I'm trying to find some places to take better photos:

Angel - #21 & Angel shot
Northumberland Coast - #X18 & Coast shot
Roker Beach - #700 Summer service & Beach
Quayside - #Q1/2 & Quayside

All of which I've seen photos of buses in above places before, so it seems a bit cheeky copying people...

(11 Jan 2015, 4:26 pm)Tom wrote 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 going to Sunderland on a Sunday, another allocation I like to photograph is 5337 or 5338 on the Lime services

(11 Jan 2015, 6:33 pm)ArrivaNE_7522 wrote I'm trying to find some places to take better photos:

Angel - #21 & Angel shot
Northumberland Coast - #X18 & Coast shot
Roker Beach - #700 Summer service & Beach
Quayside - #Q1/2 & Quayside

All of which I've seen photos of buses in above places before, so it seems a bit cheeky copying people...

There are plenty of places. No one has an exclusivity clause on any one place.

Have a look on Google maps at the route, and you can use the stop locations and street view to work out where you need to be. Bare in mind the sun location though.

Just to add. A shot past the angel is quite difficult to pull off. If it's sunny, you need to do it early morning, and then you've got traffic and the duel carriageway speeds to contend with. Takes quite a bit of luck to pull off! You can use the crossing island in the middle of the road to stand tho, as it has safety railings.

(11 Jan 2015, 6:35 pm)aureolin wrote [b]There are plenty of places. No one has an exclusivity clause on any one place.

Try telling that to a certain revolutionary next time your in Fencehouses [emoji14]

Have a look on Google maps at the route, and you can use the stop locations and street view to work out where you need to be. Bare in mind the sun location though.

I am crap at taking pictures when the sun is bright...What is the best way to pics in sunny weather, is it better with the sun over your head or on your back behind???

Nah man Fozz, it ain't mine - it's the Peoples Republic.

(12 Jan 2015, 1:02 pm)Andreos1 wrote Nah man Fozz, it ain't mine - it's the Peoples Republic.

I take that as being that I am welcome to take photos in the D.P.R.Fencehouses [emoji2]

(12 Jan 2015, 1:07 pm)MrFozz wrote I take that as being that I am welcome to take photos in the D.P.R.Fencehouses [emoji2]

As long as it doesn't include any shots of myself or FPF members, yes

(12 Jan 2015, 1:16 pm)Andreos1 wrote As long as it doesn't include any shots of myself or FPF members, yes

That's my mission for this week then. Photos of the 4 in Fencehouses.

(12 Jan 2015, 1:16 pm)Andreos1 wrote As long as it doesn't include any shots of myself or FPF members, yes

That means I'm allowed to take pictures through people's windows if they're not in???

(11 Jan 2015, 10:56 pm)MrFozz wrote Try telling that to a certain revolutionary next time your in Fencehouses [emoji14]


I am crap at taking pictures when the sun is bright...What is the best way to pics in sunny weather, is it better with the sun over your head or on your back behind???

Sun behind you is always best. Not always possible of course, and harder in the winter with the low sun!

Todays random bus outing was really... random for me.

0956 5A Newton Aycliffe - Thompson Street Post Office (ANE 1407)
1027 X66 Thompson Street Post Office - Stockton High Street (ANE 4649)
1134 X66 Stockton High Street - Middlesbrough Bus Station (ANE 4657)
1200 X4 Middlesbrough Bus Station - Redcar Clock (ANE 1560)
1226 81 Redcar - Stokesley High Street (ANE 7493)
1355 29A Stokesley High Street - Middlesbrough Bus Station (ANE 1917)
1512 X66 Middlesbrough Bus Station - Darlington, Odeon Cinema (ANE 4657)
1604 5 Darlington, Odeon Cinema - Newton Aycliffe (ANE 1506)

My intentions for today was to get a shot of 1443 which I got within less than 2 minutes of jumping off in Stockton.

I was also intending of getting some shots in redcar but then I saw 7493 on the 81 and I've heard there is some good views on the 81 route especially on a double decker so I decided to jump on that and ended up going all the way to Stokesley. I was a very enjoyable ride with some good views. Then I had to wait about 30 minutes for the 29A back to Middlesbrough was a bit of a pain although I've had to wait 30 minutes in much worse places.

The X66 back to Darlington didn't pull onto the stand until 1514 (despite being due out at 1512!) and some stupid person almost pulled out in front of the X66 in Stockton causing the driver to slam hard on the brakes with passengers dropping things everywhere. Also the seat I selected was a bit cramped with my knees pressed against the seat in front. Because it was late I had to jump off at the Odeon Cinema to guarantee catching the 5 home.

Then I had the 5 home and the next stop announcements were driving me mad with how loud they are, wanted to take a sledge hammer to the speakers it was annoying me so much. I have mentioned this a few times now but it you had to ride the 1/5/5A you would want to do the same.

So a mixed day today then, with the X66 making up most of the negative points.

