(20 Feb 2015, 9:44 am)Robert wrote The Citaros on the Diamond do. A lot of bus stations don't have actual reversy outy stands. I can only think of Stanley, Peterlee,  Morpeth and Durham.

(20 Feb 2015, 9:48 am)aureolin wrote Haymarket and Eldon Square too

Add Park Lane and Consett to that

Add Alnwick too.

I think there is a law of some kind that says a bus can only be reversed unsupervised in a designated place like a bus station, but would require supervision, say on Chester-le-Street Front Street. (which I have seen several times).

(20 Feb 2015, 10:38 am)MarcTheA4 wrote I think there is a law of some kind that says a bus can only be reversed unsupervised in a designated place like a bus station, but would require supervision, say on Chester-le-Street Front Street. (which I have seen several times).

Just H&S Risk Assessment type stuff, if I remember right.
Not sure about any specific law/legislation that exists.

That is when you get into all the banksman type stuff.

Was a few years ago, I had to assist an H1 in the snow in Houghton.
My banksman skills came to the fore that day.

(19 Feb 2015, 10:49 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote I've noticed a few buses go beep beep beep when they reserve out of bus stations, don't know if this is just with older buses.

Every bus must have a reversing alarm, but the Driver can switch it off if needed and must turn it off in the very early morning or late at night, but I can't remember the exact times (I never bother anyway  )

(20 Feb 2015, 7:16 pm)jeffman wrote Every bus must have a reversing alarm, but the Driver can switch it off if needed and must turn it off in the very early morning or late at night, but I can't remember the exact times (I never bother anyway  )

I think it should be used between 2330 and 0700

(20 Feb 2015, 9:44 am)Robert wrote The Citaros on the Diamond do. A lot of bus stations don't have actual reversy outy stands. I can only think of Stanley, Peterlee,  Morpeth and Durham.

How could i forget Consett, Eldon Square and Haymarket.    Alnwick maybe get away with as i haven't been there. 

This is what a bus reverse alarm should sound like,

The Car alarm in Phoenix Nights



Skip to about 0:45

Urge to post this....

(21 Feb 2015, 11:31 am)gtom wrote Urge to post this....

That Mk1 National looks very smart indeed...shame I was born too late to enjoy these!

(21 Feb 2015, 11:42 am)MarcTheA4 wrote That Mk1 National looks very smart indeed...shame I was born too late to enjoy these!

When Classic ran the 21 the variation of vehicles was superb.

GNE used to run National's on the 723 through to Durham occasionally (if a Bristol VR or Metrobus was unavailable) always a great ride.

(21 Feb 2015, 11:42 am)MarcTheA4 wrote That Mk1 National looks very smart indeed...shame I was born too late to enjoy these!

I would have loved to enter the bus hobby before 2012, with all the MetroRiders and P-CCU Olympians!

(21 Feb 2015, 11:59 am)Tommy_1581 wrote I would have loved to enter the bus hobby before 2012, with all the MetroRiders and P-CCU Olympians!

Ah yes. I remember those Palatine 1s! Absolute beasts.

I recall a run on one on the old X23(? I think it was) from the MetroCentre all the way to Durham. That was bliss!

Rode a few on the old X22 (the one that went around the houses) too.

Let's not forget about twenty on scholars!

Those were fantastic machines!

(21 Feb 2015, 11:59 am)Tommy_1581 wrote I would have loved to enter the bus hobby before 2012, with all the MetroRiders and P-CCU Olympians!

The M-FTY, and P-CCU Olympians were absolute beasts. Frequently rode Ashington's on their Newcastle routes. 

Can remember, with regards to the P-CCU batch, that 7410/3 were seriously good, found 7412 a bit slow at times though. I remember one incident where I boarded a late running 7410, it overtook everything on the A1, including a brand new Gemini and a boat load of cars.

(21 Feb 2015, 12:02 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Ah yes. I remember those Palatine 1s! Absolute beasts.

I recall a run on one on the old X23(? I think it was) from the MetroCentre all the way to Durham. That was bliss!

Rode a few on the old X22 (the one that went around the houses) too.

Let's not forget about twenty on scholars!

Those were fantastic machines!

Was that the Newcastle - Durham via Metrocentre X23 when it used Red Arrows branded coaches?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/95597126@N...0472479265

(21 Feb 2015, 12:27 pm)mb134 wrote The M-FTY, and P-CCU Olympians were absolute beasts. Frequently rode Ashington's on their Newcastle routes. 

Can remember, with regards to the P-CCU batch, that 7410/3 were seriously good, found 7412 a bit slow at times though. I remember one incident where I boarded a late running 7410, it overtook everything on the A1, including a brand new Gemini and a boat load of cars.

The V-DJR Primas were brilliant too! On the X20 it was overtaking cars, lorries and vans, never in my life had I gone that fast on a bus!

(21 Feb 2015, 1:42 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote The V-DJR Primas were brilliant too! On the X20 it was overtaking cars, lorries and vans, never in my life had I gone that fast on a bus!

I can never remember the constant delays that are now seemingly commonplace on Ashington's "X" routes when Olympians operated them, yes the occasional one was late, but on the whole everything was largely on time.

