Deciding to have a break from the revision and slot in an additional trip out given that I've got a free day ticket to use up!

Plan so far:
0642 Metro Stadium of Light to Park Lane (0648)
0712 #23 Sunderland to Peterlee (0747)
0814 #21A Peterlee to Stockton (0925)
0952 #X66 Stockton to Middlesbrough (1005)
1025 #X93 Middlesbrough to Scarborough (1232)
1340 #X93 Scarborough to Whitby (1437)
1542 #X93 Whitby to Middlesbrough (1648)
1705 #X1 Middlesbrough to Sedgefield (1743)
1758 #21 Sedgefield to Peterlee (1840)
1858 #24 Peterlee to Sunderland (1937)
1945 Metro Park Lane to Stadium of Light (1950)

Will update with the vehicles I get tomorrow, or alter if the plan changes...

Brave man - you better hope for one of the better Prestiges. I've done Peterlee-Stockton on the 21a twice before - on a Prestige (4038) and on an MPD (1771) and I honestly preferred the Prestige (admittedly 1771 was making an awful banging noise all the way).

Downloaded the app on my mam's phone too... I'll squeeze in another trip during summer - more Northumberland-based.
Had hoped to squeeze in a journey on a Sapphire (still ain't been on one yet), but had no luck in working it into the schedule. Getting back to Sunderland isn't the easiest of things to do!

Suppose paying an additional 90p single from Durham or wherever to Sunderland wouldn't do any harm, though?
As Arriva is within easy reach for me, I'm going to do a Northumberland Trip soon. However, the X18 isn't one you can rely on, neither is the 14/X14.

Brave man - you better hope for one of the better Prestiges. I've done Peterlee-Stockton on the 21a twice before - on a Prestige (4038) and on an MPD (1771) and I honestly preferred the Prestige (admittedly 1771 was making an awful banging noise all the way).

Hopefully not too decent one as I need one too! lol

Brave man - you better hope for one of the better Prestiges. I've done Peterlee-Stockton on the 21a twice before - on a Prestige (4038) and on an MPD (1771) and I honestly preferred the Prestige (admittedly 1771 was making an awful banging noise all the way).

I've got earphones if worst comes to worst..! I've only been on one of Arriva's Prestiges once before, so fancied giving one a proper go - obviously it'll have nowt on a Merc but y'know, can't complain because I'm travelling for free!

I've got earphones if worst comes to worst..! I've only been on one of Arriva's Prestiges once before, so fancied giving one a proper go - obviously it'll have nowt on a Merc but y'know, can't complain because I'm travelling for free!

You'll be lucky if you can hear earphones on a Prestige!

Deciding to have a break from the revision and slot in an additional trip out given that I've got a free day ticket to use up!

Plan so far:
0642 Metro Stadium of Light to Park Lane (0648)
0712 #23 Sunderland to Peterlee (0747)
0814 #21A Peterlee to Stockton (0925)
0952 #X66 Stockton to Middlesbrough (1005)
1025 #X93 Middlesbrough to Scarborough (1232)
1340 #X93 Scarborough to Whitby (1437)
1542 #X93 Whitby to Middlesbrough (1648)
1705 #X1 Middlesbrough to Sedgefield (1743)
1758 #21 Sedgefield to Peterlee (1840)
1858 #24 Peterlee to Sunderland (1937)
1945 Metro Park Lane to Stadium of Light (1950)

Will update with the vehicles I get tomorrow, or alter if the plan changes...

Probably won't catch you even though I'm around Darlington/Boro/Sunderland tomorrow.

Get into toon for 0830, have breaky and then get an X21 to Bishop Auckland, then Darlington, then an EcoCity bash, X66 to Boro, X7 to Sunderland, then either 56 to toon (with a trip to Gateshead maybe) or 2A/2C to Washington and then X1 to Eldon Square.
Hope to get the 1645 or 1745 back.

Had hoped to squeeze in a journey on a Sapphire (still ain't been on one yet), but had no luck in working it into the schedule. Getting back to Sunderland isn't the easiest of things to do!

The first 30 minutes is bearable but that talking next stop woman....!

Probably won't catch you even though I'm around Darlington/Boro/Sunderland tomorrow.

