Go North East & MG live Facebook event have confirmation that 6101 will be making a public appearance on Sunday at Durham rally

A comment on the Facebook nebpt says the shuttle will depart from outside the BHF on Durham Road

A confirmation from Craig Smith of the Northern National Restoration Group that non of there buses will be attending tomorrow/this year

So did anyone go, then?

We pootled over (by car) for half an hour. Nice to see arriva back there but some of their offering was beginning to look like it belonged in the preserved category!

Yea. 26 buses turned up. Really Really good event

Yes was a good turn out. I think my highlight was the lothian atlantean, which I saw a few years ago under restoration at lathalmond. As usual PTE 680 was immaculately turned out.

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Have to say attendance was a lot better than usual. Only stayed about an hour but glad l went. GNE and JH vehicles were immaculate. Got some good books too. Might try to make Shildon Rally in August.

Charles

(20 Jun 2021, 5:41 pm)Charles41 wrote Have to say attendance was a lot better than usual. Only stayed about an hour but glad l went. GNE and JH vehicles were immaculate. Got some good books too. Might try to make Shildon Rally in August.

Charles

Though the NEBPT offering was a bit lacklustre - only 268 in attendance from their collection (plus 2099 on loan to GNE which operated a few shuttles till it expired in Durham City mid-morning).

(20 Jun 2021, 6:18 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Though the NEBPT offering was a bit lacklustre - only 268 in attendance from their collection (plus 2099 on loan to GNE which operated a few shuttles till it expired in Durham City mid-morning).

Got told of one of the people who was running the event. That due to Covid. Most buses couldn't get MOT so 268 was the only one that had it done.

Mind, given some of the comments on social media you wonder why Arriva bother rocking up. Any effort to attend these things (at extra cost to the operator, and often at the expense of driver rest days) should be commended - or we'll reach a point where rallys stop existing at all. 

Same goes for GNE, Stagecoach and any other commercial operator. Especially given how entitled some enthusiasts are these days, wanting to be in and around all the buses at all costs.

The disablist language is quite unnecessary.

(20 Jun 2021, 6:54 pm)BusLoverMum wrote The disablist language is quite unnecessary.

Edited, apologies.

Didn't bother with it, but looks like a good turnout by operators, providing a good variety.

From the photos I've seen, it looks like it wasn't that well attended by the preservation community. I wonder if this is related to the dates not being good for those involved in the groups, or whether it's linked to MOT availability, as Michael alludes to. Although I wasn't aware that was still an issue, following the backlogs last year.

(20 Jun 2021, 7:06 pm)Adrian wrote Didn't bother with it, but looks like a good turnout by operators, providing a good variety.

From the photos I've seen, it looks like it wasn't that well attended by the preservation community. I wonder if this is related to the dates not being good for those involved in the groups, or whether it's linked to MOT availability, as Michael alludes to. Although I wasn't aware that was still an issue, following the backlogs last year.

I'd normally give Howlands Rally a miss due to being poorly attended and organised in the past but it was a nice surprise to see quite a few out for the event and weather this afternoon no doubt helped.

I only took a few photos as I was only really interested in 6101 and the Preserved Northumbria Vehicles but again I do think for the space available it could have been better utilised, it seemed a steward from NEBPT was invisible as I had to ask a driver to move 6101 into the sun so others could get decent photos rather than shooting into the sun but other than that it was ok.

I do hope we see something bigger later in the summer once lockdown restrictions are lifted potentially at the Metrocentre but I am doubtful this will happen. 

A few photos of 6101.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/51260673315

https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/51258901442/

(20 Jun 2021, 8:00 pm)Malarkey wrote I'd normally give Howlands Rally a miss due to being poorly attended and organised in the past but it was a nice surprise to see quite a few out for the event and weather this afternoon no doubt helped.

Sounds good. It was a really good day for it too

I think its worth noting, especially given its been noted elsewhere, that there again seems to have been incidents of people "helping themselves" and letting themselves onto other peoples buses.

If the doors are shut, then take the hint. If it continues, I can completely understand if this becomes a major factor in preservationists desire to attend such events and unfortunately it gives enthusiasts as a whole a bad name.

In my opinion, we've all got a responsibility to call this behavior out if we see it. Or even better, NEBPT are always looking for volunteers, so please consider volunteering as a steward.