I wonder if the bus rally at the Metrocentre will be on Sunday 3rd or Monday 4th?
I'm sure it's been held on a bank holiday before, but not sure if it will be the same this year.

(13 Jan 2015, 9:18 pm)Tom wrote I wonder if the bus rally at the Metrocentre will be on Sunday 3rd or Monday 4th?
I'm sure it's been held on a bank holiday before, but not sure if it will be the same this year.

Its usually on the first Sunday in May (which would be the 3rd like you said). 

(13 Jan 2015, 9:29 pm)Robert wrote Its usually on the first Sunday in May (which would be the 3rd like you said). 

I hope it's not as I won't be able to go.

Explorer trip

Start 0900 Ashington, Fifth Avenue

ANE 7504 X21> Fifth Avenue > Newcastle Haymarket
GNE Angel 21 > Eldon Square> Gateshead Interchange
GNE 5339 X66> Gateshead Interchange > Metrocentre
GNE Ten 10 > Metrocentre > Eldon Square
ANE 751* X15 > Haymarket > Morpeth
ANE 7472 35 > Morpeth > Ashington
ANE 7475 X20 > Ashington > Newcastle
ANE 761* X11 > Newcastle > Blyth
GNE Cobalt Clipper 309 > Blyth > Newcastle
ANE 750* X21 > Newcastle > Fifth Avenue, Ashington
ANE 1733 1 > Fifth Avenue, Ashington > Ashington
ANE 17** 1 > Ashington > Fifth Avenue, Ashington

Finish 1800

The weather is looking sound for Saturday, so I may even do an Explorer day!

Does anyone have any plans or are thinking about heading anywhere?

(15 Jan 2015, 10:09 pm)aureolin wrote The weather is looking sound for Saturday, so I may even do an Explorer day!



Does anyone have any plans or are thinking about heading anywhere?

No idea if I'm going anywhere on Saturday yet as I'm going out Saturday evening but if I do go out I may head to the MetroCentre / Newcastle but I may go tomorrow.

Sadly the weather for Whitby on Wednesday looks awful it seems to be rain and in some forecasts snow which you really don't want when your riding the X93.

(15 Jan 2015, 10:20 pm)Jimmi wrote No idea if I'm going anywhere on Saturday yet as I'm going out Saturday evening but if I do go out I may head to the MetroCentre / Newcastle but I may go tomorrow.

Sadly the weather for Whitby on Wednesday looks awful it seems to be rain and in some forecasts snow which you really don't want when your riding the X93.

Give me a shout if you see me out and about. I'm doing a quick round of Durham (and maybe Bishop), but then across to MetroCentre and/or Newcastle, before heading to Washington.

(13 Jan 2015, 9:29 pm)Robert wrote Its usually on the first Sunday in May (which would be the 3rd like you said). 

Isn't it the first bank holiday weekend in may???

Opted for a Get Around for £3.75 today, here's what I wound up doing.

My mam woke me up at 10:00 because I had an appointment with my optician in Shiney Row at 10:50. Got ready, and after seeing the optician, I left my mam who went back home (it's our puppies first birthday today! ) and I walked up and across to the Co-op. Didn't have to wait long for a Connections4 to show up.

#4 - Shiney Row to Washington, The Galleries - (11:11 --- 11:34) - GNE Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro 5364
--- Quite nice. Very smooth, and I sat at the very front where the two little seats are to get the best view, lol. Driver was very nice and greeted everyone as they got on. As we got closer to The Galleries, an Asian lady got on asking for an Explorer. Driver asked for £9.50, and she said she thought it was £6.90. The drivers face everytime she spoke was priceless, but nonetheless he helped her out and handed her a Day Rover.

#83 - Washington, The Galleries to Birtley, Station Road - (11:45 --- 12:07) - GNE VDL SB120/Wright Cadet 8260
--- God this bus was immense. Rattled like a garden shed going in a gale - no other comments than absolutely fantastic. Journey had no more than half a dozen people on at any one time, so everything was nice and relaxed. ---

#21 - Birtley, Station Road to Chester-le-Street - (12:25 --- 12:38) - GNE Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 1 3965
--- I waited for absolutely ages for a single bus to come along the road. Absolutely ages. Guess what....this, followed by two Angel B5s and a President all come along in a convoy. I was so cold I forgot to experience the journey!! ---

#8 - Chester-le-Street to Washington, The Galleries - (12:49 --- 13:10) - GNE Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown 4897
--- Again, I waited forever for this to show up. Pleased it did though, as I'd seen a few Scanias on the Limes so far and was hoping for a B10BLE. Good journey, albeit delayed heavily. ---

#8 - Washington, The Galleries to Chester-le-Street - (13:22 --- 13:44) - GNE Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown 4909
--- Yay! Another Renown. Nice and quiet, and we were stuck in traffic on Picktree Lane so I got to look into the depot from the window, haha. ---

#21 - Chester-le-Street to Home - (13:58 --- 14:03) --- GNE Volvo B5HL/Wright Gemini 2 6063
--- Once more, I waited forever. Didn't realise the diversions had caused such confusion among passengers. ---

Worth the £3.75, I may do another next week.