Get into toon for 0830, have breaky and then get an X21 to Bishop Auckland, then Darlington, then an EcoCity bash, X66 to Boro, X7 to Sunderland, then either 56 to toon (with a trip to Gateshead maybe) or 2A/2C to Washington and then X1 to Eldon Square.
Hope to get the 1645 or 1745 back.

The first 30 minutes is bearable but that talking next stop woman....!

Enjoy Sean, we must catch up in a few weeks time

Deciding to have a break from the revision and slot in an additional trip out given that I've got a free day ticket to use up!

Plan so far:
0642 Metro Stadium of Light to Park Lane (0648) - 4008
0712 #23 Sunderland to Peterlee (0747) - 2812
0814 #21A Peterlee to Stockton (0925) - 4038
0952 #X66 Stockton to Middlesbrough (1005) - 4656
1025 #X93 Middlesbrough to Scarborough (1232) - 7486
1340 #X93 Scarborough to Whitby (1437) - 7484
1542 #X93 Whitby to Middlesbrough (1648) - 7487
1705 #X1 Middlesbrough to Sedgefield (1743) - 7618
1758 #21 Sedgefield to Peterlee (1840) - 2848
1858 #24 Peterlee to Sunderland (1937) - 1468
1933ish #35C Park Lane to Newcastle Road (1945ish) - GNE 5306

Will update with the vehicles I get tomorrow, or alter if the plan changes...

Had a very good day out yesterday - would recommend a similar trip to anyone.

Anyone out at the 500 Group Running Day today?

Had a very good day out yesterday - would recommend a similar trip to anyone.

Anyone out at the 500 Group Running Day today?

I'm travelling free of charge via the world again today. Journey plan detailed below:

0817 #35B Newcastle Road to Park Lane (0823) - GNE 5303
0842 #24 Sunderland to Durham (1007) - ANE 1461
1031 #7 Durham to Darlington (1132) - ANE 1514
1208 #X66 Darlington to Stockton (1239) - ANE 4801
--
1455 #X66 Middlesbrough to Darlington (1538) - ANE 4810
1628 #21 Darlington to Peterlee (1749) - ANE 4802
1758 #24 Peterlee to Sunderland (1837) - ANE 1464
1845 Metro Park Lane to Stadium of Light (1850) - T&WM 4037

Yesterday, I ended up with:

Greenhead to Eldon Square - 685 - 27766
Eldon Square to Bishop Auckland - X21 - 6037
Bishop Auckland to Darlington - 1 - 1426
Darlington to somewhere - 2 - 4802
Somewhere to Darlington - 2 - 4807
Darlington to Stockton - X66 - 4644
Stockton to Middlesbrough - X1 - 7618
Middlesbrough to Gateshead Int - X9 - 6046
Gateshead to Gateshead - 53 - 8340
Gateshead to South Shields - Metro - 4052 and 4074
South Shields to Monument - Metro - 4074 and 4052
Eldon Square to Low Row - 85/685 - 4653.

Really enjoyed it, will have to do something similar soon!

Had a very good day out yesterday - would recommend a similar trip to anyone.

Anyone out at the 500 Group Running Day today?

Oh no! Forgot about that

I'm travelling free of charge via the world again today. Journey plan detailed below:

0817 #35B Newcastle Road to Park Lane (0823) - GNE 5303
0842 #24 Sunderland to Durham (1007) - ANE 1461
1031 #7 Durham to Darlington (1132) - ANE 1514
1208 #X66 Darlington to Stockton (1239) - ANE 4801
--
1455 #X66 Middlesbrough to Darlington (1538) - ANE 4810
1628 #21 Darlington to Peterlee (1749) - ANE 4802
1758 #24 Peterlee to Sunderland (1837) - ANE 1464
1845 Metro Park Lane to Stadium of Light (1850) - T&WM 4037

Thoroughly enjoyable day. 1461/64 were a lot better than 1468 which I had to endure yesterday. I was very impressed with Sapphire: the driver was enthusiast-friendly (he gave me a wave as he came into Durham Bus Station), he greeted every passenger as they boarded the vehicle, he said 'Hope you have a nice day', 'Goodbye' (and other words to that effect) as passengers alighted the vehicle, and his only major downfall was the fact he kept on scraping the bus off kerbs. Think he must have done it circa 6 times on the entire journey.

