(31 Jan 2016, 5:10 pm)Davie wrote Might be best to do this in the summer, but could you try a day out in Amble or Scarbough?

I agree that it would be better done in finer weather, but I imagine I'd probably leave those two suggestions for an outing not necessarily bus-related, such as taking the dog to either location with family. Don't think I could do the X20 to Amble or X93 to Scarborough without contemplating suicide after Trashington or Whitby respectively.

(31 Jan 2016, 5:12 pm)R852 PRG wrote I agree that it would be better done in finer weather, but I imagine I'd probably leave those two suggestions for an outing not necessarily bus-related, such as taking the dog to either location with family. Don't think I could do the X20 to Amble or X93 to Scarborough without contemplating suicide after Trashington or Whitby respectively.

Or you could have try and bash some of Arriva's ALX400's.

(31 Jan 2016, 5:12 pm)R852 PRG wrote I agree that it would be better done in finer weather, but I imagine I'd probably leave those two suggestions for an outing not necessarily bus-related, such as taking the dog to either location with family. Don't think I could do the X20 to Amble or X93 to Scarborough without contemplating suicide after Trashington or Whitby respectively.

Not sure I'd even bother with Amble as the X20 is about the only service that runs through Amble, think about the only other one is the Travelsure 472. I just use Whitby as a way of splitting the Scarborough X93 journeys up a bit, you can get pretty much everything there within half an hour.

(31 Jan 2016, 5:18 pm)Jimmi wrote Not sure I'd even bother with Amble as the X20 is about the only service that runs through Amble, think about the only other one is the Travelsure 472. I just use Whitby as a way of splitting the Scarborough X93 journeys up a bit, you can get pretty much everything there within half an hour.

Forget that idea then... haha.

(31 Jan 2016, 5:17 pm)Davie wrote Or you could have try and bash some of Arriva's ALX400's.

I am a lover of the ALX400s, but I'm more inclined to ride one of Jesmond's as they seem to be in the best condition. Belmont's 7477 was a workhorse when I had it on the 46 a few weeks ago, but it sounded really rough. I think it just that the gearbox was shot.

(31 Jan 2016, 5:22 pm)R852 PRG wrote I am a lover of the ALX400s, but I'm more inclined to ride one of Jesmond's as they seem to be in the best condition. Belmont's 7477 was a workhorse when I had it on the 46 a few weeks ago, but it sounded really rough. I think it just that the gearbox was shot.

You could try to track down 7458 as I belive that one is to be withdrawn this year.

(31 Jan 2016, 5:24 pm)Davie wrote You could try to track down 7458 as I belive that one is to be withdrawn this year.

Possibly, but it will be a mission where I'll go in completely blind, as I won't be able to utilise the assistance of Dan or citaro5284.

(31 Jan 2016, 5:26 pm)R852 PRG wrote Possibly, but it will be a mission where I'll go in completely blind, as I won't be able to utilise the assistance of Dan or citaro5284.

If you go to Blyth bus station that will be your best bet.

(31 Jan 2016, 5:26 pm)R852 PRG wrote Possibly, but it will be a mission where I'll go in completely blind, as I won't be able to utilise the assistance of Dan or citaro5284.

Then you'd know what it's like for the rest of us!

Fortunately I found everything I needed yesterday.

(31 Jan 2016, 5:31 pm)Jimmi wrote Then you'd know what it's like for the rest of us!

Fortunately I found everything I needed yesterday.

Well, as the old saying goes, ''it's not what you know, it's who you know''.

(31 Jan 2016, 5:33 pm)R852 PRG wrote Well, as the old saying goes, ''it's not what you know, it's who you know''.

I could probably ask Dan where things are, but then I'd lose the fun in the chase (when it is actually fun!)

Dan is probably thinking, no you can't ask!

(31 Jan 2016, 5:12 pm)R852 PRG wrote I agree that it would be better done in finer weather, but I imagine I'd probably leave those two suggestions for an outing not necessarily bus-related, such as taking the dog to either location with family. Don't think I could do the X20 to Amble or X93 to Scarborough without contemplating suicide after Trashington or Whitby respectively.

There's the X18 to Amble, which goes via Morpeth. Then you could get something to eat in Amble if there's time before the 472 to Alnwick, which takes an interesting route via Warkworth, along tight country roads through to Felton and Shilbottle before heading up to Alnwick. Explorer and Arriva day tickets are valid on Travelsure services.

