The Go-Ahead Group timetables are still viewable in the Bygone Era of the forum. I've had a look at the route of the 149 and it doesn't go into Dalton-le-Dale. The Times Inn is a timing point but, as you probably know, that's on the main road. As you correctly state, GAG operated the Mon-Sat daytime 149 service with the PM and Sunday service operated by Favourite.

The Stagecoach/Busways section is un-viewable with one of those '404 Request' messages popping up. As this section contains services operated by Favourite, I am unable to access the timetable for the 149 but it is there so you might be right about the Evening and Sunday service being routed differently.

I believe cbma06 provided the timetables for both operators. Presuming he doesn't read this, one of us could ask him to provide timetable again. If does read this, then perhaps he'll be kind enough to rescan the timetable for Favourite service 149

Needn't re-scan anything - we've still got it all! Brandon was in the middle of changing the links from the old (free) server to the new (paid) server but didn't ever finish before leaving us. Over time, due to the inactivity on the account, the account has been deleted and the files subsequently lost from the old server, which is why the links on the forum are no longer accessible. Brandon must have changed the Go-Ahead ones to the new server first.

149 (AUGUST 92).pdf (Size 4.29 MB Downloads 51)

So...We are no further forward in what buses possibly went through Dalton-le-Dale...according to the Favourite timetable they were routed down The Avenue at Deneside...

I will ask on the Memories of Murton Groups on Facebook, see if the question of buses in Dalton-le-Dale can be answered

I'm going for a stab in the dark here, given the fact I used to live on Princess Road many moons ago, but I seem to remember an old John Bell service may have gone through there at some stage, 148 possibly?

I'm going for a stab in the dark here, given the fact I used to live on Princess Road many moons ago, but I seem to remember an old John Bell service may have gone through there at some stage, 148 possibly?

Good shout that mate...was the 148 what would go on to be GNE East Durham 203???


EDIT:

I asked on the Murton group on Facebook about this, and the older members also cannot remember buses going through the Dale

I'm going for a stab in the dark here, given the fact I used to live on Princess Road many moons ago, but I seem to remember an old John Bell service may have gone through there at some stage, 148 possibly?

Can you remember the year per chance? 

Good shout that mate...was the 148 what would go on to be GNE East Durham 203???

Depends on when it was. A service 148 existed in 1978 running between Houghton and Seaham, operated by Northern, however by 1986 this service had been withdrawn. Also, this service did not operate via Dalton-le-Dale.

Another 148 service was registered sometime after deregulation. This 148 does not appear in the GAG timetables in the Bygone Era so it may have been reintroduced by another operator - presumably by Jon Bell (I'm not familiar with this operator) as Mr Pottski suggests. Before passing back into the hands of GNE I believe it was operated by JayLine - before JayLine was absorbed into the Go-Ahead family.   

I saw a 148 timetable earlier and I am sure it was in an independents folder with the mention of Seaham? I may be mistaken as I was hunting for the 149 timetable at the time - will check tomorrow morning if I have time. Someone give me a shout tomorrow night by PM / Facebook if I forget.

Can you remember the year per chance? 


Depends on when it was. A service 148 existed in 1978 running between Houghton and Seaham, operated by Northern, however by 1986 this service had been withdrawn. Also, this service did not operate via Dalton-le-Dale.

Another 148 service was registered sometime after deregulation. This 148 does not appear in the GAG timetables in the Bygone Era so it may have been reintroduced by another operator - presumably by Jon Bell (I'm not familiar with this operator) as Mr Pottski suggests. Before passing back into the hands of GNE I believe it was operated by JayLine - before JayLine was absorbed into the Go-Ahead family.   

The 148 I was thinking of probably was Jaylines incarnation of it

I think I may have cracked the mystery surrounding what bus served Dalton-le-Dale. 

When Dan said he may have came across a timetable for an independently operated 148 service, I remembered that OK also operated services in the East Durham area. Within the Bygone Era, a thread exists for OK Motor Services containing timetables. One of the timetables is entitled 'OK Travel - The Book' which lists all services operated by the company circa 1990. It's still accessible and downloadable. Within, lies the 151 - an hourly service between Seaham and New Seaham via Dalton-le-Dale. The timing point shown for Dalton-le-Dale is 'The Church' and the route itself lists Dene Road.

It's still possible that another service served the village, but at least I've uncovered one.


[img=612x841]file//page23image376[/img]

[img=612x841]file//page23image376[/img]

I think I may have cracked the mystery surrounding what bus served Dalton-le-Dale. 

When Dan said he may have came across a timetable for an independently operated 148 service, I remembered that OK also operated services in the East Durham area. Within the Bygone Era, a thread exists for OK Motor Services containing timetables. One of the timetables is entitled 'OK Travel - The Book' which lists all services operated by the company circa 1990. It's still accessible and downloadable. Within, lies the 151 - an hourly service between Seaham and New Seaham via Dalton-le-Dale. The timing point shown for Dalton-le-Dale is 'The Church' and the route itself lists Dene Road.

