Word of advice to anyone travelling to Glasgow (having spent a lot of time myself in the place).

Do not wear Blue or Green clothing. As if you end up in the wrong part of Glasgow wearing the wrong colour, then you could have problems.

Glasgow does have a reputation to be a rough place, and it can be in some places, but I found it's just like Newcastle. Just keep yourself to yourself and you should be ok.

And also whilst you're in Glasgow, have a whirl on the Clockwork Orange.

Currently planning a few days out for the end of Jan. I was thinking of an early start from Durham to Darlington on the 7, photo some of the sapphires and gas buses in Darlington, head across to Boro on the X66 to see what's out, head up to Newcastle and then across to Consett for the venture solos. I'll draw a route up when I'm home.

Any suggestions or tips?

Also was thinking of a trip to Carlisle to see the Stagecoach Gold. Anyone done this and is it worth the day out?

Currently planning a few days out for the end of Jan. I was thinking of an early start from Durham to Darlington on the 7, photo some of the sapphires and gas buses in Darlington, head across to Boro on the X66 to see what's out, head up to Newcastle and then across to Consett for the venture solos. I'll draw a route up when I'm home.

Any suggestions or tips?

Also was thinking of a trip to Carlisle to see the Stagecoach Gold. Anyone done this and is it worth the day out?

I've yet to go to Darlington, but hope to visit in the near future. Boro I visited last year, and it's a bit of a dump, but the buses are good

Consett is defiantly worth a visit, and so is Hexham. Maybe if you can fit it in get the 689 from Hexham to Consett or vice-versa!

Had a think about it, and based on what Tom has said, I'm going to probably give Boro a miss. I'm going to cross over to there to get the X10 though, as I haven't done it for a number of years now. I think in all I'll do something like this:

07:14 Durham - Darlington 08:25 - 7 (ANE)
09:40 Darlington - Middlesbrough - 10:25 - X66 (ANE)
10:30 Middlesbrough - Newcastle 11:50 - X10 (GNE)
12:30 Newcastle - Consett 13:23 - X70 (GNE)
14:30 Consett - Chester le Street 15:34 - 78 (GNE)
15:51 Chester le Street - Washington 16:06 - 50 (GNE)

Had a think about it, and based on what Tom has said, I'm going to probably give Boro a miss. I'm going to cross over to there to get the X10 though, as I haven't done it for a number of years now. I think in all I'll do something like this:

07:14 Durham - Darlington 08:25 - 7 (ANE)
09:40 Darlington - Middlesbrough - 10:25 - X66 (ANE)
10:30 Middlesbrough - Newcastle 11:50 - X10 (GNE)
12:30 Newcastle - Consett 13:23 - X70 (GNE)
14:30 Consett - Chester le Street 15:34 - 78 (GNE)
15:51 Chester le Street - Washington 16:06 - 50 (GNE)

Would probably be best off giving yourself less time in Consett and more time in M'bro for a connection. Not sure what the X66 is like for reliability, but I do try and give myself at least 10m connections (though I have given myself 2m connections in the past... )

Would probably be best off giving yourself less time in Consett and more time in M'bro for a connection. Not sure what the X66 is like for reliability, but I do try and give myself at least 10m connections (though I have given myself 2m connections in the past... )

I had a think good think about this, and you're right, the X66/X10 connection time is tight. Although when I'd looked at the X10 timetable I understand that the 10:30 X10 will be the one that leaves Newcastle at 09:00, so I'm expecting it to get caught in traffic on the A19. Bit risky but I'll probably push the timetable back half an hour and get the X9 if I miss it. Fingers crossed.

Consett is defiantly worth a visit, and so is Hexham. Maybe if you can fit it in get the 689 from Hexham to Consett or vice-versa!

