(05 Mar 2015, 7:27 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Just thinking, with my planned Explorer on Saturday - does the Explorer give me platform access to Newcastle Central? As in, through the ticket barriers and full-access. I have an inkling I will be able to, seeing as I can use it on the Sunderland-Blaydon Line, but I just thought to check.

Might try and get a few photos of the 91s and 43s in their new liveries.

Yes - you're entitled to be on the platform if you have a valid ticket. Explorer and Day Rover are both valid.

Just show it to the staff on the barriers and you'll have nee bother.

(05 Mar 2015, 7:36 pm)aureolin wrote Yes - you're entitled to be on the platform if you have a valid ticket. Explorer and Day Rover are both valid.

Just show it to the staff on the barriers and you'll have nee bother.

Gracias Amigo.

(05 Mar 2015, 7:38 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Gracias Amigo.

Blaydon - Newcastle - Sunderland. On Northern Rail & Tyne and Wear Metro services only.

Even if you have a valid ticket, staff may direct you to the Station Management Centre to sign in if you are taking photographs.

(05 Mar 2015, 7:40 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Blaydon - Newcastle - Sunderland. On Northern Rail & Tyne and Wear Metro services only.

Even if you have a valid ticket, staff may direct you to the Station Management Centre to sign in if you are taking photographs.

Thats what happened with me when I asked about taking photos yesterday, simple and straightforward and welcoming, only if Nexus were so easy going.

Might do a bit of Lowlander bashing on Saturday - where are the normally found?

And also, I may do a big review.

(05 Mar 2015, 9:09 pm)Tom wrote Might do a bit of Lowlander bashing on Saturday - where are the normally found?

And also, I may do a big review.

Look out for one or two on the X2 and X12, and I also tend to see a lot on the 6.

(05 Mar 2015, 9:10 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Look out for one or two on the X2 and X12, and I also tend to see a lot on the 6.

Thanks.

(05 Mar 2015, 9:09 pm)Tom wrote Might do a bit of Lowlander bashing on Saturday - where are the normally found?

And also, I may do a big review.

Lowlander's can pop up pretty much anywhere so it can be difficult to say where exactly you will get one.

Some routes you may find them on.
6, 43, 46/48, 56/57/57A/86, X12/X2, X24.

(05 Mar 2015, 9:13 pm)Jimmi wrote Lowlander's can pop up pretty much anywhere so it can be difficult to say where exactly you will get one.

Some routes you may find them on.
6, 43, 46/48, 56/57/57A/86, X12/X2, X24.

Thanks Jimmi - also, I'm guessing you will know the answer to this, what is usually allocated to the 8/8A?

(05 Mar 2015, 9:14 pm)Tom wrote Thanks Jimmi - also, I'm guessing you will know the answer to this, what is usually allocated to the 8/8A?

It should be the rotten X reg Darts but there often seems to be at least one Solo out each day.

(05 Mar 2015, 9:15 pm)Jimmi wrote It should be the rotten X reg Darts but there often seems to be at least one Solo out each day.

Ah cheers
Might avoid it after the horrid 40 minutes I had on one on the 53. 

(05 Mar 2015, 9:16 pm)Tom wrote Ah cheers
Might avoid it after the horrid 40 minutes I had on one on the 53. 

That would be wise.

Think the longest I endured one for was an hour and a half on service 7 once when the Honest Lawyer flooded and the road was closed the traffic was really bad because of this, as soon as the bus started going to Durham in the wrong direction me and several other passengers jumped off, college wasn't happy about me not turning up on this day yet when it snowed once only me and one other person made it in - some of the people who didn't make it in lived on the other side of Durham and one lived literally down the street from the college! I can understand the lass from Consett not making it though.

(05 Mar 2015, 9:23 pm)Jimmi wrote That would be wise.

Think the longest I endured one for was an hour and a half on service 7 once when the Honest Lawyer flooded and the road was closed the traffic was really bad because of this, as soon as the bus started going to Durham in the wrong direction me and several other passengers jumped off, college wasn't happy about me not turning up on this day yet when it snowed once only me and one other person made it in - some of the people who didn't make it in lived on the other side of Durham and one lived literally down the street from the college! I can understand the lass from Consett not making it though.

40 minutes was bad!
I feel sorry for you having to endure one hour and a half on one of those horrid things!
Is there no chance of a R-COO or a MPD turning up?

(05 Mar 2015, 9:25 pm)Tom wrote 40 minutes was bad!
I feel sorry for you having to endure one hour and a half on one of those horrid things!
Is there no chance of a R-COO or a MPD turning up?

R-COO Darts have been withdrawn so there is no chance of one of them turning up!

A Solo might possibly turn up as there seems to be at least one on each day, MPDs can sometimes pop up too - 1793 was on one day last week.

(05 Mar 2015, 9:28 pm)Jimmi wrote R-COO Darts have been withdrawn so there is no chance of one of them turning up!

A Solo might possibly turn up as there seems to be at least one on each day, MPDs can sometimes pop up too - 1793 was on one day last week.

Never realised that!
Hoping for a Solo then!

