(14 Apr 2015, 2:40 pm)chrisnorthern wrote I've looked out some old Omnibus Society news sheets related to this period and can add some dates to this thread at the risk of taking it on for too long - may be best to transfer it to the Bygone Era? I don't have any genuine timetables to support these dates but I believe they are accurate. Anyway, here goes:
Easyway This was the fleetname used by Cummings, Hebburn (based on the Waggonway Industrial Estate, wherever that is). they started the 60 and 61 between Gateshead and the Metro Centre from December 15th 1986 and they were de-registered July 9th 1987, but may have ceased earlier because the buses they used (Leyland Nationals GHU646N and HHU632N) are recorded by the PSV Circle as being "re-possessed" in April 1987. Apart from them, Cummings only operated a Volvo coach (EBB588W), which went to A Line and a few minibuses.
North Eastern started operating on deregulation day, October 26th 1986 and initially had Tyne & Wear PTE contracts for 3 routes, the 92 as described in earlier messages, the 91 (Gateshead - Lobley Hill via Dunston) - these routes inter-worked at Gateshead Metro; and 606 (Gateshead - Clara Vale). They had an interesting fleet - besides a couple of Leyland Nationals, they had several Leyland Leopards, a few Bedford coaches, one ex Scottish Bus group Seddon Pennine and a Bristol RELL. They were based at the British Road services depot on the Team Valley trading estate.
Big Orange buses As others have said, these were operated by Northern as "competition spoilers". The first operation was from Sunderland Road depot, on services 60 and 61 between Gateshead and the Metro Centre. This is recorded as starting on March 23rd 1987, in competition with Easyway. These routes were withdrawn from September 5th 1987 and the Big Orange buses then operated on services 64 and 65 (Gateshead - Dunston circulars) for a while.
Someone mentioned use at Consett and between Consett and Newcastle in 1988. This was in competition with Law Travel.
Big Oranges were also used at Stanley, from May 1987 on routes 700 and 701 (Stanley - Dipton - Flint Hill) in competition with Star Travel.
I haven't found dates when either of these operations finished formally but it was recorded that all the Big Orange buses had been repainted into other liveries by the end of 1988. Certainly some of them were in Supershuttle livery for the X66 when this started on May 7th 1988.
Just found a reference to Big Oranges being used at Chester-le-Street in 1989 on 725 between Chester-le-Street and Langley park to combat competition from Bob Smith Travel, so clearly they went on into 1989!
I have dug out some more dates for things like the Gateshead/Felling Go Ahead Northern minibus routes but will put these into a separate post.
(14 Apr 2015, 3:16 pm)chrisnorthern wrote Relevant dates:
services 91 and 92: North Eastern services de-registered March 18th 1989. Daytime services to Go Ahead Northern, evening and Sunday service on 92 to Tyne & Wear Omnibus Company.
91 (Gateshead - Lobley Hill) to minibus route M91 from September 23rd 1989 and replaced by minibus routes M34-6 from May 5th 1990.
92 (Gateshead - Heworth)
Before this, from March 26th 1988, Northern started minibus route M31, initially as Felling Metro station - Queen Elizabeth Hospital via Felling Square, Chilside Road, Rectory Road and Windy Nook.
This only lasted till May 7th 1988 when the following Northern minibus routes were started:
M29: Gateshead Metro - Kibblesworth via Bensham and Saltwell Road South
M30: Gateshead Metro - Felling Metro;as M29 to Allerdene, then via Harlow Green, Wrekenton, Beacon Lough, Furrowfield, Windy Nook and as the old M31 to Felling Metro.
M31: Gateshead Metro - Felling Metro; as M29 to Saltwell Road, then Belle Vue Bank, Durham Road, Kells Lane, Church Road, Wynbury Road, Whinlatter Gardens, Southend Road, Queen Elizabeth Hospital then as the old M31 to Felling Metro.
M32: Gateshead Metro - Felling Metro via Shipcote, Deckham, Felling Square, Fewster Square, Whitehills estate, Windy Nook then as M30/1 to Felling Metro.
From August 4th 1988, M33 (Gateshead Metro - Bensham, Racecourse Estate) was added.
From April 22nd 1989, M30 was withdrawn and M31 diverted via the full length of Kells Lane and Old Durham Road, between Low Fell and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, so missing out the Church Road/Wynbury Road bit. It seems as though this continued to have an evening and Sunday service though, because there was still a PTE contract for this. It passed from TWOC to Busways (Blue Bus) from january 28th 1990 till the contract ended on July 28th 1991.
As I said, I can't support any of this with actual timetable leaflets but I'd welcome any additions/corrections to the news sheet record.
Just to add, I also found and scanned a shot of a Go Gateshead Renault minibus taken at Heworth Metro. The date on the slide is April 1993.
Just to add to what Murdo has said, appreciate you sharing the info.
Knew my memory wasn't playing too many tricks and glad to see some of my memories confirmed.
I have asked about the North Eastern service and (even though I can't remember) they were very untidy inside, with tickets and litter.
Is there anything in your leaflets about Go ahead operating around Whinbury Road etc or is that a false memory?
There were deckers in years gone by though - 50's/60's.