(31 Jan 2016, 5:38 pm)Jimmi wrote I could probably ask Dan where things are, but then I'd lose the fun in the chase (when it is actually fun!)

Dan is probably thinking, no you can't ask!

That's what Marcus gets told most weeks - by me, at least!

(31 Jan 2016, 6:05 pm)Dan wrote That's what Marcus gets told most weeks - by me, at least!

citaro5284 is less blunt, example conversation;

Me asking citaro5284:

Me: ''Hey, any chance you could track something in the morning for me?''

citaro5284: ''Sure, no problem.''

Me asking Dan:

Me: ''Hey, any chance you could track something in the morning for me?''

Dan: ''No.''

(31 Jan 2016, 8:07 pm)R852 PRG wrote Me asking Dan:

Me: ''Hey, any chance you could track something in the morning for me?''

Dan: ''No.''

Wey it's me weekend off - wudd'ya expect?!

(01 Feb 2016, 4:31 pm)R852 PRG wrote Managed to get an A.

At the third time of asking.....nee wonder!

(01 Feb 2016, 4:31 pm)R852 PRG wrote Managed to get an A.

Well done Marcus!

(01 Feb 2016, 4:32 pm)citaro5284 wrote At the third time of asking.....nee wonder!

Haha, well I've finally got the grade I wanted. 2 weeks of no social life aside from to a select few can stop.

(01 Feb 2016, 4:32 pm)DanPicken wrote Well done Marcus!

Thank you.

(01 Feb 2016, 4:31 pm)R852 PRG wrote Managed to get an A.

Well done.

(01 Feb 2016, 4:52 pm)Davie wrote Well done.

Thanks. Took a lot of work and the stress of three attempts at it but I'm pleased I've finally passed with an A.

(01 Feb 2016, 4:31 pm)R852 PRG wrote Managed to get an A.

Whahey!

(01 Feb 2016, 7:37 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Whahey!

But he still cannot ask for an ice cream in German....haha

(01 Feb 2016, 7:37 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Whahey!

My thoughts exactly. 

(01 Feb 2016, 7:44 pm)citaro5284 wrote But he still cannot ask for an ice cream in German....haha

Mochten sie ein Eis in Ihrem Gesicht, citaro5284?

(01 Feb 2016, 7:47 pm)R852 PRG wrote Mochten sie ein Eis in Ihrem Gesicht, citaro5284?

Google translator is a wonderful thing...

(01 Feb 2016, 8:08 pm)citaro5284 wrote Google translator is a wonderful thing...

We're not allowed to use it for homework and stuff. Yet, it is drilled into us to ''capitalise on our resources'', hmm...........

(01 Feb 2016, 8:11 pm)R852 PRG wrote We're not allowed to use it for homework and stuff. Yet, it is drilled into us to ''capitalise on our resources'', hmm...........

Aye - you're not allowed to use it, 'cause it's full of shite!

Google Translate spits anything out - the majority of the time, it doesn't understand the context of what you want to translate.

We get advised to use wordreference.com. Doesn't mecessarily translate full sentences but still quite useful.

(01 Feb 2016, 8:37 pm)S813 FVK wrote We get advised to use wordreference.com. Doesn't mecessarily translate full sentences but still quite useful.

Likewise, but I find it can be quite difficult to navigate around. It's one thing have the words available, but then having the word order to actually form the sentence is another thing.

(01 Feb 2016, 8:11 pm)R852 PRG wrote We're not allowed to use it for homework and stuff. Yet, it is drilled into us to ''capitalise on our resources'', hmm...........

That would be a dictionary and a grammar reference then?

I've decided, as I've spent a day absent from school due to ill health, to create a mini review summarising my thoughts on a vehicle type to keep myself busy and avoid insanity. If this sort of piece is of interest, comment and I may start doing them from time to time when boredom hits.