(05 Mar 2015, 9:30 pm)Tom wrote Never realised that!
Hoping for a Solo then!

Last few times I've seen Solos on the 8/8A it has often been one of the 11 reg examples which I think are quite decent.

(05 Mar 2015, 9:32 pm)Jimmi wrote Last few times I've seen Solos on the 8/8A it has often been one of the 11 reg examples which I think are quite decent.

Yeah the 61 reg ones at Jesmond are nice.
The 08 ones aren't the best though.

(05 Mar 2015, 9:34 pm)Tom wrote Yeah the 61 reg ones at Jesmond are nice.
The 08 ones aren't the best though.

No, some of the 2008 ones are terrible, rode of Belmont's recently and it was vile and had various different seat moquette's at the back, also had a short ride on 2832 which was overheating and had a noise similar to the bell going off every 3 seconds!

But the 11 reg and ex Durham Park and Ride examples seem alright.

(05 Mar 2015, 9:39 pm)Jimmi wrote No, some of the 2008 ones are terrible, rode of Belmont's recently and it was vile and had various different seat moquette's at the back, also had a short ride on 2832 which was overheating and had a noise similar to the bell going off every 3 seconds!

But the 11 reg and ex Durham Park and Ride examples seem alright.

Are the Y-PDN ones any good?

(05 Mar 2015, 9:40 pm)Tom wrote Are the Y-PDN ones any good?

Not been on them, keep meaning to have a ride on one.

(05 Mar 2015, 9:44 pm)Jimmi wrote Not been on them, keep meaning to have a ride on one.

Ah okay.
They might turn up on the 8/8A as I've never been on them myself.

(05 Mar 2015, 7:27 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Just thinking, with my planned Explorer on Saturday - does the Explorer give me platform access to Newcastle Central? As in, through the ticket barriers and full-access. I have an inkling I will be able to, seeing as I can use it on the Sunderland-Blaydon Line, but I just thought to check.

Might try and get a few photos of the 91s and 43s in their new liveries.

You could just go to the station management and get a free platform access ticket which lets you in and out all day

(05 Mar 2015, 9:48 pm)leestransportphotos wrote You could just go to the station management and get a free platform access ticket which lets you in and out all day

Think I might in the future, may as well just take advantage of the Explorer.

Thanks for the info, Lee.

(05 Mar 2015, 9:45 pm)Tom wrote Ah okay.
They might turn up on the 8/8A as I've never been on them myself.

Highly unlikely as they only ever seem to do Darlington town services.

(03 Mar 2015, 6:02 pm)Malarkey wrote I promise to do a Detailed Review of my Outings this week on Sunday when I get back home from stopping at my Dads House, few surprises you may not expect usually from my local outings.

Afraid I have got some "Bad News", my Phone broke yesterday and I had to take it to the Samsung Shop in Newcastle this morning to be repaired, this meant having to wipe my phone completely, resulting in me losing all notes from my trips out this week, as I was texting them to myself, instead I will attempt to go off my not so good memory and photos on my Camera to do my review.

(05 Mar 2015, 9:56 pm)Malarkey wrote Afraid I have got some "Bad News", my Phone broke yesterday and I had to take it to the Samsung Shop in Newcastle this morning to be repaired, this meant having to wipe my phone completely, resulting in me losing all notes from my trips out this week, as I was texting them to myself, instead I will attempt to go off my not so good memory and photos on my Camera to do my review.

pain in the arse when that happens mate

Does anyone know any nice services to ride in the Bishop Auckland area?

(06 Mar 2015, 4:29 pm)Tom wrote Does anyone know any nice services to ride in the Bishop Auckland area?

Most of the Bishop routes are pretty boring that I've done in my opinion.

All I can probably come up with is service 6, the West Auckland - Cockfield section looks fairly decent.

The Scarlet Band 85 is a good route from Bishop to Barnard Castle but if you have an Explorer ticket I don't believe you can use them on the Bishop - Cockfield section of the route although you could get the 6 to Cockfield then get on the 85 there as I think they are accepted on the Cockfield - Barney stretch of the route.

I don't mind the 56 from Bishop Auckland - Ferryhill, the route runs via Coundon and Kirk Merrington, the route has a few tight roads between Coundon and Kirk Merrington which makes the route a bit more interesting. Downsides you are likely to get a Solo, although at least one journey is double deck operated although there is also a chance an X reg Dart will turn up.

Yeah, there isn't many routes in the Bishop area I would describe as practically interesting as the likes of the 1, 5/5A and to a point the X1 mainly go round council estates.

(06 Mar 2015, 7:41 pm)citaro5284 wrote Have you got your outing planned for tomorrow Marcus....I am on tenderhooks here man!

Seconded.

(06 Mar 2015, 7:41 pm)citaro5284 wrote Have you got your outing planned for tomorrow Marcus....I am on tenderhooks here man!

Indeed I have. Will tweet Virgin EC first thing in the morning to see what diagrams 91105/24 are working tomorrow, then see if I can fit them in.

However...there is a shock for you, citaro5284...I'm on an Explorer!