There must be something wrong with you if you like them Darts.

Hope more of the Enviro 200s have entered service, seemed like most were still Darts on Wednesday morning.

Might strike gold and get a Lowlander!

Might strike gold and get a Lowlander!

Be hard - 3 of the 4 57-regs are more-or-less locked onto X12/X2 at present as they are 4 of about 15 (more if any more E200s have entered service since Wednesday) that actually have the X12 programmed in the destination displays.

May scrap my Teesside trip tomorrow or maybe cut it back as the weather looks set to be not very pleasant.

Although if there is snow anywhere around the NE please let us know as I'd quite like some snowy shots.

May scrap my Teesside trip tomorrow or maybe cut it back as the weather looks set to be not very pleasant.

Although if there is snow anywhere around the NE please let us know as I'd quite like some snowy shots.

Oh damn, I never thought about the weather.

If it's bad, I'll pass.

Be hard - 3 of the 4 57-regs are more-or-less locked onto X12/X2 at present as they are 4 of about 15 (more if any more E200s have entered service since Wednesday) that actually have the X12 programmed in the destination displays.

Why would that be?

May scrap my Teesside trip tomorrow or maybe cut it back as the weather looks set to be not very pleasant.

Although if there is snow anywhere around the NE please let us know as I'd quite like some snowy shots.

Tomorrow could be very challenging in terms of getting anywhere never mind getting photos. Depends how bad the winds get overnight. Due to peak around 0300 I understand. Possible snowfall later in the day away from the coasts, with the majority arriving overnight into Sunday. Unsure how long it will last though.

Oh damn, I never thought about the weather.

If it's bad, I'll pass.

For me it is more not wanting to stand around whilst wanting to get photos.

Why would that be?

Durham stopped uploading a revised list once they discovered a few errors - which hopefully have now reached the person who did the list at Head Office.

Tomorrow could be very challenging in terms of getting anywhere never mind getting photos. Depends how bad the winds get overnight. Due to peak around 0300 I understand. Possible snowfall later in the day away from the coasts, with the majority arriving overnight into Sunday. Unsure how long it will last though.

I don't think I'd particularly like to jump on service X66 with strong winds.

Durham stopped uploading a revised list once they discovered a few errors - which hopefully have now reached the person who did the list at Head Office.

I thought they were now amended at local level?

I thought they were now amended at local level?

No, Arriva's screens are done by North East's Commercial Managers. So the depot has to report any problems to the Commercial Department for them to be rectified. Durham of course did have their own internal list until last weekend but they haven't looked to put X12 onto that which means if any sense, the fourth Lowlander will be on one of the 6 decker boards as that works an X12 on an evening.

No, Arriva's screens are done by North East's Commercial Managers. So the depot has to report any problems to the Commercial Department for them to be rectified. Durham of course did have their own internal list until last weekend but they haven't looked to put X12 onto that which means if any sense, the fourth Lowlander will be on one of the 6 decker boards as that works an X12 on an evening.

So does this spell the end of the 'special' font used for Belmont's buses?

So does this spell the end of the 'special' font used for Belmont's buses?

Yes - standard version for all depots south of the Tyne. Likely be rolled out at the Northumbria depots before the end of the year.

The 4th lowlander has been allocated to one of the decker boards on the 56/57/57A most of this week.

One of the 57-reg examples was on tonight's X21, I believe...

Even though it's horrible outside, I think I am still going to go out and about today.
Possibly Consett/Stanley way to get some Olympians.

Even though it's horrible outside, I think I am still going to go out and about today.
Possibly Consett/Stanley way to get some Olympians.

Good luck! I think I'm going to do the Chester diversions, Durham, and then back towards Gateshead.

Good luck! I think I'm going to do the Chester diversions, Durham, and then back towards Gateshead.

Thanks - you too.

Might do Durham and Chester too, but I really don't know - think I will just plan it as I go along

Even though it's horrible outside, I think I am still going to go out and about today.
Possibly Consett/Stanley way to get some Olympians.

I am also going out today, I'm going to Sunderland then maybe Chester

Possibly my Explorer day on Thursday, might try and get an Olympian...

So far today;

#17 1035 Home to Wallsend 1050 - GNE 5157
Metro - 1055 Wallsend to Monument 1105 - Metrocar 4001
Metro - 1110ish Monument to Gateshead 1115 - Metrocar 4031
#X31 1125 Gateshead to Stanley 1155 - GNE 3862
#43 1213 Stanley to Durham Uni Hospital 1240ish - GNE 5292
#X21 1255 Durham Uni Hospital to Durham Bus Station 1259 - GNE 6023
#X22 1335 Durham to Chester le St 1355 - GNE 6022
#8 1412 Chester le St to Galleries - GNE 4853
#50 1435 Galleries to Boldon 1455 - GNE 5259
#9 1545 Boldon to Howdon Road 1615 - GNE 5154
#17 1620 Percy Main Village to Home - GNE 5157

My trip out today....

