Just replys to some of the earlier postings.

8222 was fitted with a Cummins ISBe engine as a trial. IIRC 2 Optare Excels were fitted around the same time with the same engine.

As for the centenary vehicle. I think it might be a Dennis Trident / ELC.

Anyone know what the 27X will be operated with yet? The timetable has been added in the new format and it's yellow. Also, it doesn't display "Northern" or "Crusader" services, just "Go North East".

One of the NK51 Presidents sounds like it has had the 'dyson' treatment. Hoovering the route of the 71 this morning

First event of Festival of the North East and Go North East have sent.....3963!

'East Durham' MPD 522 is on the X7, doing the 1210 from Middlesbrough.

(01 Jun 2013, 9:27 am)Kuyoyo wrote First event of Festival of the North East and Go North East have sent.....3963!

They can't even get the right branding on promotional days

Bus 3973 should be out of service it's rattling like mad through Gateshead. Be only a matter of runs before it breaks down

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6020 decker on x35 near farringdon. Brings back the memories of all the deckers when I was a kid

(01 Jun 2013, 12:06 am)GMitchelhill wrote As for the centenary vehicle. I think it might be a Dennis Trident / ELC.

I'd hope not... sending a Trident to celebrate 100 years of operation... :s

(01 Jun 2013, 6:30 pm)aureolin wrote

(01 Jun 2013, 12:06 am)GMitchelhill wrote As for the centenary vehicle. I think it might be a Dennis Trident / ELC.

I'd hope not... sending a Trident to celebrate 100 years of operation... :s

Somebody mentioned a Bristol VR in a previous post in cream in Saltmeadows, but the area it was in you could barely see it. But I highly doubt that, whatever it is, it looks like we are going to be seeing a Variation of the Yellow Northern Livery, hopefully with abit of a twist with the Red Variation included. And I hope it tops Arriva's effort at a Centenary Livery Last Year

Adam, my apologies.
It has been confirmed that it was an AEC Routemaster rather than a Bristol VR. After sighting just a small part of the bus, I was informed that the likelihood of it being a Routemaster was slim, and that it was more likely to be a Bristol VR. As it goes, it has been confirmed to be a Routemaster!

Sorry for any confusion.

(01 Jun 2013, 7:26 pm)Daniel wrote Adam, my apologies.
It has been confirmed that it was an AEC Routemaster rather than a Bristol VR. After sighting just a small part of the bus, I was informed that the likelihood of it being a Routemaster was slim, and that it was more likely to be a Bristol VR. As it goes, it has been confirmed to be a Routemaster!

Sorry for any confusion.

ahh right cheers for the info Daniel, hopefully this isn't being used as the centenary bus, would prefer something more modern like a Gemini. Although I would expect it was being stored there ahead of the bus rally tomorrow. Which I would say is very likely. Probs owned by one of the engineers.

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I think this is what you seen in Saltmeadows Daniel. Would explain the cream part I guess.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/8711524120/

(01 Jun 2013, 8:10 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote

(01 Jun 2013, 7:26 pm)Daniel wrote Adam, my apologies.
It has been confirmed that it was an AEC Routemaster rather than a Bristol VR. After sighting just a small part of the bus, I was informed that the likelihood of it being a Routemaster was slim, and that it was more likely to be a Bristol VR. As it goes, it has been confirmed to be a Routemaster!

Sorry for any confusion.

ahh right cheers for the info Daniel, hopefully this isn't being used as the centenary bus, would prefer something more modern like a Gemini. Although I would expect it was being stored there ahead of the bus rally tomorrow. Which I would say is very likely. Probs owned by one of the engineers.

It's a bus that is already preserved by someone (or a group), I believe.
I'm not entirely certain it will be the centenary bus now, given that it's already under preservation by another group.

I'll post specific vehicle details (i.e. reg etc) tomorrow, far too tired to try and remember at the moment. Someone may get there before me though. :L

(01 Jun 2013, 12:28 pm)citaro5284 wrote

(01 Jun 2013, 12:09 pm)gtomlinson wrote

(01 Jun 2013, 9:27 am)Kuyoyo wrote First event of Festival of the North East and Go North East have sent.....3963!

They can't even get the right branding on promotional days

They cannot send a bus that is poorly. 3964 has been off since 28 May.

Then its immensely poor planning, if your sponsoring an event, either choose a reliable vehicle (which 3964 isn't) or get the vehicle fixed otherwise, why bother, especially when a whole media campaign is built around following 'unique and striking looking bus'

(01 Jun 2013, 8:10 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote I think this is what you seen in Saltmeadows Daniel. Would explain the cream part I guess.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/8711524120/

That's the one, yes.

(01 Jun 2013, 8:21 pm)Daniel wrote

(01 Jun 2013, 8:10 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote I think this is what you seen in Saltmeadows Daniel. Would explain the cream part I guess.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/8711524120/

That's the one, yes.

Thought it might of been. Hopefully we'll speak tomorrow at the Tyne-Tees Bus Rally, i'll probs end up with Bazza no doubt if I end up seeing him otherwise on my tod, lookout for a lad with Ginger Hair and a Grey Jacket on.

Owner of the RM is one of the senior staff at Deptford depot. I believe it was at Saltmeadows to get some MOT work done.

lime service 8 runs from Chester-le-Street to Sunderland via Rickleton, Harraton, Washington Galleries, Waterview Park and Sunderland Royal Hospital. Buses run every 30 minutes during Monday to Saturday daytimes.

lime buses 78 and 78A run from Consett bus station to Sunderland Interchange, via Leadgate, Annfield Plain, Stanley, Craghead, Newfield, Chester-le-Street, Great Lumley and Shiney Row.

