Well, now it's 2016, time to begin the countdown to the 2016 Rally season.

The first one in the North East area is, as usual, the 500 Group's Teesside Running Day.

The date is presently set for Sunday 24th April 2016.

As with 2015, our Bristol VR H106 and Dennis Loline 99 will be attending. More will be revealed as it becomes clear.

(01 Jan 2016, 1:21 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Well, now it's 2016, time to begin the countdown to the 2016 Rally season.



The first one in the North East area is, as usual, the 500 Group's Teesside Running Day.



The date is presently set for Sunday 24th April 2016.



As with 2015, our Bristol VR H106 and Dennis Loline 99 will be attending. More will be revealed as it becomes clear.

Where is this usually held?

(11 Jan 2016, 9:43 pm)DanPicken wrote Where is this usually held?

Operational Base is the South End of the Transporter Bridge. The runs link the site to Middlesbrough Bus Station and Stockton High Street.

I should mention for those that haven't been before - this is not a rally as per the other events in the North East. This is more based on running the vehicles on services rather than just displaying them. Yes, there are vehicles that attend that don't provide any runs but the majority of entries provide trips on a timetable.

(11 Jan 2016, 9:48 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Operational Base is the South End of the Transporter Bridge. The runs link the site to Middlesbrough Bus Station and Stockton High Street.



I should mention for those that haven't been before - this is not a rally as per the other events in the North East. This is more based on running the vehicles on services rather than just displaying them. Yes, there are vehicles that attend that don't provide any runs but the majority of entries provide trips on a timetable.

Sounds good just a nightmare to get to with me having to get the 88 at 08:35 but luckily it connects with the 27 in Jarrow, just have to check times tomorrow and hope the X10 is due.

A reminder that this is now less than 4 weeks away - Sunday 24th April 2016.

(11 Jan 2016, 10:11 pm)DanPicken wrote Sounds good just a nightmare to get to with me having to get the 88 at 08:35 but luckily it connects with the 27 in Jarrow, just have to check times tomorrow and hope the X10 is due.

It seems I never added the X10 times.... I have a 2 min connection at Heworth. How much is a Get Around single on the X10 from Heworth to Stockton/Middlesbrough?

I'll no doubt be making an appearance at this again this year, quite enjoyed it last year.

As of yesterday, 16 vehicles have been entered into the Running Day:

• Home Vehicles H106 and 99
  
• Stagecarriage Volvo Olympian 23 (R833 OVN)
  
• Tim Phillps is bring along former OK Travel Leyland Tiger/Plaxton Supreme LFT5X, which will be running the routes that recall the former OK Teesside routes
  
• And now for the big reveal - Stagecoach have agreed to allow one of the two remaining Volvo Olympian/Alexander RL to attend the event as a final swansong prior to their withdrawal at the end of the school year
  

(28 Mar 2016, 6:51 pm)Kuyoyo wrote As of yesterday, 16 vehicles have been entered into the Running Day:

• Home Vehicles H106 and 99
  
• Stagecarriage Volvo Olympian 23 (R833 OVN)
  
• Tim Phillps is bring along former OK Travel Leyland Tiger/Plaxton Supreme LFT5X, which will be running the routes that recall the former OK Teesside routes
  
• And now for the big reveal - Stagecoach have agreed to allow one of the two remaining Volvo Olympian/Alexander RL to attend the event as a final swansong prior to their withdrawal at the end of the school year
  

Hopefully H106 will be fine after Seaburn last year, will have to ride both Olympian's.

(28 Mar 2016, 6:53 pm)DanPicken wrote Hopefully H106 will be fine after Seaburn last year, will have to ride both Olympian's.

106 was fine yesterday.
As for the Olympians, I don't think the Stagecoach one will be going out on runs.

(28 Mar 2016, 6:54 pm)Kuyoyo wrote 106 was fine yesterday.
As for the Olympians, I don't think the Stagecoach one will be going out on runs.

That's good.

(28 Mar 2016, 6:37 pm)DanPicken wrote It seems I never added the X10 times.... I have a 2 min connection at Heworth. How much is a Get Around single on the X10 from Heworth to Stockton/Middlesbrough?

You can't have Get Around singles on the TTX, Dan. You'll need to get a Get Around day ticket I believe?

(28 Mar 2016, 7:00 pm)Adrian wrote You can't have Get Around singles on the TTX, Dan. You'll need to get a Get Around day ticket I believe?

You can but the longer the journey the higher the price which is why I'm doing Stockton-Heworth.

The maximum peak fare is £2.30 which is what I paid for my niece from Gateshead to Peterlee so a dayticket is probably going to be cheaper for you.

Yeah it's £2.30 for any journey beyond Heworth from Newcastle or Gateshead for a get around single.

Hopefully will be joining, sounds like a decent running day!