Also loved the EcoCitys too. I found that 4801 and 4810 were quite cold but I moved to the back of 4802 and it was boiling. To make everything even better, I found a £2 coin on the back seat!

Was great to go to Darlington again as it's something I haven't done since August 2013 when Go North East withdrew their OK1 service. Bit quieter on Sundays but the fact I got photographs of the EcoCitys on lots of different services to what they would usually be found on made the situation better.

Oh no! Forgot about that

Was rather dead this year - you didn't miss much.

1000 #306 Willington Square to Newcastle Haymarket (1024) - ANE 7471
1040 #44 Newcastle Haymarket to Morpeth Bus Station (1135) - ANE 4523
1146 #2 Morpeth Bus Station to Bedlington Red Lion (1208) - ANE 1796
1211 #34 Bedlington Red Lion to Bedlington Clayton Arms (1220) - ANE 4508
1229* #1 Bedlington Clayton Arms to Blyth Bus Station (1247*) - ANE 1401
1253 #X4 Blyth Bus Station to Cramlington Manor Walks (1322) - ANE 1403
1347* #57 Cramlington Manor Walks to Whitley Bay (1425*) - ANE 1800
1446 #51 Whitley Bay to Shiermoor Metro (1509) - ANE 2840
1512* #53 Shiermoor Metro to North Shields Centre (1529*) - ANE 4045
1531 #17 North Shields Centre to Rosehill (1554) - GNE 3858

Overall a very enjoyable day! This wasn't planned, so I just went wherever I fancied! Some of the connections were caught by the skin of my teeth, like the connection from the 53 onto the 17, in fact, I was lucky the 53 was six minutes late! I was hoping for a Spectra on the 34, but got a B10BLE which was canny. The Commander I rode were my favourite out of the lot though, fantastic buses in my opinion. 1796 was disgusting, so had to get off in Bedlington.

All of this was done on a £5 Arriva Day Ticket, apart from the 17 (it was only a 60p single so didn't bother me at all), which is cracking value.

* indicates a delayed bus.

Took advantage of the Free Arriva M-Ticket offer This Afternoon, so I decided to go up to Peterlee after I had been to Ingeus in Sunderland, which I get my Bus Fares back from Anyway, so I have basically had a Free Ride about all Day pretty much.

Only downside to my Day was having to suffer for 40 Minutes on the 23 heading back to Sunderland, with Vile Couple sitting in front me eating each others Faces for the whole Journey, They might as well of did it right there and then as the Lass said she was feeling "Very Horny", As this point I felt physically sick as the Lass was proper Lifting, and I am not talking looks here either, I mean it in a literal sense, the Lad was to better either, but I guess that what's expected when your from Peterlee.

Took advantage of the Free Arriva M-Ticket offer This Afternoon, so I decided to go up to Peterlee after I had been to Ingeus in Sunderland, which I get my Bus Fares back from Anyway, so I have basically had a Free Ride about all Day pretty much.

Only downside to my Day was having to suffer for 40 Minutes on the 23 heading back to Sunderland, with Vile Couple sitting in front me eating each others Faces for the whole Journey, They might as well of did it right there and then as the Lass said she was feeling "Very Horny", As this point I felt physically sick as the Lass was proper Lifting, and I am not talking looks here either, I mean it in a literal sense, the Lad was to better either, but I guess that what's expected when your from Peterlee.

Thank god it wasn't a Malarkey Marathon or you may of well had an eyeful!

Thank god it wasn't a Malarkey Marathon or you may of well had an eyeful!

It was Horrible, wish I got on 1303 which was on the 24 15 Minutes beforehand, but unfortunately it pulled out as got to the Doors.

Only downside to my Day was having to suffer for 40 Minutes on the 23 heading back to Sunderland, with Vile Couple sitting in front me eating each others Faces for the whole Journey, They might as well of did it right there and then as the Lass said she was feeling "Very Horny", As this point I felt physically sick as the Lass was proper Lifting, and I am not talking looks here either, I mean it in a literal sense, the Lad was to better either, but I guess that what's expected when your from Peterlee.

Do expect this on buses in Peterlee, I once had this horrific sight for an hour on Service 21/31 and they were huge and as ugly as can be!

Do expect this on buses in Peterlee, I once had this horrific sight for an hour on Service 21/31 and they were huge and as ugly as can be!

