(04 Sep 2015, 1:00 pm)NK53 TKT wrote From Durham:
09:46 X12 
10:40 Eldon Square
10:48 X14
11:21 Morpeth
11:26 2
12:13 Blyth
12:18 x11
12:48 Cramlington
12:53 53
13:55 North Shields
14:03 333
14:26 Ferry via Tynemouth
14:30 Ferry
14:37 South Shields
14:52 20
16:25 Durham for a chance of 9108
or
14:53 50
16:22 Durham

Thanks for the suggestions, although I'm not really bothered about South Shields, I may change the route and times from your suggestions to suit locations for photographs. Then of course I have to account for what to do if things go wrong. I'm planning my day out now although I may just wing it, depends how I'm feeling and sometimes I deviate from plans if something usual occurs or I'm delayed.

(04 Sep 2015, 1:10 pm)Jimmi wrote Thanks for the suggestions, although I'm not really bothered about South Shields, I may change the route and times from your suggestions to suit locations for photographs. Then of course I have to account for what to do if things go wrong. I'm planning my day out now although I may just wing it, depends how I'm feeling and sometimes I deviate from plans if something usual occurs or I'm delayed.

You're welcome

What's it like getting photos at Thornton's as I'm thinking of heading there tomorrow. Is it easy enough to get photos here?

(04 Sep 2015, 10:01 pm)Jimmi wrote What's it like getting photos at Thornton's as I'm thinking of heading there tomorrow. Is it easy enough to get photos here?

Through the fence yes

Heading to York tomorrow. Any tips for places where I can get some bus photos and what is York Rail Station like for rail photos?

Also I've just booked train tickets online, can I collect them from the ticket machine using my reference number?

(18 Mar 2016, 5:26 pm)Jimmi wrote Heading to York tomorrow. Any tips for places where I can get some bus photos and what is York Rail Station like for rail photos?

Also I've just booked train tickets online, can I collect them from the ticket machine using my reference number?

Rail station, next to the NRM and at the Park & Ride. Train tickets can be collected using reference number

(18 Mar 2016, 5:26 pm)Jimmi wrote Heading to York tomorrow. Any tips for places where I can get some bus photos and what is York Rail Station like for rail photos?

Also I've just booked train tickets online, can I collect them from the ticket machine using my reference number?

Make sure you take your card with you.

(18 Mar 2016, 5:26 pm)Jimmi wrote Heading to York tomorrow. Any tips for places where I can get some bus photos and what is York Rail Station like for rail photos?

Also I've just booked train tickets online, can I collect them from the ticket machine using my reference number?

Piccadilly and Merchantgate, The Stonebow and Exhibition Square as well as the rail station for bus photos within the City Centre but beware of traffic at each.

And yes, you can.

Thanks for the tips and advice everyone.

(18 Mar 2016, 5:38 pm)Jimmi wrote Thanks for the tips and advice everyone.

A bit more advice - when you get to York, head into the travel office in the Station. They do a bus map of York which might come in handy

(18 Mar 2016, 5:57 pm)Kuyoyo wrote A bit more advice - when you get to York, head into the travel office in the Station. They do a bus map of York which might come in handy

I think I have said map download to my phone but I would quite like to have a physical copy of it, I will do that, thanks for the info.

(18 Mar 2016, 5:59 pm)Jimmi wrote I think I have said map download to my phone but I would quite like to have a physical copy of it, I will do that, thanks for the info.

The top of Micklegate/Blossom St South can be decent as you get buses to/from Leeds in addition to the Arriva Selby runs and First stuff.

Gonna do a day of bus bashing in the lakes one day next week (possibly Monday), anyone got any advice for things that may be worth checking out round there? Will arrive in Lancaster Bus Station at 11:05 having travelled from Blackpool on service 42, return will either be the last 42 to Blackpool (at around 6pm thanks to the cuts) or trains back to Blackpool. Looking to do more of the south end of the lakes, will do the northern end another day.

(07 Jul 2016, 2:40 pm)Jimmi wrote Gonna do a day of bus bashing in the lakes one day next week (possibly Monday), anyone got any advice for things that may be worth checking out round there? Will arrive in Lancaster Bus Station at 11:05 having travelled from Blackpool on service 42, return will either be the last 42 to Blackpool (at around 6pm thanks to the cuts) or trains back to Blackpool. Looking to do more of the south end of the lakes, will do the northern end another day.

Windermere and Kendel are both nice locations, as for locations for photos, not sure myself.

