(27 Mar 2013, 3:57 pm)Paul1975 wrote how true is a rumour I've heard thr us going to be bendy buses on x40 sage starting 7th of April and us it running out of Percy main depot

Gateshead Depot with Saltmeadows Drivers

On the subject of Percy Main services being branded...

Rob, have you any idea of a provisional date for the branding of the Omnicities for the 19 - "Cobalt Connect"?

(27 Mar 2013, 9:21 pm)Rob wrote

(26 Mar 2013, 7:46 pm)gtomlinson wrote If and when the Waggonway DAF's go (and we're all praying for that day) we'll probably end up with either Solars or B10's.

When, not if. These vehicles are highest on the displacement agenda.

Might persuade me to ditch the car if I could rely on the Waggonway, losing the DAF's would be fantastic!

I know its probably a long time away and not,currently on the agenda but, what type of buses do people think are going to replace MPD's would it be solos or something a little bigger like versas maybe

(28 Mar 2013, 8:46 am)Wellsey18 wrote I know its probably a long time away and not,currently on the agenda but, what type of buses do people think are going to replace MPD's would it be solos or something a little bigger like versas maybe

I reckon the current Versas in the fleet will replace MPDs in time. Obviously need a fair few more though.

Highwayman on 58. Just left Heworth about 5 mins ago.

(28 Mar 2013, 11:02 am)Daniel wrote Highwayman on 58. Just left Heworth about 5 mins ago.

there was also one on 27 today as spotted by Bazza Houston http://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/859...hotostream (Bazza 90 Bus Photos)

(28 Mar 2013, 6:46 pm)korn90 wrote

(28 Mar 2013, 11:02 am)Daniel wrote Highwayman on 58. Just left Heworth about 5 mins ago.

there was also one on 27 today as spotted by Bazza Houston http://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/859...hotostream (Bazza 90 Bus Photos)

There was another on the X66 too, though I didn't get a photo. Was replaced again after a few runs though, I believe.

Dennis Dart MPD 512 X512 WRG is back in service at deptford and was on the 38B today, seen it as I was leaving Park Lane on the 2C. Also seen a Simplicity Versa on either 60/61 around 3ish as I was coming into Park Lane, didn't get photos of either unfortunately.

Also there was a Nexus Solo SR on the Staff Shuttle

4920 Northern Renown was on the 2A/2C
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarke...otostream/

Also finally got a photo of 640 Sunderland Connect Solo SR Hybrid which has lead to the completion of my first Branded Set.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarke...040322378/

A few other sets are nearing completion also. For other photos by brand view them via this link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/sets/

Some photos have also been deleted due poor quality, mostly ones that were taken on my mobile phone.

A big update to the Go North East: "Buses By Brand" collection.
As a recent thought, I decided that, as well as creating an online interactive fleet list that will be continuously updated every time vehicles transfers are complete (obviously once I've completed each set), I would also make an archive. Though this archive is somewhat limited given that I only started taking photos in September 2012, it will begin now.

Under the new name of 'Go North East: "Buses By Brand" - Past & Present' (creative, I know), the BBB can be found here

On that page, you can navigate your way to the present section (which you were able to see before) or the past section.


As a note of updates:

In the present section, we see the addition of the "Crusader" brand and the "NHS" brand. In total, the 'present section' of the BBB collection now holds 50 sets. In the near future, more sets will be added once new services are branded and they lose their plain coloured base livery, and those vehicles that retain a coloured base livery will also gain a set, under the appropriate colour, of course!

Below are the photos that have recently been added to the 'Present' sets:

NHS (*) -
563

Citylink -
5343 [R]
5351
5352
5344 [R]

Red Arrows -
6001 [R]
6055

Pulse -
5161

South Tyne -
8246

Pronto (*) -
6024
6037 [R]

Toon Link -
4979
5147

Saltwell Park -
8298

Fab 56 -
5207

Northern -
4838
4924
8223

Blaydon Racers -
5276

Fab 57 -
5171

MetroLink -
4964 [R]

Washington Street Shuttle -
523 [R]
567

Loop -
5223 [R]

Orbit -
8331
8334 [R]
8336
8337

Highwayman -
4940

Crusader -
5316
5328

(*) denotes a set which is now complete - replacements are still subject to take place.
[R] This vehicle's photo has been replaced.


In the past section:

A direct move from the present section, a complete "Route 19" set.
A new arrival - the "Crusader" set. Renowns, of course! Incomplete.


Does anyone have any suggestions as to what brands I may have gotten a photo of since September 2012 which are now defunct? Many thanks in advance.

(29 Mar 2013, 8:03 am)Liam wrote

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what brands I may have gotten a photo of since September 2012 which are now defunct? Many thanks in advance.

X25
Show stopper
West Durham Swift

Thanks for those Liam.
I have a few photos of the "Sir Bobby Robson" brand, a lot of the "ShowStopper" brand and one of the "West Durham Swift" brand.

Not a great deal for an archive, but opportunities won't be missed in future.
They'll be added ASAP.

(29 Mar 2013, 9:53 am)Daniel wrote

(29 Mar 2013, 8:03 am)Liam wrote

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what brands I may have gotten a photo of since September 2012 which are now defunct? Many thanks in advance.