Sounds like a Matching Description of what I had seen with the exception of being on the 23.

Took advantage of the Free Arriva M-Ticket offer This Afternoon, so I decided to go up to Peterlee after I had been to Ingeus in Sunderland, which I get my Bus Fares back from Anyway, so I have basically had a Free Ride about all Day pretty much.

Only downside to my Day was having to suffer for 40 Minutes on the 23 heading back to Sunderland, with Vile Couple sitting in front me eating each others Faces for the whole Journey, They might as well of did it right there and then as the Lass said she was feeling "Very Horny", As this point I felt physically sick as the Lass was proper Lifting, and I am not talking looks here either, I mean it in a literal sense, the Lad was to better either, but I guess that what's expected when your from Peterlee.

Sounds like people I know, he is a little fat scruff and I would not let my dog near his bird!!!

Yesterday, I took advantage of Arriva's free day ticket offer and did a day round County Durham as followed:

0743 Stillington - Stockton 6 1753
0902 Stockton - Darlington X66 4645
1130 Darlington - Bishop Auckland X1 1404
1302 Bishop Auckland - Durham 6 7432
1437 Durham - Ferryhill 7 1520
1527 Ferryhill - Newton Aycliffe 7 1516
1606 Newton Aycliffe - Darlington 7 1521
1900 Darlington - Stockton X66 4810
2042 Stockton- Roseworth 15 1484

Today, I'm doing the first of two trips to the Newcastle area this weekend.

Did an explorer on Friday.

08:05 - 17 - Rosehill - North Shields - GNE 3859
08:31 - 19 - North Shields - Cobalt - GNE 5246
09:04 - 309 - Cobalt - Haymarket - GNE 6103 (Required Vehicle)
09:36 - 44 - Haymarket - Regent Centre - ARN 4051 (Required Vehicle)
09:54 - 43 - Regent Centre - Haymarket - ARN 7474
10:07 - 308 - Haymarket - Sandyford - ARN 7806 (Required Vehicle)
10:18 - 309 - Sandyford - Haymarket - GNE 6106 (Required Vehicle)
10:37 - X84 - Eldon Square - Hexham BS - GNE 5230
11:49 - 687 - Hexham BS - Corbridge - GNE 557
12:11 - 10 - Corbridge - Hexham BS - GNE 6075
12:29 - 683 - Hexham BS - East End - Hexham BS - GNE 558 (Required Vehicle)
12:48 - X85 - Hexham BS - Eldon Square - GNE 5231
14:01 - X10 - Eldon Square - Heworth Interchange - GNE 6048
14:35 - X36 - Heworth Interchange - Sunderland Interchange - GNE 4955
15:40 - X7 - Sunderland Interchange - Middlesbrough BS - GNE 5336
17:24 - X93 - Middlesbrough BS - Guisborough - ANE 7489 (Required Vehicle)
18:28 - X93 - Guisborough - Middlesbrough BS - ANE 4651
19:10 - X9 - Middlesbrough BS - Eldon Square - GNE 6046
21:00 - Q2 - Haymarket - Market Street - GNE 8314
21:27 - 22 - Market Street - Wallsend BS - SNE 19680
21:49 - 17A - Wallsend BS - Rosehill

With travelling on MPD 558, this has resulted in me requiring only 1 bus that arrived to Go North East before 2013 (plus I've travelled on every vehicle based at Hexham depot). The vehicle concerned is Vyking 3970 which only seems to appear in service when I'm working. All other vehicles (31 in total) I require for travelling on with GNE were delivered in 2013 / 2014.

The breakdown of my required buses for haulage is as follows.
Percy Main - 6102, 6104, 6107, 6108, 6109, 6110, 6117.
Riverside - 3970, 5378, 5381, 5384, 5388, 5390, 8339, 8340, 8345.
Deptford - 5369, 5370, 5371, 5373, 5374, 5375, 6084, 6094, 6095, 6096, 6100.
Consett - 646, 649, 651.
Washington - 5362, 5365.

Also travelling on Arriva Northumbria 7806, has completed the Hybrids for Arriva Northumbria.