Thinking of Hexham on the way back from Carlisle if I decide it's worthwhile. I've planned out something like this:

06:39 Washington - Newcastle 07:12 - X1A (GNE)
07:45 Newcastle - Carlisle 09:56 - 85 (ANE)
10:10 Carlisle - Wigton King St 10:38 - 300 (SNW)
11:00 Wigton King St - Carlisle 11:28 - 600 (SNW)
13:07 Carlisle - Hexham 14:22 - 685 (SNW)
14:48 Hexham - Newcastle 15:35 - X85 (GNE)

However, with the 85/685 reliability issues I keep reading about, I think I'll be cutting it fine on that 10:10 300 service. If that was the case, I'd just push the whole timetable back an hour, meaning I'm still back in Newcastle at a reasonable time - 16:35.

Alternative is basically doing an East to West north of the Tyne. Something like this:

06:39 Washington - Newcastle 07:12 - X1A (GNE)
07:48 Haymarket - Whitley Bay 08:27 - 308 (ANE)
08:57 Whitley Bay - North Shields 09:26 - 1 (GNE)
09:48 North Shields (M) - Monument (M) 10:06 - (METRO)
10:18 Monument (M) - Regent Centre (M) 10:29 - (METRO)
10:59 Regent Centre - Newcastle Blackett Street 11:16 - X40 (GNE)
12:10 Newcastle - Hexham 12:57 - X85 (GNE)
13:27 Hexham - Corbridge 13:34 - 605 (SNW)
14:01 Corbridge - Metrocentre 15:00 - 10 (GNE)

Will probably come up with more ideas as I've got some time off at the end of the month, plus it might be handy to get some practice in for this NEB challenge, if it takes place in the summer.

I've edited it to make it a better plan, but it does start a bit earlier.
My type of place though, less time in places, more places ;-)

7 - Durham Bus Station (0647) to Darlington (0748)
X66 - Darlington (0820) to Stockton High Street (0852)
X1 - Stockton High Street (0921) to Durham Bus Station (1014)
15A - Durham Bus Station (1030) to Consett Bus Station (1110)
V8 - Consett Bus Station (1136) to Stanley Bus Station (1209)
X30 - Stanley Bus Station (1229) to Newcastle Eldon Square (1307)
X85 - Newcastle Eldon Square (1310) to Hexham Bus Station (1357)
X85 - Hexham Bus Station (1448) to Newcastle Eldon Square (1535)

What do you think?

I've edited it to make it a better plan, but it does start a bit earlier.
My type of place though, less time in places, more places ;-)

7 - Durham Bus Station (0647) to Darlington (0748)
X66 - Darlington (0820) to Stockton High Street (0852)
X1 - Stockton High Street (0921) to Durham Bus Station (1014)
15A - Durham Bus Station (1030) to Consett Bus Station (1110)
V8 - Consett Bus Station (1136) to Stanley Bus Station (1209)
X30 - Stanley Bus Station (1229) to Newcastle Eldon Square (1307)
X85 - Newcastle Eldon Square (1310) to Hexham Bus Station (1357)
X85 - Hexham Bus Station (1448) to Newcastle Eldon Square (1535)

What do you think?

Good alternative. Cheers Tom. Part of the reason for the X9/X10 was to charge my phone though although I may take the portable battery with me and do that instead.

Good alternative. Cheers Tom. Part of the reason for the X9/X10 was to charge my phone though although I may take the portable battery with me and do that instead.

No problem - Would you be happy in leaving Darlo/Stockton and going for a fully Go North East day, or do you want to include Darlo?

Despite it being rather cold today, I decided after my Trip to the Eye Infirmary this morning, that I would take some more photos of the FAB56 B9's in which I took photos at the following locations.

Fawcett Street
Stadium of Light
Southwick
Concord
Donwell
Wrekenton
Gateshead High Street
Gateshead Interchange
New Bridge Street

I am hoping to fix my bike at some point so I can get few more Photos at the Following Locations.

Sulgrave
Next to Concord Bus Depot
The Drive (Donwell)
Springwell
Q.E. Hospital

Overall I had quite a Ride about on the 56's Today, It took me 2 and Half Hours to go from Sunderland to Newcastle and I have to say there some Excellent Photos to be Uploaded despite it not being Sunny, Particularly at Donwell which a Great Location for Photos. The photos shall be Uploaded either Tomorrow or Thursday, and to top my DAY off I finally up with 3964 in its Children In Need Livery, shame it wasn't in Service though.