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(20 Jun 2021, 8:23 pm)Adrian wrote Sounds good. It was a really good day for it too

I think its worth noting, especially given its been noted elsewhere, that there again seems to have been incidents of people "helping themselves" and letting themselves onto other peoples buses.

If the doors are shut, then take the hint. If it continues, I can completely understand if this becomes a major factor in preservationists desire to attend such events  and unfortunately it gives enthusiasts as a whole a bad name.

In my opinion, we've all got a responsibility to call this behavior out if we see it. Or even better, NEBPT are always looking for volunteers, so please consider volunteering as a steward.

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It's ultimately the sort of thing that'll put other people off attending rallies too. 

I'd alluded to it in my previous post and rather naïvely let anger out by throwing a derogatory term the way of those involved, but it's annoying to see people (and companies) have their property completely disrespected. It's by no means the majority of enthusiasts, but as always it's the small minority who will inevitably ruin it all.

I'd think larger companies especially would start to think twice about attending when there's a chance of their assets being damaged while not in service. Then for individuals and preservation groups, I doubt they have huge budgets to be correcting things potentially damaged by folk who aren't taking no for an answer.

After talking to some people I found out

Nothing from Tyneside Heritage Vehicles as 413 had a mechanic fault After passing its MOT and THV hadn't had anything done

Nebpt said that 268 was the only bus that had been MOT so Nothing else from them

Craig Smith of the NNRG said yesterday that they weren't gonna be attending any event's this year if more go ahead as non had MOT and wanted to give one more year before attending

I did attend although only for about 30 minutes as health conditions meant I felt it was best I headed home so soon.

I think today was about as good as it could get with current circumstances especially surrounding MOT statuses with vehicles and the like and can't say I blame Bus presentationists choosing not to put stuff through MOTs and keeping stuff off the road at this moment in time when things could change at any minute as to what we can/can't do.

You somewhat have to comend GNE & Arriva plus the likes of A-Line, JH Coaches, Weardale & The Eden for bring stuff along otherwise it would've been a noticeably small selection of attendees and of course everyone else that brought stuff along too.

Hopefully be allowed to get back to some more normality soon...

Apparently it was confirmed yesterday that they got the okay for Whitly Bay and rumours were going round that Metrocentre was going ahead in July. So just have to wait and see

I'd quite like to make it to a Rally sometime,ive never actually been to one

(21 Jun 2021, 11:28 am)V514DFT wrote I'd quite like to make it to a Rally sometime,ive never actually been to one

It's going to be a bit of an odd year for rallies, given the current situation!

I've only managed to visit a couple of rallies around the north-east, Howlands a few years ago and one at, I think, Seaburn.  Of the two, I preferred Howlands; nice mix of vehicles on display, combined with the shuttles to and from Durham city centre.  the folks I talked to were quite friendly as well, although one "enthusiast" let forth a stream of invective at something I'd allegedly done ..... I guess there's always one!

The thing I did notice, however, was that both were smaller events than the ones on the south west that I've done.  I guess at Howlands they're limited by the size of the venue, although the one in Chippenham has a smaller "base venue" but gets round it by using the bus station as a secondary venue together with being the start of the heritage services, with a shuttle between the two sites.  Seaburn, of course, was a slightly different situation, as it was a vintage vehicle rally with a fairly small selection of buses - wasn't really quite my thing, but I guess it would work for others.

Anyway, hope you make it to a rally, and that you enjoy yourself.  And, in the unlikely event that you find yourself in Gloucestershire on 11th July, I gather the Stroud rally is going ahead - usually a good one, so I may well pop over and see how it goes this year!

(21 Jun 2021, 1:42 pm)Ianthegoon wrote It's going to be a bit of an odd year for rallies, given the current situation!

I've only managed to visit a couple of rallies around the north-east, Howlands a few years ago and one at, I think, Seaburn.  Of the two, I preferred Howlands; nice mix of vehicles on display, combined with the shuttles to and from Durham city centre.  the folks I talked to were quite friendly as well, although one "enthusiast" let forth a stream of invective at something I'd allegedly done ..... I guess there's always one!