Combined lime 7 and 78 buses give a 15 minute Monday to Saturday daytime frequency between Stanley, Chester-le-Street and Sunderland.

Amazes me how wrong this is for an official company website. This is the simplygo.com/lime page.

Lime 8 runs between Stanley and Sunderland via Beamish & Pelton.
The difference between the 78/78A isn't clear. It should say after, service 78 serves Craghead with service 78A serving beamish. As it suggest the 78A serves Craghead, which it doesn't.
And there isn't no such bus as the lime 7.

I mean I'm not for one to be picky usually, but this is particularly bad. I mean you'd think they'd check this information.

Other brand pages also have minor errors with the East Durham page, advising connections onto service 35 at Peterlee Bus Station which it no longer serves and only ever did on a Sunday. The East Durham bus guide (online & printed copies on buses) fail to mention the 259 timetable, and the East Durham page doesn't list 259 as a service. It also offers to use a East Durham day saver on bus services which no longer exist and not adding new services like the 265. The red arrows page is a bit outdated with a large section about 'Red Arrows X3' which is no longer under the brand and from tomorrow will significantly change, so will offer outdated information- so hope that's removed.

Surprise surprise, 8319 has been branded for the centenary and is at the tyne-tees run today.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dansnorthea...921313567/

(02 Jun 2013, 8:50 am)dans_bus_photos wrote Surprise surprise, 8319 has been branded for the centenary and is at the tyne-tees run today.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dansnorthea...921313567/

A temporary livery I'm now led to believe, nothing more - which explains why it was such a quick job.
I don't believe the original plan was for 8319 to receive the livery, which is why I was insistent she wasn't receiving it (despite a clear tip-off being issued to a few enthusiasts who were saying it was going to receive such a livery). Nevertheless, I still do hope something is going to be done about a proper centenary bus!

Why would you suggest its a temporary livery? Why would GNE bother branding it temporary to remove it to put it onto another vehicle. What other bus would you rather they put it on? An SPD?

(02 Jun 2013, 9:18 am)dans_bus_photos wrote Why would you suggest its a temporary livery? Why would GNE bother branding it temporary to remove it to put it onto another vehicle. What other bus would you rather they put it on? An SPD?

I've been told that the vehicle is required! It's a Euro 5 vehicle, and is required. That's all I'm saying.
Unless original plans have changed, I thought Go North East would try and save money rather than waste it on a temporary livery.

Wheres it needed? Acording to yourself it should be sat in Deptford all day as its a spare for the simpicity routes.

(02 Jun 2013, 9:24 am)dans_bus_photos wrote Wheres it needed? Acording to yourself it should be sat in Deptford all day as its a spare for the simpicity routes.

The "SimpliCity" brand for the 36 service is now defunct. That probably won't be the case, but officially, it is.
It is not needed yet, but shortly, will be.

(02 Jun 2013, 9:20 am)Daniel wrote That's all I'm saying.

Where did i mention the 36? I said the simpicity routes which is the 42 and quite possibly the 39 soon too! Sounds like to me you didnt want 8319 to be the centenary bus and are trying to think that it may be de-branded next week or so. For what i can gather your always right with everything associated with GNE even though you have no direct links to the company.

If that is GNEs attempt at a centenary bus then it's a pretty poor effort as far as I'm concerned, sticking a massive version of the window sticker on it and calling it a centenary livery is a typical representation of their attitude to branding recently. The way they're going they might as well scrap the branding and go back to a fleet livery.

(02 Jun 2013, 9:31 am)dans_bus_photos wrote Where did i mention the 36? I said the simpicity routes which is the 42 and quite possibly the 39 soon too! Sounds like to me you didnt want 8319 to be the centenary bus and are trying to think that it may be de-branded next week or so. For what i can gather your always right with everything associated with GNE even though you have no direct links to the company.

The current "SimpliCity" brand holds service 42 and service 42 only at the moment.
Previously, the "SimpliCity" brand held service 36 also, which is what 8319 was the designated spare for, until she was off-road.
I'll admit I didn't want 8319 to be the centenary bus, but I'm told the original plan was certainly not for 8319 to receive the livery. Perhaps plans have changed since I last spoke to my contact, I don't know. It wouldn't be debranded within a week, but perhaps a few months, yes. It would be silly to suggest the former.
I'm sure we went through this a few days ago too. I - like most other enthusiasts - have a contact who has access to information within management. I don't release this information publicly until it happens, though one or two hints may be given once it is in the works. For all you know, my Uncle John could work in management and he tells me everything - you have no idea, and you're in the exact same boat as I am, as far as I'm aware. You may have a few contacts who are senior staff, but guess what? Snap.


Please see a previous post I made, following on from a post you seem to have replicated.
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=4&pid=5170#pid5170

8319 is the centenary vehicle

Looks ok but hopefully a better version will be out soon, if other bus they chose is having problems then it cant be helped, 8319 is a good choice.. i hope it stops with Deptford, seems we don't have a bus with a special branding..

Gonna have to try the new 36/36A tomorrow coming back from work =)


Oh and GNE haven't uploaded the new 73 timetable... that also changes tomorrow...

Also isn't today that 2A/2C start interworking with the 61? What vehicles have been used?

(02 Jun 2013, 11:01 am)CatsFast101 wrote Also isn't today that 2A/2C start interworking with the 61? What vehicles have been used?

A Deptford driver on a Facebook group said that "SimpliCity" Versas are down to be used on the 2A/C.