It's still possible that another service served the village, but at least I've uncovered one.


[img=612x841]file//page23image376[/img]

[img=612x841]file//page23image376[/img]

Where getting somewhere now Adam

I definitely remember John Bell Travel (Sunderland) operating the 148, using old Duple coaches after 1986. They built an outstation on a tiny industrial estate on Strangford Road in Seaham, for that and the school contracts they used to run. Now, the 151 was a service which was always passed from pillar to post, along with the 147, 148 and 150. Northern had a stab a few times, the aforementioned John Bell and various others ran them. Ironically, the John Bell then went on to be a depot manager for Classic, then was passed to Arriva. Small world!

Noticed a United flag today. The stop is still possibly in use too - although it probably wont see much usage.

It is northbound on the A177, not too far north of the science site in Sedgefield.

Not exactly buses...

On some Metro stations, there are old TWPTE "No Trespassing" signs, some have been modified from £200 to £1000 fines. Also, on Heworth NR station, theres about 3 Regional Railways "Paid for by Nexus" signs.

Not exactly buses...

On some Metro stations, there are old TWPTE "No Trespassing" signs, some have been modified from £200 to £1000 fines. Also, on Heworth NR station, theres about 3 Regional Railways "Paid for by Nexus" signs.

As well as the Regional Railways stuff at Heworth NR station, it still has the 'Northern Spirit' operators details etc 

There's still a "Roadranger stops here" sticker on a lamppost on Whinfield Road. I think it's also been painted around as well bizarrely!

Northumbria bus stop flags (with Arriva stickers fading and peeling off) in Ellington.

Northumbria bus stop flags (with Arriva stickers fading and peeling off) in Ellington.

I was through that way today and noticed the majority of southbound and some north, are like that from Ellington, all the way down to Woodhorn Village.

It looks like the flags are wooden (mdf?), rather than metal or plastic

Just to give this thread a bump... I spotted this on Lamesley Road between Team Valley and Birtley

T&W Zone Boundry - Spotted near Lamsley, Gateshead by Lee Robert Calder, on Flickr

Im sure there is one on the A1

Im sure there is one on the A1

Already been mentioned. 

Well it's mentioned twice now :p

The zone boundary sign on the A1 near the Metrocentre, has long gone. I have been meaning to mention it for a while.

However, I saw some 'ghost bus infrastructure' today, that has escaped my attention.
There is an old stretch of road that emerges near the horse riding stables at Lamesley. The opposite end is blocked off by the northbound exit slip of the A1 towards the Coalhouse Roundabout.
Anyway, I noticed for the first time ever (no idea how I have missed it previously), that there is a brick bus shelter on that stretch of old road.

The bus stop at Prudhoe leisure centre still has an Arriva 602 sticker on it, noticed it today when waiting for a 10 to Hexham today

However, I saw some 'ghost bus infrastructure' today, that has escaped my attention.
There is an old stretch of road that emerges near the horse riding stables at Lamesley. The opposite end is blocked off by the northbound exit slip of the A1 towards the Coalhouse Roundabout.
Anyway, I noticed for the first time ever (no idea how I have missed it previously), that there is a brick bus shelter on that stretch of old road.

Is that the road Network Rail own now?

There's an indentical shelter opposite the Angel (Southbound) assuming they are related to the pits  that used to be there (would guess Dean or South as the main pit would be the Angel itself) as I can't think of any other reason for a shelter down there.

Is that the road Network Rail own now?

There's an indentical shelter opposite the Angel (Southbound) assuming they are related to the pits  that used to be there (would guess Dean or South as the main pit would be the Angel itself) as I can't think of any other reason for a shelter down there.

Dunno who owns it.

Racking my brains to try and think about the road network down there years ago, prior to that section of the Western Bypass being built.
Struggling.
I am guessing that road extended to the western side of Chowdene Bridge at some point though.

There is a stop on the road now, more or less parallel to this old shelter.

Appreciate we are going off topic, but was there a pit down there?
I can remember the NCB building on the site where Sainsburys is, but wasn't aware of anything else that far down.

Dunno who owns it.

Racking my brains to try and think about the road network down there years ago, prior to that section of the Western Bypass being built.
Struggling.
I am guessing that road extended to the western side of Chowdene Bridge at some point though.

There is a stop on the road now, more or less parallel to this old shelter.

Appreciate we are going off topic, but was there a pit down there?
I can remember the NCB building on the site where Sainsburys is, but wasn't aware of anything else that far down.

