when I got on and got off. Got bored towards the end of the journey but as it's an Omnicity that's normal!
Of note though was the run along the A69 from Horsley to Corbridge - we hit 65mph at one point which was the best part of the trip!!
I'll be doing another trip soon, hopefully to get some Olympians!
Looks like you had a decent day out, Sean. Great review