X25
Show stopper
West Durham Swift

Thanks for those Liam.
I have a few photos of the "Sir Bobby Robson" brand, a lot of the "ShowStopper" brand and one of the "West Durham Swift" brand.

Not a great deal for an archive, but opportunities won't be missed in future.
They'll be added ASAP.

What about the old Crusader liveries or any others which may have changed like the Blaydon Racers?

Thanks - I'd already thought of the "Crusader" brand, but not the old "Blaydon Racers" one!

Centrelink too

(29 Mar 2013, 10:04 am)Daniel wrote Thanks - I'd already thought of the "Crusader" brand, but not the old "Blaydon Racers" one!

How about the Angel or Ten?
Or the X36/37?

Thanks for the input, everyone.
It baffles me as to why I've only got one photo of a "Centrelink" Solar Fusion, it really does. That brand has only just recently been revoked, so makes no sense at all. As for the "Angel" brand and "X36/X37" brand, they were never of great interest to me! The "Angel" brand was so poor and the X36 and X37 services so frequently had other vehicles working the service when I took photos of that service.

The updated version of the 'past' collection can be found here.

I apologise for the lack of photo quality, but these were taken when I first started taking photos - so like everyone's first photos, they're not particularly great at all.

In the update, I have added the following:
- "Blaydon Racers" set
- "Centrelink" set
- "Sir Bobby Robson" set
- "ShowStopper" set
- "West Durham Swift" set

The 'past section' now has seven sets, but a lot of missing photos. When I first started taking photos, I didn't take photos of every single thing I saw. Neither did I bother to go out to new places most days of the week to take photos of brands I hadn't yet photographed. Since, I've developed a totally new style.
I would like to say now that, if anyone would like to contribute any photos to these sets (past only), I would gladly accept any help at all. I strongly believe that creating an archive like this is a brilliant idea, and would be great if we could collectively come together as a community to add more photos to it - given that it's for the community to view once complete! I would request that the photos aren't blurry though... I know some of my photos in those sets aren't brilliant, but I have evaluated which ones do look the best in my eyes if I had multiple photos to choose from. If they aren't blurry and you would like to contribute to this section, feel free to send them to dan-g-@live.com - those vehicles that I haven't got a photo of in the past section are all marked with an asterisk, as always!

Full credit will be given to yourself for the photograph, and appropriate thanks too.

pre-Angel branding on the 21?

'21 24 Hour Service' - was a really weak brand but one of the first

Edit - just read the initial post and realised that you said from 2012. Dope!

(29 Mar 2013, 11:56 am)gtomlinson wrote pre-Angel branding on the 21?

'21 24 Hour Service' - was a really weak brand but one of the first

Edit - just read the initial post and realised that you said from 2012. Dope!

Haha! I'm trying to gather photos that I might have taken to insert into the past section. Very little luck so far, other than the brands mentioned above.

That's why I've also said that people can send me their own images if they wish for them to be inserted into the past section archive. Think it's unlikely people will want to contribute, but thought I'd make the offer anyway - best of both worlds really, a set is being complete and it gives us all the opportunity to view a photo once more that may not have been viewed in a long while.

On another note, forgot to give references to the photos I was talking about in previous posts...

Go North East's "East Durham" 536 was rather unusually pictured in Go North East's Saltmeadows Road depot yesterday. More commonly associated with Deptford for maintenance and repair, it did make me wonder what on Earth she was doing so far away. Her registration plate has been removed and it looks like a new (bright yellow) rear bumper has been applied - unless it's always been like that and we've not noticed it until now when we've seen a rear photo! Also in the background of the photo I'm talking about, we can see 4993. Unique to the fleet, she has been on the pits for a week now. Enthusiast Matt Williamson and I were discussing 4993's future when he'd first spotted 4993 on the pits just 8 days ago, and an interesting suggestion that she could be a vehicle to be receiving branding to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of Northern General was made. I'd love to see this happen, given that 4993 is unique to the fleet and is presently used on a wide variety of Chester-le-Street based services. At the moment, no definitive information is known amongst enthusiasts about 4993 though - unless someone would like to enlighten us now?
536 and 4993 in the depot (danielgrahamm)

And also, not as a particularly hefty point of discussion - an odd working as I'd given notice of yesterday.
"The Highwayman" branded 4940 on "Citylink" service 58. (danielgrahamm)

And another which I hadn't (phone was going to die!):
"South Tyne" branded 8246 on "The Orbit" service 51 - a rather common sighting this week. (danielgrahamm)

And finally (almost forgot), a "Diamond" branded Citaro was pictured in Go North East's Sunderland Road depot yesterday - NK08 CGV. I have a photo, but it has not been uploaded to my Flickr photostream.

(29 Mar 2013, 12:34 pm)Daniel wrote On another note, forgot to give references to the photos I was talking about in previous posts...

Go North East's "East Durham" 536 was rather unusually pictured in Go North East's Saltmeadows Road depot yesterday. More commonly associated with Deptford for maintenance and repair, it did make me wonder what on Earth she was doing so far away. Her registration plate has been removed and it looks like a new (bright yellow) rear bumper has been applied - unless it's always been like that and we've not noticed it until now when we've seen a rear photo!