Despite it being rather cold today, I decided after my Trip to the Eye Infirmary this morning, that I would take some more photos of the FAB56 B9's in which I took photos at the following locations.

Fawcett Street
Stadium of Light
Southwick
Concord
Donwell
Wrekenton
Gateshead High Street
Gateshead Interchange
New Bridge Street

I am hoping to fix my bike at some point so I can get few more Photos at the Following Locations.

Sulgrave
Next to Concord Bus Depot
The Drive (Donwell)
Springwell
Q.E. Hospital

Overall I had quite a Ride about on the 56's Today, It took me 2 and Half Hours to go from Sunderland to Newcastle and I have to say there some Excellent Photos to be Uploaded despite it not being Sunny, Particularly at Donwell which a Great Location for Photos. The photos shall be Uploaded either Tomorrow or Thursday, and to top my DAY off I finally up with 3964 in its Children In Need Livery, shame it wasn't in Service though.

3964 seems to be avoiding me, will try to get it on my T&W day on Saturday.

Despite it being rather cold today, I decided after my Trip to the Eye Infirmary this morning, that I would take some more photos of the FAB56 B9's in which I took photos at the following locations.

Fawcett Street
Stadium of Light
Southwick
Concord
Donwell
Wrekenton
Gateshead High Street
Gateshead Interchange
New Bridge Street

I am hoping to fix my bike at some point so I can get few more Photos at the Following Locations.

Sulgrave
Next to Concord Bus Depot
The Drive (Donwell)
Springwell
Q.E. Hospital

Overall I had quite a Ride about on the 56's Today, It took me 2 and Half Hours to go from Sunderland to Newcastle and I have to say there some Excellent Photos to be Uploaded despite it not being Sunny, Particularly at Donwell which a Great Location for Photos. The photos shall be Uploaded either Tomorrow or Thursday, and to top my DAY off I finally up with 3964 in its Children In Need Livery, shame it wasn't in Service though.

Top of Donwell near the bluebell is great for pics on a sunny day, but I've found it arouses suspicion if you're hanging round by yourself. As for Southwick - you're brave..

Top of Donwell near the bluebell is great for pics on a sunny day, but I've found it arouses suspicion if you're hanging round by yourself. As for Southwick - you're brave..

Yeah that's the spot I was at, There was nobody about to be honest so I wasn't to bothered, plus that's quiet area of Donwell compared to elsewhere in Donwell i.e. The Drive, as for Southwick I wasn't there that long, 15 Mins tops, I felt rather uncomfortable with people looking at me as they walked past, but otherwise I had a Decent Afternoon.

As for 3964 Tom it was just on the Layover where Newcastle Bound Services Stop so it was easy pickings for a Photo, I didn't do a "Bazza" either, I instead went up the Bank and took a Photo through a Gap in the Bushes.

Since Tom was on about Edinburgh the other day, and it got onto Glasgow too, I thought I'd share this post I've just noticed on Facebook. Newcastle to Glasgow for little over £10.

http://www.thetrainline.com/farefinder/B...x?orig=NCL&dest=GLC&out=20140210&utm_source=Display&utm_campaign=CRITEO

I generally head up the night before and stay overnight (meeting timings etc) and get the direct East Coast 18.25ish out of Durham 1st class for no more than £30. Usually £25-£28.
Only a few quid more than standard but you get free food, drink, wifi and a few more reward dpoints.

Coming back, the 16.52 CrossStinky is around the £15 mark.

The sadist in me has always been tempted to get the 158 Scotrail/Northern Rail Newcastle - Glasgow via the world train, but never been brave enough!

Currently planning a few days out for the end of Jan. I was thinking of an early start from Durham to Darlington on the 7, photo some of the sapphires and gas buses in Darlington, head across to Boro on the X66 to see what's out, head up to Newcastle and then across to Consett for the venture solos. I'll draw a route up when I'm home.

Any suggestions or tips?

Also was thinking of a trip to Carlisle to see the Stagecoach Gold. Anyone done this and is it worth the day out?