We gonna be seeing some photos? [emoji14]

Tried to post this Yesterday evening but to no avail as the forum was shut down.





Fozz - The MetroCentre Rally has always occurred on the Sunday of the first Bank Holiday Weekend in May to, so therefore it should occur on the Sunday 3rd May this year, obviously its yet to be confirmed by (NEBPT) but I would say that will be the date of the Rally.


 


Anyway moving to unplanned trips for myself in 2015, for a while now I have been wanting to do several trips around the local area using an Explorer but I am not sure on which trip to do first, so here is what I am thinking as I aim to take more Arriva/Stagecoach Photos as I dont have many compared to what I have of Go North East


 


Statistics


Arriva - 224 Photos Uploaded to Flickr - 25 Photos to be Uploaded = 249 Photos


Stagecoach – 251 Photos Uploaded to Flickr - 17 Photos to be Uploaded = 268 Photos


Go North East - 2,206 Photos Uploaded to Flickr - 0 Photos to be Uploaded = 2,206 Photos


 


Explorer Trip 1 - Lambton - Washington - Heworth - Stockon - Middlesbrough - North Ormsley Market Place - Guisborough Market Place - Middlesbrough - Heworth - Washington - Lambton


 


Explorer Trip 2 - Lambton - Durham - Spennymoor - Bishop Auckland - West Auckland - Bishop Auckland - Darlington - Newton Aycliffe - Ferryhill - Durham - Lambton


 


Explorer Trip 3 - Lambton - Washington - Newcastle - Hexham - Corebridge - Prudoe - MetroCentre - Gateshead - Washington - Lambton


 


Explorer Trip 4 - Lambton - Washington - Newcastle - Ashington - Regent Centre - Cramlington - Blyth - Newcastle - Washington - Lambton


 


Explorer Trip 5 - Lambton - Washington - Newcastle - Berwick - Newcastle - Washington - Lambton


 


Any thoughts/suggestions or recommended tweaks that I could make to these trips.


 


I would also like to do a few trips away if possible unless of course I end up going on Holiday to Malaga with my Dad and his Partner, and her friends Family in August which could be quite likely if I get a Job asap and save up the Money to go.


 


Focusing on the Places I would like to go to outside of the North East, before Christmas I hinted at a Day Trip to London using the Megabus, I would still quite like to do that, I would also like to go to Edinburgh again as I enjoyed the trip I did up there Last Year despite the horrible weather which bother me in the slightest, more than likely go on the weekend of the Lothian Open Doors Event if that occurs again this Year, Finally I would like to go the SVBM Open Doors Event at Lathalmond and go to Showbus also.


 

(17 Jan 2015, 3:08 pm)Malarkey wrote  

Explorer Trip 5 - Lambton - Washington - Newcastle - Berwick - Newcastle - Washington - Lambton

 

Any thoughts/suggestions or recommended tweaks that I could make to these trips.

Just a suggestion, if you want to, get an X14/18 into Morpeth from Newcastle, get some pictures there, before getting the X15 to Berwick?

Just, whatever you do, don't get the X18 all the way up there (amazing for views but it'll be an 8 hour round trip, from Newcastle and I'm unsure on your prior journey time, unless you want that?)  

Could you squeeze in a trip to Great Ayton or Stokesley when you are down there?

(17 Jan 2015, 3:22 pm)Andreos1 wrote Could you squeeze in a trip to Great Ayton or Stokesley when you are down there?

Some cracking spots for photos in Stokesley and Great Ayton as I went through these places on the Arriva 29A/81 the other day and I will return to these places in the summer when the weather is nice as Great Ayton especially would make for some brilliant shots.

Photo of Arriva 7493 making an appearance on the 81 at Stokesley High Street on Tuesday.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...087006317/

(17 Jan 2015, 3:29 pm)Jimmi wrote Some cracking spots for photos in Stokesley and Great Ayton as I went through these places on the Arriva 29A/81 the other day and I will return to these places in the summer when the weather is nice as Great Ayton especially would make for some brilliant shots.

Photo of Arriva 7493 making an appearance on the 81 at Stokesley High Street on Tuesday.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...087006317/

Exactly.

Both lovely places and very rarely seen in photos.

@Marcus - Sounds good, your lucky you got 8260 as the rest of the Cadets are vile.

(17 Jan 2015, 3:38 pm)Andreos1 wrote Exactly.



Both lovely places and very rarely seen in photos.

Service 81 is quite a brilliant scenic route, I heard that it had brilliant views so when I went to Redcar on Tuesday and saw a B7TL operating it I decided to ride it all the way to Stokesley then got the 29A back to Middlesbrough.

@Tom, I think I was as I can't stand 8272 and 8273 (don't know why, they've just never seemed to do it for me) and the Cadets at Riverside are mank.