I believe it was involved in a RTA, so it is there getting repaired.

What buses have being used on the 238?, I haven't seen any pictures of it yet

Is 8240 still branded for the 19, has it even being used in service at Deptford, didn't expect Deptford to receive a SPD.

Any new pics of the new depot near the Metrocentre?

(29 Mar 2013, 2:56 pm)Michael wrote What buses have being used on the 238?, I haven't seen any pictures of it yet

Is 8240 still branded for the 19, has it even being used in service at Deptford, didn't expect Deptford to receive a SPD.

Any new pics of the new depot near the Metrocentre?

On the first day of service, it used an "East Durham" MPD, one of two that have been transferred from Peterlee to Deptford for the service, I'm led to believe.
Yesterday, previously withdrawn 512 was working the service, retaining its ex-North Tyne Links branding.

All "Route 19" SPDs had their branding removed, I believe. Latterly transferred, with the exception of 39. No "Northern" vinyls yet I don't think, just red base livery.

As for the depot, it's looking very much the same as the previous photos released.

Thanks for the info, was wondering cause ive seen no photo's.

Shame the new Depot is taking longer than first thought.

(29 Mar 2013, 3:26 pm)Michael wrote Thanks for the info, was wondering cause ive seen no photo's.

Shame the new Depot is taking longer than first thought.

I do have a photo, but didn't upload it to my Flickr.
Just to say I managed to get a photo of it on the first day of the service's commencement.

Will have a rake through my files later and add it as an attachment (providing I didn't delete it)...

Np, thanks =)

(29 Mar 2013, 3:26 pm)Michael wrote Thanks for the info, was wondering cause ive seen no photo's.

Shame the new Depot is taking longer than first thought.

Actually, quite a bit of work has been done at the new depot, see links below

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85045832@N0...otostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85045832@N0...otostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85045832@N0...otostream/

(29 Mar 2013, 3:57 pm)citaro5284 wrote

(29 Mar 2013, 3:26 pm)Michael wrote Thanks for the info, was wondering cause ive seen no photo's.

Shame the new Depot is taking longer than first thought.

Actually, quite a bit of work has been done at the new depot, see links below

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85045832@N0...otostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85045832@N0...otostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85045832@N0...otostream/

Hmm - I was contrasting those photos to my own when I made my reply...
Given the length of time, it doesn't seem a great deal has been done. I'm not a builder, so may be why I estimated the time of completion a lot sooner than what is going to happen if work is being completed at this rate.

(29 Mar 2013, 4:00 pm)Daniel wrote

(29 Mar 2013, 3:57 pm)citaro5284 wrote

(29 Mar 2013, 3:26 pm)Michael wrote Thanks for the info, was wondering cause ive seen no photo's.

Shame the new Depot is taking longer than first thought.

Actually, quite a bit of work has been done at the new depot, see links below

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85045832@N0...otostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85045832@N0...otostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85045832@N0...otostream/

Hmm - I was contrasting those photos to my own when I made my reply...
Given the length of time, it doesn't seem a great deal has been done. I'm not a builder, so may be why I estimated the time of completion a lot sooner than what is going to happen if work is being completed at this rate.

I understand it is still on schedule as per the latest documentation.

Good Friday 29/03/13 Metro Replacement
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarke...115017137/
All photos uploaded

29/03/2013 Metro Replacement Services Operated by Go North East were numbered X901 and operated from Gateshead Interchange to Hebburn/Brockley Whins and Sunderland resulting in a severe affect to other GNE services today most notably the Crusader 27 Newcastle - South Shields which picked up quite alot of passengers between Gateshead and Heworth which caused delays to the service as the Metro Replacements services seemed to running rather slowly to say the least despite the amount of buses being used by GNE/Arriva.

Today Chester le Street operated Metro Replacement Services with usage of ELC Loynes and Plaxton Presidents.

3863 W863 PNL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarke...otostream/

3879 W189 SCU
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarke...otostream/

3885 NK51 UCN
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarke...otostream/

Also the 26A was operating between Heworth and Sunderland at a Half Hourly Frequency but zero passengers seemed to be using there logic in using this service as no one got on it at all in the hour I spent in Heworth. I put it down to the Metro Inspectors not pointing out that this was perhaps a Faster Option for those going to Sunderland.

8322 NK11 FXE
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarke...otostream/

No doubt Metro Replacement Services will be even worse tomorrow with the Sunderland vs Manchester United Match being a Lunchtime kick off. Metro Replacement services also due to run on Sunday and Monday also I believe.

In other news from today the Angel 21 was once again severely affected by road works and a contraflow at Low Fell, I got on the 11.33am at Birtley which didn't turn up until 11.50am and didn't get into Newcastle until 12.50pm, so basically 1 Hour in what is supposed to be 25 minute journey, in that time 3 other 21's passed empty as the Driver was constantly stopping at every stop and giving way for traffic and Hitting every sets of Traffic Lights along the way.

Now I understand why Passengers constantly complain about this particular service.