Not entirely sure, there may have been infrastructure around to support it. A quick look at Durham coalfields brings up an awful lot

www.durhamrecordoffice.org.uk/Pages/AdvancedSearchDurhamCollieriesResults.aspx?SearchType=Param&SearchID=f2896b30-7c3d-46e5-b647-9da0a9a493fb

Its intriguing as I'm not sure where that road would go, a link to Smithy Lane perhaps but the railway has been there a lot longer I'd assume so it must have gone around or over it

Not entirely sure, there may have been infrastructure around to support it. A quick look at Durham coalfields brings up an awful lot

www.durhamrecordoffice.org.uk/Pages/AdvancedSearchDurhamCollieriesResults.aspx?SearchType=Param&SearchID=f2896b30-7c3d-46e5-b647-9da0a9a493fb

Its intriguing as I'm not sure where that road would go, a link to Smithy Lane perhaps but the railway has been there a lot longer I'd assume so it must have gone around or over it

Looking on Google Maps, it looks like it was part of the original course of Lamesley Road.
Which ties in with what I was saying about connecting on to Chowdene.

Cheers for the pit link. Will have a good rake through that!

Not entirely sure, there may have been infrastructure around to support it. A quick look at Durham coalfields brings up an awful lot

www.durhamrecordoffice.org.uk/Pages/AdvancedSearchDurhamCollieriesResults.aspx?SearchType=Param&SearchID=f2896b30-7c3d-46e5-b647-9da0a9a493fb

Its intriguing as I'm not sure where that road would go, a link to Smithy Lane perhaps but the railway has been there a lot longer I'd assume so it must have gone around or over it

Might find FIL's keys in that lot.

Never found out, until his funeral, that he maintained that he'd lost a set of keys under what is now the Angel of the North, while he was at work.

(I did suggest it would be a good idea to scatter his ashes with his keys, but he wanted them in his leek trench)

Dunno who owns it.

Racking my brains to try and think about the road network down there years ago, prior to that section of the Western Bypass being built.
Struggling.
I am guessing that road extended to the western side of Chowdene Bridge at some point though.

There is a stop on the road now, more or less parallel to this old shelter.

Appreciate we are going off topic, but was there a pit down there?
I can remember the NCB building on the site where Sainsburys is, but wasn't aware of anything else that far down.

Hi remember this area well from when I was little. There was indeed a pit, it was called Ladypark Drift and the site is now retail world. The road with the bus shelter on it used to come out near the NCB offices (which is now Sainsbury). If I remember rightly the 29 Kibblesworth bus used to use it.

There used to be a railway line which ran behind the NCB offices to the drift mine. It crossed the main road through the Team Valley on a single track concrete viaduct. It crossed Chowdene Bank near where the small gas works is now and then over the East Main Line before heading up to Wrekenton. Most of the railway is now a public footpath.

I used to go for walks with my dad on a Sunday around Ravensworth Castle and remember us taking a shortcut over the Western Bypass whilst it was being built.

Charles

Hi remember this area well from when I was little. There was indeed a pit, it was called Ladypark Drift and the site is now retail world. The road with the bus shelter on it used to come out near the NCB offices (which is now Sainsbury). If I remember rightly the 29 Kibblesworth bus used to use it.

There used to be a railway line which ran behind the NCB offices to the drift mine. It crossed the main road through the Team Valley on a single track concrete viaduct. It crossed Chowdene Bank near where the small gas works is now and then over the East Main Line before heading up to Wrekenton. Most of the railway is now a public footpath.

I used to go for walks with my dad on a Sunday around Ravensworth Castle and remember us taking a shortcut over the Western Bypass whilst it was being built.

Charles

Cheers Charles.
Here is a photo of the viaduct:- http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/hist...y-10272913

As I said earlier, I can remember the NCB building (which was knocked down in the mid 80's.
I can also remember the realignment of the A1 at Eighton Lodge, including the works between there and the Coalhouse Roundabout.
What was there before has vanished from memory unfortunately.

Cheers Charles.
Here is a photo of the viaduct:- http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/hist...y-10272913

As I said earlier, I can remember the NCB building (which was knocked down in the mid 80's.
I can also remember the realignment of the A1 at Eighton Lodge, including the works between there and the Coalhouse Roundabout.
What was there before has vanished from memory unfortunately.

Part of the old A1 route is still there in the middle of the nature reserve. It was just grassed over and is becoming more and more overgrown. The new A1 route was all agricultural land mainly grazing for cows and sheep. The Kibblesworth bus also used to cross over the long bridge at the end of Tyne Yard. Most of the land was owned by Liddell family who used to live at Ravensworth Castle before it was mainly demolished.

Their estate used to stretch all the way from Wrekenton to Sunniside. The remains of Ravensworth Castle and the surrounding farm land now belong to the Oates family who used to be tenant farmers on the estate. Ravensworth Castle is private and they are not too keen on visitors. The Liddell family still own the freehold of Wrekenton golf course and most of the land under Chowdene housing estate.

The Ravensworth Arms at Lamesley used to be the estate pub for Ravensworth Castle.

Charles