(21 Feb 2015, 1:45 pm)mb134 wrote I can never remember the constant delays that are now seemingly commonplace on Ashington's "X" routes when Olympians operated them, yes the occasional one was late, but on the whole everything was largely on time.

The X20 has been reliable all the times that I've seen it, possibly because it has two routes registered, one via A19/A1 and one via Tyneside Autoparc and Marriott Hotel.

(21 Feb 2015, 1:40 pm)Robert wrote Was that the Newcastle - Durham via Metrocentre X23 when it used Red Arrows branded coaches?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/95597126@N...0472479265

Just remembered, I think it was before they introduced service X21. So it went as far as Bishop Auckland IIRC. I just remember riding it as far as Durham. Maybe some older members can elaborate?

(21 Feb 2015, 1:50 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Just remembered, I think it was before they introduced service X21. So it went as far as Bishop Auckland IIRC. I just remember riding it as far as Durham. Maybe some older members can elaborate?

Have a look in the Bygone Era part of the forum.

(21 Feb 2015, 1:42 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote The V-DJR Primas were brilliant too! On the X20 it was overtaking cars, lorries and vans, never in my life had I gone that fast on a bus!

1213 was probably in the best condition inside, but I think it was 1211 that was my favourite example.

They were great on the 685 and Ashington's express routes.

(21 Feb 2015, 12:02 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Ah yes. I remember those Palatine 1s! Absolute beasts.

I recall a run on one on the old X23(? I think it was) from the MetroCentre all the way to Durham. That was bliss!

Rode a few on the old X22 (the one that went around the houses) too.

Let's not forget about twenty on scholars!

Those were fantastic machines!

The X22/X23 have had a few different routes over the years, at one point there was an X22 between Ferryhill and the MetroCentre I think.



The last I remembered of the X23 was it ran Bishop Auckland - Newcastle which I think followed the same route as the 21 did then after Durham Bus Station it headed along towards Belmont then down the A1(M) can't remember if it was limited stop. It only operated about every 3 hours. This was until the X21 was introduced.

(21 Feb 2015, 11:59 am)Tommy_1581 wrote I would have loved to enter the bus hobby before 2012, with all the MetroRiders and P-CCU Olympians!

GNE's Metroriders were hideous. I'd be surprised if some drivers haven't put a white finger claim in, based on how much they rattled and vibrated!

(21 Feb 2015, 2:03 pm)Jimmi wrote The last I remembered of the X23 was it ran Bishop Auckland - Newcastle which I think followed the same route as the 21 did then after Durham Bus Station it headed along towards Belmont then down the A1(M) can't remember if it was limited stop. It only operated about every 3 hours. This was until the X21 was introduced.

It was limited stop. I don't even remember it going to Gateshead. It had ridiculous fares too for some reason. I paid £1.50 back from Bishop to Newcastle.

One of the coach workings used to run a short 21 CLS to NCL then run back as an X23.

(21 Feb 2015, 2:08 pm)aureolin wrote GNE's Metroriders were hideous. I'd be surprised if some drivers haven't put a white finger claim in, based on how much they rattled and vibrated!

I remember riding one or two when I was little, and they shook like nobody's business.

I didn't really like the Solos either. Although I didn't ride many of them either.

(21 Feb 2015, 1:55 pm)Dan wrote 1213 was probably in the best condition inside, but I think it was 1211 that was my favourite example.

They were great on the 685 and Ashington's express routes.

1211 was an absolute beast like, fondly remember my one journey on that , flew up the A1 to Berwick, I was disappointed to get off it... 

(21 Feb 2015, 2:17 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote I remember riding one or two when I was little, and they shook like

I remember when they were first put on the Washington W routes in the 90s, and they were still as bad as that from the moment they landed. Massively better than the bread vans that they replaced though!

Wear Buses: 264 (D264 YBB) by simply|buses, on Flickr

(21 Feb 2015, 2:26 pm)aureolin wrote I remember when they were first put on the Washington W routes in the 90s, and they were still as bad as that from the moment they landed. Massively better than the bread vans that they replaced though!

Wear Buses: 264 (D264 YBB) by simply|buses, on Flickr

Try to imagine what was like being jam packed on one on A Saturday afternoon travelling from Metrocentre to Winlaton.

(21 Feb 2015, 2:33 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Try to imagine what was like being jam packed on one on A Saturday afternoon travelling from Metrocentre to Winlaton.

Done it many a time! I used to hop on the W4 at Biddick towards Concord, when my grand parents picked me up from primary school (going back some years now! early 90s at least). You'd just miss the Biddick Comp load, but you'd end up picking up a load from Oxclose comp later on, and then even more up at the old Dickens (now B&Q). It wasn't the most pleasant of experiences, but I'd certainly have the seats in those buses!

(21 Feb 2015, 2:14 pm)gtom wrote It was limited stop. I don't even remember it going to Gateshead. It had ridiculous fares too for some reason. I paid £1.50 back from Bishop to Newcastle.

One of the coach workings used to run a short 21 CLS to NCL then run back as an X23.

X23 timetable (including fares) can be viewed here:
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/archive/GoNo...ry2010.pdf