(07 Jan 2015, 11:42 pm)Andreos1 wrote The skanky pub.
Had a door off the green and a door off the bus station.

Also, the access up to the middle of Eldon Square. Off the bus, up the stairs and in the shops within seconds.

That brings back memories. Escalator straight into Eldon Square, and there was originally two bus station exits from the shopping centre. One for each side wasn't it? Closed off by one of those weird and wonderful manual doors.

(07 Jan 2015, 11:42 pm)Andreos1 wrote The skanky pub.
Had a door off the green and a door off the bus station.

Also, the access up to the middle of Eldon Square. Off the bus, up the stairs and in the shops within seconds.

The George and Dragon. A fine establishment. Right up there with The Clock and The Black Garter.

(08 Jan 2015, 12:05 am)aureolin wrote That brings back memories. Escalator straight into Eldon Square, and there was originally two bus station exits from the shopping centre. One for each side wasn't it? Closed off by one of those weird and wonderful manual doors.

Can't remember any weird manual doors at the bottom of the escalators, but you're right, there were escalators on both sides leading down to the concourse. You could also cut through Boots or Bainbridges from Eldon Square or The George and Dragon from the green. 

Here's the allocation of services to stands in Eldon Square and Haymarket circa March 1985.



The buses I used to get were initially allocated to Stand F before switching to Stand D sometime in the 1990s.

The services at stand J, moved over to the other side, replaced by Durham Road services.
The 724 was perfect after a midweek match.

Generally always had an ex OK Olympian on too.

(08 Jan 2015, 7:35 pm)Andreos1 wrote The services at stand J, moved over to the other side, replaced by Durham Road services.
The 724 was perfect after a midweek match.

Generally always had an ex OK Olympian on too.

I believe the services at stand J (The Coast Rd services) were moved to the Haymarket after its redevelopment. Stagecoach/Busways services X87 and X88 (and possibly services 47/48) were also relocated there. That's probably when the reallocation of stands took place - I'm guessing it was probably around 1997/98. In 1999, I had a short stint at North Tyneside College and I definately remember using the new Haymarket Bus Station to catch the bus to Battle Hill Drive or Willington Square. 

I think the Washington, Sunderland and Houghton services ended up on Stand C if I recall. 

(08 Jan 2015, 9:15 pm)aureolin wrote I think the Washington, Sunderland and Houghton services ended up on Stand C if I recall. 

Possibly. I know the Stanley/Consett services (with exception of the 745) ended up in either Stand A or B.

(08 Jan 2015, 9:13 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I believe the services at stand J (The Coast Rd services) were moved to the Haymarket after its redevelopment. Stagecoach/Busways services X87 and X88 (and possibly services 47/48) were also relocated there. That's probably when the reallocation of stands took place - I'm guessing it was probably around 1997/98. In 1999, I had a short stint at North Tyneside College and I definately remember using the new Haymarket Bus Station to catch the bus to Battle Hill Drive or Willington Square. 

Peter Beardsley opened it after its initial redesign. Think the glass panels in the roof caved in or there were issues with the surface not long afterwards. It had work done not long after it re-opened though.
Wonder if that was when the reallocation took place?

The 1997/98 time would tie in with one particularly memorable trip on the 231 (which was off the bottom stand by then).

I am wondering if there was an extra stand added to balance it out though?

edit: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...ge-1618438

(08 Jan 2015, 9:15 pm)aureolin wrote I think the Washington, Sunderland and Houghton services ended up on Stand C if I recall. 

Aye, it was one of the middle stops. Just down from the escalators if I remember right.

Just looking at that map, did Haymarket used to be kind of flipped round from what it is now. Looks like the buses would park where you currently wait, and you would wait where they currently park? Also seems they would enter from where they exit, and exit from the current entrance?

Just found a diagram of Eldon Square/Haymarket from 1997.

(08 Jan 2015, 9:29 pm)mb134 wrote Just looking at that map, did Haymarket used to be kind of flipped round from what it is now. Looks like the buses would park where you currently wait, and you would wait where they currently park? Also seems they would enter from where they exit, and exit from the current entrance?