Dennis Trident/East Lancs Lolyne

The East Lancs Lolyne-bodied Dennis Tridents have held membership of Go North East's fleet since the millennial year. The first four to be delivered, 3801-3804 (V801-V804 EBR), were destined for Bishop Auckland depot (now closed) for use on the 724 service between there and Newcastle; a service acquired by the company upon takeover of regionally-recognised OK Travel in 1995. The remaining vehicles, 3858-3880 were delivered shortly afterwards, taking up residence at Winlaton depot (again, no longer open, and now demolished). 3858's registration was V858 EGR, the only member of the fleet to hold a V-EGR registration. 3859-3866 were registered W859-W866 PNL, while 3867-3880 were W-SCU registered. The Dennis Trident chassis was very popular in the country, first manufactured in 1997 and replacing the Dennis Arrow and the first low-floor chassis suitable for double deck vehicles to be produced by Dennis. The engine was a Cummins ISCe, which could be attached to a Voith DIWA or ZF Ecomat gearbox (the latter of which was the gearbox that Go North East's examples carried), and the chassis was made available for Alexander ALX400, Plaxton President and East Lancs Lolyne/Myllenium Lolyne bodywork. 

I have a personal liking of the Lolynes. My first encounter with one was on a shopping trip to Newcastle around 2004/2005 time with my mother, I had seen them previously in Chester-le-Street. To my young mind, the front of the vehicle represented something of a frown, forming a ''sad face'', thus I denoted them the nickname ''sad buses''. The Plaxton President-bodied Dennis Tridents, new in the fleet shortly after the Lolynes, were the opposite, with the front of the vehicle's body appearing to be ''happy'' to me at that age, and so I named them ''happy buses''. When I started primary school in 2005, my outings on buses with my late grandad became less and less frequent, only occurring in school holidays, and so I had an absense from riding buses such as Lolynes for some time. 

When I entered secondary education in the 2012-2013 academic year, I began to use the scholars services in November, having had a previous arrangement prior to then. The first time I used one of the scholars buses, from the upper site to the lower site, I made passage between the two on the 888 service, which was always a Lolyne, as it then ran light to Waldridge Park from my school after terminating the 888, then travelling down to Chester-le-Street on the 09:10 X25 service to Newcastle. On this first occasion, I can vividly remember the vehicle was 3878 (W188 SCU). This is still in service at Chester-le-Street, one of only four that currently remain, having been a stalwart at the garage for many years, and it is my personal favourite as it was the first Lolyne I recorded as having been ridden. 

As time went on, I continued to use the scholars services, although I mixed it up for the sake of some variety, occasionally travelling on ''Pronto'' Presidents that were at Chester-le-Street for minor defects to be corrected, prior to being transported back to Crook or replacing a loaned Chester-le-Street bus when it passed through the town on the X21; a procedure that is still common today. Lolynes were always a common allocation for the scholars services, as the depot housed so many at the time (at one point I can recall 3803/04/59/64/65/68/69/72/77/78/79), and these memories of the good times on the scholars buses are still very vivid in my mind. As of the 2014-15 academic year, I ceased using the scholars services as I no longer had any need to do so. Consequently, I no longer frequently used the Lolynes, unless one has appeared on one of my outings since then. 

As of the week commencing 27 April 2015; the first Lolyne was removed from Go North East's fleet, in the form of 3803 (V803 EBR) at Stanley depot, the reason being given as due to a mechanical fault that was not worth repairing. It was cannibalised in the depot, to keep the other Lolynes based at Stanley depot on the road. I did not think much of it at the time, but then on the week commencing 1 June 2015, a second Trident was withdrawn from service; Percy Main's 3858 (V858 EGR). Then, just two weeks later, four Tridents were withdrawn from service at Stanley depot, as a result of the arrival of Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekkas from Brighton & Hove, another Go-Ahead Group subsidiary, these vehicles being 3801 (V801 EBR), 3802 (V802 EBR), 3862 (W862 PNL) and 3871 (W181 SCU). A few weeks then passed, and the first Trident resident at Chester-le-Street depot was withdrawn, 3804 (V804 EBR), and like sister 3803, was cannibalised for parts. 3877 followed a couple of weeks after, and then 3865 and 3879; the latter two of which actually saw service on my scholars the morning they were withdrawn, later being shipped to independent operator Garnett's of Bishop Auckland for school contracts that afternoon.

It was at this moment that I realised the Lolynes were going, thick and fast. Slowly, their numbers continued to dwindle. I decided to try and take every opportunity I had to ride one in service. Even now, with only 4 beastly Lolynes left in service at Chester-le-Street depot, I try my best to hunt one down, as I never know when my last chance will be. To the remainder of the enthusiast community, the Lolynes are very much like marmite; they are either loved or loathed. However, to me, they will always be some of the best buses to serve in Go North East's fleet.