I did a trip to Carlisle on 15th November and in my opinion it was a good day out.
I used the Arriva North East Day Saver at £7.30 (now £7.50) and visited Newcastle for GNE’s promotion of the new Saltwell Park Buses. I then took the Arriva 685 which departed Newcastle around 10.45 and arrived In Carlisle just before 13.00. The journey was on a Pulsar with a loading of around 60% with on time running throughout the route.
The arrival time at Carlisle Bus Station was perfect for my plan to get a photo of Stagecoach Gold as one approached within a few minutes of my arrival. The arrival time also coincided with a lot of activity with long distance coaches arriving and departing.
I walked round to the bus stands outside the Market Hall where most local services stop on either side of the road. There was a good selection of Stagecoach, Reay’s, a couple of small operators and the daily bus to Lockerbie from Houston’s Coaches.
I then went to the area near the Railway Station to get some photos of First Borders X95 and some of Reay’s City Hopper buses. I finished off my day with a walk round the main one way system where I managed to get a few more photos.
My late afternoon return journey was probably the low light of my day. I was at the bus stand before the 685 bus arrived and there were so many people waiting in front of me I was standing on the Arriva Omnicity from Carlisle to Brampton. By the time we had reached Corbridge the bus was running 20 minutes late resulting in the driver leaving the bus to use his mobile phone to report the late running. The late running as far as Corbridge was mainly due to passenger numbers as the traffic had not been too bad. We lost another 10 minutes between Corbridge and Newcastle due to traffic congestion.
Overall a great day out and while the return journey was not ideal it was a Friday and the bus was busy with families travelling to the Children in Need event in Hexham so my next trip to Carlisle will be a mid week one.

It's not as adventurous as some trips described here but, nevertheless, I purchased a Day Rover on Monday and made the following trips:

45 from Rowlands Gill to Metrocentre
X66 from Metrocentre to Gateshead
Metro from Gateshead to North Shields
Walk from North Shields to North Shields Ferry Landing
Ferry from North Shields to South Shields
Walk from South Shields Ferry Landing to South Shields (Keppell Street)
E1 from South Shields to Sunderland
8 from Sunderland to South Hylton
Metro from South Hylton to Sunderland Central
Train from Sunderland to Metrocentre
Walk from Metrocentre to Winlaton Mill
47 from Winlaton Mill to Rowlands Gill

I managed to use all four modes of transport available to passengers travelling in Tyne and Wear. I left the house at 10:45 and returned at about 18:30. I had a mooch round North Shields, South Shields, Sunderland and Metrocentre between journeys spending approximately an hour each there. My favourite part of the journey was the train between Sunderland and Metrocentre: a shoddy Pacer with a defective light and an interior which had seen better days but the sound of the diesel engine whilst powering through Metro stations quickly was enough to make up for any cosmetic wear and tear. The journey took just shy of 40 minutes too - easily the most efficient way of travelling between Sunderland and the Metrocentre.

I generally head up the night before and stay overnight (meeting timings etc) and get the direct East Coast 18.25ish out of Durham 1st class for no more than £30. Usually £25-£28.
Only a few quid more than standard but you get free food, drink, wifi and a few more reward dpoints.

Coming back, the 16.52 CrossStinky is around the £15 mark.

The sadist in me has always been tempted to get the 158 Scotrail/Northern Rail Newcastle - Glasgow via the world train, but never been brave enough!

They actually use 156s and I've done this journey several times (one way) when I used to be in the Sea Cadets. Always caught the 1709 departure from Newcastle to Troon. It was a fantastic run, and I didn't mind the Sprinters. It had a 20 minute stop at Carlisle though.

They actually use 156s and I've done this journey several times (one way) when I used to be in the Sea Cadets. Always caught the 1709 departure from Newcastle to Troon. It was a fantastic run, and I didn't mind the Sprinters. It had a 20 minute stop at Carlisle though.

Is it?
Glad I gave it a miss then!
Can't imagine people use it for anything other than short hops or trips to sea cadets, so makes sense using the 156.

Seen it on the boards at Glasgow Central, but always hung on for the CrossStinky.