#21 - Home to Durham
(11:06 --- 11:20) - Volvo B7TL Gemini 3965
#64 - Durham to Arnison Centre
(11:24 --- 11:45) - Dennis Dart 1315
#64 - Arnison Centre to Durham
(12:01 --- 12:17) - Enviro200 1320
#6 - Durham to Bishop Auckland
(12:19 --- 13:00) - Pulsar 2 1473
#X21 - Bishop Auckland to Home
(13:03 --- 13:55) - Volvo President 6021

Sadly didn't see any Olympians, but the highlight of my day was riding 1320, newly refurbished bus smell all around!

I did see 1323 and 1327 while I was around in Durham, I don't mind the livery so much now that I've seen it.

After getting off 1320 I headed across to the bus station and saw 1473 sitting on the 6 stand. I had planned to ride this so I was happy I didn't have to wait; driver was very nice too.

After getting off in Bishop I felt like taking some photos of Scarlet Band's Solo that was parked up, as well as 3879 and 3875 in the layover bay. 6038 was on the 18 too, but it was absolutely freezing so I hopped on 6021 back home.

Marcus

So far today;

#17 1035 Home to Wallsend 1050 - GNE 5157
Metro - 1055 Wallsend to Monument 1105 - Metrocar 4001
Metro - 1110ish Monument to Gateshead 1115 - Metrocar 4031
#X31 1125 Gateshead to Stanley 1155 - GNE 3862
#43 1213 Stanley to Durham Uni Hospital 1240ish - GNE 5292
#X21 1255 Durham Uni Hospital to Durham Bus Station 1259 - GNE 6023
#X22 1335 Durham to Chester le St 1355 - GNE 6022
#8 1412 Chester le St to Galleries - GNE 4853
#50 1435 Galleries to Boldon 1455 - GNE 5259
#9 1545 Boldon to Howdon Road 1615 - GNE 5154
#17 1620 Percy Main Village to Home - GNE 5157

Fully updated.

Think I might do Sunderland next Sunday, as it will be the last chance to get the odd workings on Sundays (Drifters on 42 etc.)

Think I might do Sunderland next Sunday, as it will be the last chance to get the odd workings on Sundays (Drifters on 42 etc.)

I may go out and do a solo next Sunday. Might try the 15 as I gather its a Venture allocation.

Never realised how peaceful it is on a Sunday, and how easy it is to take photos!

I may go out and do a solo next Sunday. Might try the 15 as I gather its a Venture allocation.

Never realised how peaceful it is on a Sunday, and how easy it is to take photos!

Yes I like it on a Sunday.
Although if you want the Sunderland allocations next week will be your last chance.
But the 15 will be a very nice route with the Solos - not as good as the 689 though. 

I quite like Sundays during the summer months, but it can be a struggle during winter months. You've got a lot less room to play with in terms of daylight hours, and you're waiting around longer for buses to connect. 

I quite like Sundays during the summer months, but it can be a struggle during winter months. You've got a lot less room to play with in terms of daylight hours, and you're waiting around longer for buses to connect. 

I'm hoping to do a bit more on Sundays during the summer as there is a few interesting shots to get. These are a few things I hope to get:

5A/19 EcoCitys.
15 Venture Solo SR's
34 Waggonway Solars
59 East Durham MPDs
X21 Angel hybrids
New Sunderland interworking patterns.

I already have a few of these but would like more photos of these.

Also hope to get more different evening workings during the summer too such as the Stanley Travel operated service 14 and maybe the Scarlet Band 35A.

I'm hoping to do a bit more on Sundays during the summer as there is a few interesting shots to get. These are a few things I hope to get:

5A/19 EcoCitys.
15 Venture Solo SR's
34 Waggonway Solars
59 East Durham MPDs
X21 Angel hybrids
New Sunderland interworking patterns.

I already have a few of these but would like more photos of these.

Also hope to get more different evening workings during the summer too such as the Stanley Travel operated service 14 and maybe the Scarlet Band 35A.

It'll make some good photos that's for sure. I quite like seeing Sunday workings, or just infrequent services, but they're rarely photo'd. I had started trying to compile a list of some of the lesser photographed services, with a view of hoping to get them throughout 2015.

It'll make some good photos that's for sure. I quite like seeing Sunday workings, or just infrequent services, but they're rarely photo'd. I had started trying to compile a list of some of the lesser photographed services, with a view of hoping to get them throughout 2015.

I have some I hope to get in the summer, could get some good shots of EcoCitys on the 5A.

Another I've just remembered is the evening East Durham service 239.