0856 5A Newton Aycliffe - North Road Morrisons (ANE 1509)
0924 X66 Middlesbrough Bus Station (ANE 4656)
1010 X7 Peterlee Bus Station (GNE 5334)
1137 X9 Newcastle Eldon Square (GNE 3942) was over 10 minutes late though.
1310 X36 Sunderland (GNE 5208)
1522 24 Dalton Park Retail Outlet (ANE 4646)
1614 24 Durham Bus Station (ANE 7432)
1722 7 Newton Aycliffe (ANE 1520)

Particularly enjoyed 7432 on Service 24 from Dalton Park to Durham.

Did not enjoy 3942 on Service X9 as it was late and the seats are a bit worn down now. Also the heating was turned up so high that I went to open the window only to find out that it already was!

0856 5A Newton Aycliffe - North Road Morrisons (ANE 1509)
0924 X66 Middlesbrough Bus Station (ANE 4656)
1010 X7 Peterlee Bus Station (GNE 5334)
1137 X9 Newcastle Eldon Square (GNE 3942) was over 10 minutes late though.
1310 X36 Sunderland (GNE 5208)
1522 24 Dalton Park Retail Outlet (ANE 4646)
1614 24 Durham Bus Station (ANE 7432)
1722 7 Newton Aycliffe (ANE 1520)

Particularly enjoyed 7432 on Service 24 from Dalton Park to Durham.

Did not enjoy 3942 on Service X9 as it was late and the seats are a bit worn down now. Also the heating was turned up so high that I went to open the window only to find out that it already was!

Best thing about 3942! It's like that permanently - I love it, me!

0856 5A Newton Aycliffe - North Road Morrisons (ANE 1509)
0924 X66 Middlesbrough Bus Station (ANE 4656)
1010 X7 Peterlee Bus Station (GNE 5334)
1137 X9 Newcastle Eldon Square (GNE 3942) was over 10 minutes late though.
1310 X36 Sunderland (GNE 5208)
1522 24 Dalton Park Retail Outlet (ANE 4646)
1614 24 Durham Bus Station (ANE 7432)
1722 7 Newton Aycliffe (ANE 1520)

Particularly enjoyed 7432 on Service 24 from Dalton Park to Durham.

Did not enjoy 3942 on Service X9 as it was late and the seats are a bit worn down now. Also the heating was turned up so high that I went to open the window only to find out that it already was!

Nowt worse than a stuffy bus. I'd rather sit in the cold, than it to be hot enough for people to start smelling.

Best thing about 3942! It's like that permanently - I love it, me!

I removed my hoodie for that journey.

Also does 3942 have WiFi?

Best thing about 3942! It's like that permanently - I love it, me!

Stops it overheating, I guess! Any way to get rid of excess heat...

I removed my hoodie for that journey.

Also does 3942 have WiFi?

I don't think any of the Gemini B7s have WiFi. I'm not sure if it's been removed, but on 3965 and 3962 there used to be stickers claiming there was free Wi-Fi on board. False advertising , I think they've been removed now though because when 3965 was used on Scholars 886 a few months ago the kids trying to access the Internet on their phones went into orbit.

Gonna try and do this trip in the half-term. Just to have a ride on certain services and buses rather than mainly photographing vehicles, but it will mainly be a GNE based day.

#1 1020 Churchill Street to North Shields Centre 1039
#80 1046 North Shields Centre to North Tyneside Hospital 1059
#309 1101 North Tyneside Hospital to Whitley Bay Town Centre 1107
#W3 1120 Whitley Bay Town Centre to Verne Road 1146
#310 1149 Verne Road to North Shields Centre 1200
#19 1203 North Shields Centre to Cramlington Shops 1252
#17 1323 Cramlington Shops to Killingworth Bus Station 1339
#353 1345 Killingworth Bus Station to Kingston Park Tesco 1427
#X47 1431 Kingston Park Tesco to St Mary’s Place Newcastle 1455
#309 1456 St Mary’s Place Newcastle to Middle Engine Lane 1517

I'm planning a Sunderland based trip out for the half-term, which will be on a Sunday, and I'm wandering if anyone knows any interesting services to ride in that area?
Cheers.

I'm planning a Sunderland based trip out for the half-term, which will be on a Sunday, and I'm wandering if anyone knows any interesting services to ride in that area?
Cheers.

A round trip on service 18 or 19 and you've essentially covered all of Sunderland. :p