Aye.
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/alumni/events/cw/thenandnow.html (aboiut half way down the page)

Have you ever seen the old, old design?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/newcastlel...086873856/

(08 Jan 2015, 9:29 pm)mb134 wrote Just looking at that map, did Haymarket used to be kind of flipped round from what it is now. Looks like the buses would park where you currently wait, and you would wait where they currently park? Also seems they would enter from where they exit, and exit from the current entrance?

Yup.

(08 Jan 2015, 9:30 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Just found a diagram of Eldon Square/Haymarket from 1997.

Aye, thought an extra stand had been added.

Got the 733 after a Saturday game and it was never off the same stand as the 724 (or 231)

(08 Jan 2015, 9:35 pm)Andreos1 wrote Aye.
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/alumni/events/cw/thenandnow.html (aboiut half way down the page)

Have you ever seen the old, old design?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/newcastlel...086873856/

That's really weird, it's amazing that it's taken me this long to find out it used to be different, however judging by the Northumbria buses, I couldn't have missed it by long? (I was born '98, and probably started to get the bus into there when I was 2 or 3?). 

The old old design looks fantastic, although I imagine problems could have been caused by break downs etc?

(Am I the only one who tried to figure out which Enviro was exiting on the new picture? )

(08 Jan 2015, 9:41 pm)Andreos1 wrote Aye, thought an extra stand had been added.

Got the 733 after a Saturday game and it was never off the same stand as the 724 (or 231)

If I recall, the extra stand was always there but not used for some reason. Worswick Street had probably closed by 1997 which is why it was needed for the Co. Durham services.

That's probably why I get the stands on that side mixed up.

(08 Jan 2015, 9:45 pm)mb134 wrote That's really weird, it's amazing that it's taken me this long to find out it used to be different, however judging by the Northumbria buses, I couldn't have missed it by long? (I was born '98, and probably started to get the bus into there when I was 2 or 3?). 

The old old design looks fantastic, although I imagine problems could have been caused by break downs etc?

(Am I the only one who tried to figure out which Enviro was exiting on the new picture? )

According to the Chronicle link I put up on the previous page, Peter Beardsley opened it in 1996 - so just a couple of years off.

(08 Jan 2015, 9:51 pm)Andreos1 wrote According to the Chronicle link I put up on the previous page, Peter Beardsley opened it in 1996 - so just a couple of years off.

Ah okay  Looking back at photo's etc, it makes you realise that everything used to be better (in my opinion anyway) bus-wise. Look at the amount of services, and the vehicles that operated them!  Give me an Olympian, and I couldn't care less about fancy free Wi-Fi, plugs or stop announcements... (I'm sure others would prefer other buses, for other reasons, but that's my memory of what it used to be like)

(08 Jan 2015, 9:56 pm)mb134 wrote Ah okay  Looking back at photo's etc, it makes you realise that everything used to be better (in my opinion anyway) bus-wise. Look at the amount of services, and the vehicles that operated them!  Give me an Olympian, and I couldn't care less about fancy free Wi-Fi, plugs or stop announcements... (I'm sure others would prefer other buses, for other reasons, but that's my memory of what it used to be like)

I think there was more uniqueness bus-wise. You could easily tell an Olympian from an Atlantean and even the different bodied versions of each vehicles carried their own stamp. Nowadays, everything looks the same - in my opinion at least. 

(08 Jan 2015, 9:45 pm)MurdnunoC wrote If I recall, the extra stand was always there but not used for some reason. Worswick Street had probably closed by 1997 which is why it was needed for the Co. Durham services.

That's probably why I get the stands on that side mixed up.

Aye, Worswick Street had closed around then if I remember right.
The local Gateshead services stopped using it in the early/mid 90's, with them going via Market St, Grainger St and the bottom of Westgate Road (missing out the left turn onto the Bigg Market).

Can't remember using Eldon Square at all until after the changes (was generally Worswick St, Newgate St or Grainger St) when crossing the river.

(08 Jan 2015, 9:56 pm)mb134 wrote Ah okay  Looking back at photo's etc, it makes you realise that everything used to be better (in my opinion anyway) bus-wise. Look at the amount of services, and the vehicles that operated them!  Give me an Olympian, and I couldn't care less about fancy free Wi-Fi, plugs or stop announcements... (I'm sure others would prefer other buses, for other reasons, but that's my memory of what it used to be like)

Aye, same here. Much prefer stock of that vintage.

There is an Olympian or two (and a Superliner coach) in that old picture.