(07 Jul 2016, 2:53 pm)Michael wrote Windermere and Kendel are both nice locations, as for locations of photos, not sure myself

I'm looking at venturing around the Lancaster, Kendal and Windermere areas on this outing. I'm gonna get some of the new E400MMC's on the 555.

(07 Jul 2016, 2:56 pm)Jimmi wrote I'm looking at venturing around the Lancaster, Kendal and Windermere areas on this outing. I'm gonna get some of the new E400MMC's on the 555.

Opp's that was supposed to be " as for locations".


I'm going in August, so might get a few photos of them.

(07 Jul 2016, 3:10 pm)Michael wrote Opp's that was supposed to be " as for locations".


I'm going in August, so might get a few photos of them.

I'll be there sometime in the summer, 85/685 to Carlisle, 77/77A to Keswick, 555 to Windermere are the ones I want to example and get photos of.

(07 Jul 2016, 2:40 pm)Jimmi wrote Gonna do a day of bus bashing in the lakes one day next week (possibly Monday), anyone got any advice for things that may be worth checking out round there? Will arrive in Lancaster Bus Station at 11:05 having travelled from Blackpool on service 42, return will either be the last 42 to Blackpool (at around 6pm thanks to the cuts) or trains back to Blackpool. Looking to do more of the south end of the lakes, will do the northern end another day.

I'll probably go sometime too in the holidays when I get a chance there are some great services depending on whether you get enough time. The 508 is a great route, along with the 77 could maybe get the 555 from Lancaster to Windermere, 508 from Windermere to Penrith, X4 to Keswick then the 77 via Honister then if you can try the 77 too. Could then get the 555 back to Lancaster or split it by getting the 555 to grasmere then the 599.

(07 Jul 2016, 4:52 pm)Tom wrote I'll probably go sometime too in the holidays when I get a chance there are some great services depending on whether you get enough time. The 508 is a great route, along with the 77 could maybe get the 555 from Lancaster to Windermere, 508 from Windermere to Penrith, X4 to Keswick then the 77 via Honister then if you can try the 77 too. Could then get the 555 back to Lancaster or split it by getting the 555 to grasmere then the 599.

Sadly the timings aren't great. This is what I've come up with.
0930 42 Blackpool - Lancaster Bus Station (1105)
1125 555 Kendal Bus Station (Arr. 1205)
1240 555 Windermere Rail Station (Arr. 1309)
1331 599 Grasmere Centre (Arr. 1430)
1445 555 Keswick Bus Station (Arr. 1514)
1520 78 Seatoller (Arr. 1548)
1620 78 Keswick Bus Station (Arr. 1648)
1700 555 Lancaster Bus Station (Arr. 1916)
1947 VTEC Preston Rail Station (Arr. 2005)
2017 NORTHERN Blackpool North (Arr. 2046)

I will be making another trip in the next few weeks travelling on buses and trains from the NE.

Do they still have any open top Volvo Olympian's and which service are they usually allocated to?

(07 Jul 2016, 5:04 pm)Jimmi wrote Sadly the timings aren't great. This is what I've come up with.
0930 42 Blackpool - Lancaster Bus Station (1105)
1125 555 Kendal Bus Station (Arr. 1205)
1240 555 Windermere Rail Station (Arr. 1309)
1331 599 Grasmere Centre (Arr. 1430)
1445 555 Keswick Bus Station (Arr. 1514)
1520 78 Seatoller (Arr. 1548)
1620 78 Keswick Bus Station (Arr. 1648)
1700 555 Lancaster Bus Station (Arr. 1916)
1947 VTEC Preston Rail Station (Arr. 2005)
2017 NORTHERN Blackpool North (Arr. 2046)

I will be making another trip in the next few weeks travelling on buses and trains from the NE.

Do they still have any open top Volvo Olympian's and which service are they usually allocated to?

That sounds good actually - the 77/77A is a great route so if you can't fit it in that's a shame.

I think they have P534EFL on the 599 but that's it.

(07 Jul 2016, 5:11 pm)Tom wrote That sounds good actually - the 77/77A is a great route so if you can't fit it in that's a shame.

I think they have P534EFL on the 599 but that's it.

Yeah, I could have done a full round trip on the 77/77A instead of a 78 to Seatoller and back but I don't want to get back into Blackpool too late. May do it on my next trip in a few weeks time from Carlisle, may do either the 104 to Penrith or the 554 then hover round on whatever, would like to get the 73A back to Carlisle in the evening but it arrives back into Carlisle only a few minutes before the Northern service heads back to Carlisle and if I miss that I would have to get the 685 back to Newcastle then train back to Darlington (or Durham) and then have to pay silly money to get home from Darlington.