The thing I did notice, however, was that both were smaller events than the ones on the south west that I've done.  I guess at Howlands they're limited by the size of the venue, although the one in Chippenham has a smaller "base venue" but gets round it by using the bus station as a secondary venue together with being the start of the heritage services, with a shuttle between the two sites.  Seaburn, of course, was a slightly different situation, as it was a vintage vehicle rally with a fairly small selection of buses - wasn't really quite my thing, but I guess it would work for others.

Anyway, hope you make it to a rally, and that you enjoy yourself.  And, in the unlikely event that you find yourself in Gloucestershire on 11th July, I gather the Stroud rally is going ahead - usually a good one, so I may well pop over and see how it goes this year!

Dont get me wrong,it wont be until this Covid stuff is over and done with,as i'd quite like to take my son with me,its him i have to think of

(21 Jun 2021, 1:42 pm)Ianthegoon wrote It's going to be a bit of an odd year for rallies, given the current situation!

I've only managed to visit a couple of rallies around the north-east, Howlands a few years ago and one at, I think, Seaburn.  Of the two, I preferred Howlands; nice mix of vehicles on display, combined with the shuttles to and from Durham city centre.  the folks I talked to were quite friendly as well, although one "enthusiast" let forth a stream of invective at something I'd allegedly done ..... I guess there's always one!

The thing I did notice, however, was that both were smaller events than the ones on the south west that I've done.  I guess at Howlands they're limited by the size of the venue, although the one in Chippenham has a smaller "base venue" but gets round it by using the bus station as a secondary venue together with being the start of the heritage services, with a shuttle between the two sites.  Seaburn, of course, was a slightly different situation, as it was a vintage vehicle rally with a fairly small selection of buses - wasn't really quite my thing, but I guess it would work for others.

Anyway, hope you make it to a rally, and that you enjoy yourself.  And, in the unlikely event that you find yourself in Gloucestershire on 11th July, I gather the Stroud rally is going ahead - usually a good one, so I may well pop over and see how it goes this year!

I quite like Seaburn; if you get the weather, it's perfect, but if not then its awful as a soft-standing event. The only issue with Seaburn, is that the attendance in the last few years has been pretty dire. Probably because its at the tail-end of the North East rally season, and personally I think we've got too many events, instead of focussing on say two larger affairs.

Howlands is an OK venue, but the Sniperley Park & Ride side would be a better place to have a Durham rally. All 3 P&R sites sit empty on a Sunday, so I'm sure the County Council would agree to it if asked. Sniperley is laid out in a horseshoe formation and the sun is in a perfect place pretty much all day.

Seaburn 2019 was quite small for buses turning up. The usual lot weren't there.

Howlands Park & Ride is okay but parking the buses is a task. Is there another Park&Ride near Durham for them to use

Whitly Bay went terrible when it was moved out of the car park

Metrocentre is decent but much prefer the rally down the quayside where it was held for 2 years

I personally don't understand the appeal of a bus rally, then again I'm really not into older buses. And don't even get me started on opinions on 'enthusiasts' (of anything, not just buses), I'll probably get banned!

I remember going to one at Metrocentre maybe 10-15 years ago as a family friend had a converted bus on display, and it was honestly a frightening experience as a 10-12 year old walking around having a look with all the 'enthusiasts' pushing past to get photos.

The only upside was that I got box of Arriva branded pens, I still have a couple in the office!

(21 Jun 2021, 7:43 pm)Micheal Aaron wrote Seaburn 2019 was quite small for buses turning up. The usual lot weren't there.

Howlands Park & Ride is okay but parking the buses is a task. Is there another Park&Ride near Durham for them to use

Whitly Bay went terrible when it was moved out of the car park

Metrocentre is decent but much prefer the rally down the quayside where it was held for 2 years

There's three P&R sites. Howlands, the one I've mentioned - Sniperley, and Belmont.

Which out of the 3 is the biggest

(22 Jun 2021, 7:59 am)Micheal Aaron wrote Which out of the 3 is the biggest

Belmont from looking at Google Maps.
Sniperley is the smallest.

(22 Jun 2021, 8:34 am)omnicity4659 wrote Belmont from looking at Google Maps.
Sniperley is the smallest.

The first year of the rally was at Belmont P&R, don’t know why it was moved as there’s a lot of space at Belmont


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Possible a move back next year cause Howlands is a bit crowded