After tonight's 500 Group meeting, I can now confirm further entries for the Running Day:

• Stephen Foster is entering his Leyland National YFY4M
  
• Rob Hughes has entered - however the entry list has Bristol LH AFB586V however we believe he is bring his newly purchased Leyland Leopard/Alexander Y-Type YSG87S
  
• Lee Garrett has entered both of his vehicles - Northern MCW Metrobus 3501 (UTN 501Y) and United Bristol RE 6080 (SHN 80L)
  
• Further to previous, Stagecoach have kindly allow the attendance of one of the 2 Volvo Olympians (likely to be 16836 - 16834 is both looking a bit shabby and I understand has a slight issue) as well as one of the Dennis Tridents also due for withdrawal shortly. Please note - due to insurance purposes, neither of these vehicles will be in operation during the event
  
• Further to previous, Stagecarriage will be bring both Volvo Olympian 23 (R833 OVN) and Scania OmniDekka 28 (YN03 DFC). 833 will be running during the event and it is already planned (for those that don't have to rush off) to have a photo-shoot with 833 and its Stagecoach sister under the Transporter towards the end of the event
  
• Stagecoach will also be supplying one of the Stockton-based Volvo B10M/Alexander PS Training Vehicles for use as control vehicle during the event, taking the place of 21037. At present, it is penciled in to be newly painted 20121 however it will be whichever is roadworthy on the day
  

(29 Mar 2016, 10:02 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Further to previous, Stagecoach have kindly allow the attendance of one of the 2 Volvo Olympians (likely to be 16836 - 16834 is both looking a bit shabby and I understand has a slight issue) as well as one of the Dennis Tridents also due for withdrawal shortly. Please note - due to insurance purposes, neither of these vehicles will be in operation during the event

Wonder if this is the reason why Stagecoach don't seem to make an appearance at any of the other rallies in the North East?

Sad news - with a week to go, one of our attending vehicles has had to drop out

https://www.facebook.com/500group/posts/448150075358779

(16 Apr 2016, 11:05 am)Kuyoyo wrote Sad news - with a week to go, one of our attending vehicles has had to drop out

https://www.facebook.com/500group/posts/448150075358779

Are any modern buses attending that are soon to be withdrawn such as Stagecoach ALX400s

(16 Apr 2016, 11:35 am)NK53 TKT wrote Are any modern buses attending that are soon to be withdrawn such as Stagecoach ALX400s

Look at the post above Jimmi's

Well, this time next week we will be into the last hour of the Running Day. I'm assisting throughout the day so shall give a run-down first thing on Sunday morning with what has actually attending and what vehicles will be doing runs at what times.

(17 Apr 2016, 3:07 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Well, this time next week we will be into the last hour of the Running Day. I'm assisting throughout the day so shall give a run-down first thing on Sunday morning with what has actually attending and what vehicles will be doing runs at what times.

Orrr you could let people come find out for themselves?

(16 Apr 2016, 11:35 am)NK53 TKT wrote Are any modern buses attending that are soon to be withdrawn such as Stagecoach ALX400s

Arriva will be bringing somethings...

(17 Apr 2016, 3:28 pm)Multi21 wrote Arriva will be bringing somethings...

Will that be lowlanders with urban 90

(17 Apr 2016, 3:07 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Well, this time next week we will be into the last hour of the Running Day. I'm assisting throughout the day so shall give a run-down first thing on Sunday morning with what has actually attending and what vehicles will be doing runs at what times.

Sounds good! It'd be good to have a running list of some sort in the thread, as it's often information not readily available at events.

(17 Apr 2016, 3:32 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Will that be lowlanders with urban 90

Dear God I hope not! I'm hoping to get a couple of things more comfortable!

(29 Mar 2016, 10:02 pm)Kuyoyo wrote After tonight's 500 Group meeting, I can now confirm further entries for the Running Day:

• Stephen Foster is entering his Leyland National YFY4M
  
• Rob Hughes has entered - however the entry list has Bristol LH AFB586V however we believe he is bring his newly purchased Leyland Leopard/Alexander Y-Type YSG87S
  
• Lee Garrett has entered both of his vehicles - Northern MCW Metrobus 3501 (UTN 501Y) and United Bristol RE 6080 (SHN 80L)
  
• Further to previous, Stagecoach have kindly allow the attendance of one of the 2 Volvo Olympians (likely to be 16836 - 16834 is both looking a bit shabby and I understand has a slight issue) as well as one of the Dennis Tridents also due for withdrawal shortly. Please note - due to insurance purposes, neither of these vehicles will be in operation during the event
  
• Further to previous, Stagecarriage will be bring both Volvo Olympian 23 (R833 OVN) and Scania OmniDekka 28 (YN03 DFC). 833 will be running during the event and it is already planned (for those that don't have to rush off) to have a photo-shoot with 833 and its Stagecoach sister under the Transporter towards the end of the event
  
• Stagecoach will also be supplying one of the Stockton-based Volvo B10M/Alexander PS Training Vehicles for use as control vehicle during the event, taking the place of 21037. At present, it is penciled in to be newly painted 20121 however it will be whichever is roadworthy on the day
  

Slight amendments to this list, Stagecoach will now NOT be sending a Trident and instead one of the 2015 batch of ADL E300s will be attending.

Small reminder that this takes place on Sunday. First departure from Stockton should be about 1100 from stand J at the Southern End of the High Street. For passengers travelling to Middlesbrough, departures will be from Stand 15.

A special feature for this year's event is a few journeys along the former Trollybus routes taking in North Ormesby, Cargo Fleet, South Bank, Grangetown, Eston, Normanby and Teesville passing the former sight of the South Bank depot which closed 30 years ago this year.

Timetable up in Yarm ready for tomorrow