Just searched P534EFL on Flickr and found a photo of it on the 599 at the end of May, so here's hoping I can get that!

(07 Jul 2016, 5:23 pm)Jimmi wrote Yeah, I could have done a full round trip on the 77/77A instead of a 78 to Seatoller and back but I don't want to get back into Blackpool too late. May do it on my next trip in a few weeks time from Carlisle, may do either the 104 to Penrith or the 554 then hover round on whatever, would like to get the 73A back to Carlisle in the evening but it arrives back into Carlisle only a few minutes before the Northern service heads back to Carlisle and if I miss that I would have to get the 685 back to Newcastle then train back to Darlington (or Durham) and then have to pay silly money to get home from Darlington.

Just searched P534EFL on Flickr and found a photo of it on the 599 at the end of May, so here's hoping I can get that!

Yeah thats the problem I wouldn't risk connections like that, you wouldn't want to be stranded. I might go a couple of times up there as I think a few Olympians are still in service on the likes of the 554 and 600 from Carlisle so would like to ride them, and still haven't been on the Gold X4/X5.

Yeah hopefully you get that, there is also a B7TL i think but not sure on the reg.

(07 Jul 2016, 5:31 pm)Tom wrote Yeah thats the problem I wouldn't risk connections like that, you wouldn't want to be stranded. I might go a couple of times up there as I think a few Olympians are still in service on the likes of the 554 and 600 from Carlisle so would like to ride them, and still haven't been on the Gold X4/X5.

Yeah hopefully you get that, there is also a B7TL i think but not sure on the reg.

Yeah, this is the issue. Fortunately I have just looked on Traveline and if I was to miss the train back and have to get the 685 back to Newcastle, there is a train that I would be able to get to Durham which would get there just in time to catch the last 7 home from Durham. If required, I could fork out for a taxi home.

(07 Jul 2016, 5:38 pm)Jimmi wrote Yeah, this is the issue. Fortunately I have just looked on Traveline and if I was to miss the train back and have to get the 685 back to Newcastle, there is a train that I would be able to get to Durham which would get there just in time to catch the last 7 home from Durham. If required, I could fork out for a taxi home.

By the time you pay for a taxi you may as well just stay over for a extra £10 or so as I'm guessing a taxi will be about £30. Not worth it in my opinion.

You could just do Keswick and Northern lakes which I'm planning to do on time, then Central Lakes another i guess?

(07 Jul 2016, 5:46 pm)Tom wrote By the time you pay for a taxi you may as well just stay over for a extra £10 or so as I'm guessing a taxi will be about £30. Not worth it in my opinion.

You could just do Keswick and Northern lakes which I'm planning to do on time, then Central Lakes another i guess?

I guess. There is the matter if I would be able to get a room at this time of year though with the school summer holidays fast approaching and it being booked not far in advance. At that time of night I'm looking at £20 minimum for a taxi.

Could always not do the 73A and just get another bus back at a earlier time, probably wouldn't be able to do it even if I did stay in a hotel over that way.

(07 Jul 2016, 5:54 pm)Jimmi wrote I guess. There is the matter if I would be able to get a room at this time of year though with the school summer holidays fast approaching and it being booked not far in advance. At that time of night I'm looking at £20 minimum for a taxi.

Could always not do the 73A and just get another bus back at a earlier time, probably wouldn't be able to do it even if I did stay in a hotel over that way.

Yeah you could always do the 73A from Carlisle anyway

(07 Jul 2016, 6:08 pm)Tom wrote Yeah you could always do the 73A from Carlisle anyway

Can't get there that early!

(07 Jul 2016, 6:09 pm)Jimmi wrote Can't get there that early!

Ah yeah didn't think of that haha

Does anyone know what Glasgow is like for spotting? Thinking of heading there in March, taking advantage of the Virgin Trains East Coast seat sale.

(09 Jan 2017, 8:33 pm)Jimmi wrote Does anyone know what Glasgow is like for spotting? Thinking of heading there in March, taking advantage of the Virgin Trains East Coast seat sale.

Glasgow is pretty easy for photos, but can be awkward for shade in the Winter/early Spring months. Plenty of stuff in and out of Buchanan Bus Station, which is right behind Queen St station. Glasgow Plusbus will get you everywhere you need to be, and is valid across McGills, First and Stagecoach.

Folk are fine with spotters up there too, but I'd stick to the City Centre if I were you. I wouldn't go too far out by yourself on your first trip, as there's some pretty rough areas further afield!