Is it?
Glad I gave it a miss then!
Can't imagine people use it for anything other than short hops or trips to sea cadets, so makes sense using the 156.

Seen it on the boards at Glasgow Central, but always hung on for the CrossStinky.

Just be thankful it isn't a 142.

My T&W Day on Saturday will be a short one as I have stuff to do, but will be something like this:

1 - Rosehill to Gateshead
49 - Gateshead to Metrocentre
X88 - Metrocentre to Washington
50 - Washington to Concord
56 - Concord to Wrekenton
1 - Wrekenton to Rosehill

Looking to have some days out on the buses when the weather gets better, if anyone has any good iďeas, then do tell, any help will be appreciated...

I used to do bus marathons when I was a kid, used to go all over

I'm probably going out again on Monday. I think I'll get an explorer ticket this time and take in Durham, Darlington, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool.

I'm probably going out again on Monday. I think I'll get an explorer ticket this time and take in Durham, Darlington, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool.

Give our Sapphire a try! I'm off to Northumberland on Wednesday going Spectra hunting...

Give our Sapphire a try! I'm off to Northumberland on Wednesday going Spectra hunting...

That Sapphire is a good service, got one to Durham from Ferryhill last Saturday night

It's highly likely that I'll be giving Arriva's Sapphire service a try on Monday unless I decide to go from Durham to Darlington via Bishop Auckland.

metro to park lane
3891 to fawcett street
6085 to gateshead
blaydon racer to metrocentre
train to manors
metro to north shields
3891 to jarrow(where it terminated as it was 25 mins late)
606 to scotch estate

Just been thinking to myself rather going to the Durham/South Shields or Seaburn Bus Rallies this, which in terms of Bus Fare would cost me just over £20. Why not go to the Lathalmond Bus Rally in Dunfermline instead, as with Northern Rail it would only cost me £25.50. But what I am wondering is would said Train stop in Edinburgh, and then is there a Bus/Coach Service that would take me from Edinburgh to Dunfermline, As I was thinking of killing 2 Birds with 1 Stone so to speak. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Just been thinking to myself rather going to the Durham/South Shields or Seaburn Bus Rallies this, which in terms of Bus Fare would cost me just over £20. Why not go to the Lathalmond Bus Rally in Dunfermline instead, as with Northern Rail it would only cost me £25.50. But what I am wondering is would said Train stop in Edinburgh, and then is there a Bus/Coach Service that would take me from Edinburgh to Dunfermline, As I was thinking of killing 2 Birds with 1 Stone so to speak. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You can split your tickets and get an even cheaper fare. I recently did this and got advances to Edinburgh for £12 (with a 16-25 railcard) by splitting at Berwick...
Trains run from Edinburgh to Dunfermline or I'm fairly certain that the Citylink network would serve it too... They certainly serve Halbeath P&R which is just outside Dunfermline and served by many service buses.

You can split your tickets and get an even cheaper fare. I recently did this and got advances to Edinburgh for £12 (with a 16-25 railcard) by splitting at Berwick...
Trains run from Edinburgh to Dunfermline or I'm fairly certain that the Citylink network would serve it too... They certainly serve Halbeath P&R which is just outside Dunfermline and served by many service buses.

I can get the Citylink M91 from Edinburgh Bus Station to Inverness, which takes only 40 Minutes to Dunfermline Bus Station and would cost £9.40

Just been thinking to myself rather going to the Durham/South Shields or Seaburn Bus Rallies this, which in terms of Bus Fare would cost me just over £20. Why not go to the Lathalmond Bus Rally in Dunfermline instead, as with Northern Rail it would only cost me £25.50. But what I am wondering is would said Train stop in Edinburgh, and then is there a Bus/Coach Service that would take me from Edinburgh to Dunfermline, As I was thinking of killing 2 Birds with 1 Stone so to speak. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Yeah, you can get a train over the Firth of Forth to Dunfermline.
If timings are right, will probably be quicker than a bus - espec if you get off/change at Inverkeithing, which trains from Newcastle and Durham go to.

The bus museum is quite away from Dunfermline though - probs half way between Dunfermline and Cowdenbeath.