(25 Jan 2015, 9:15 am)leestransportphotos wrote Thanks - If that was directed at is haha

---

Where's the best spot mate?

Have to remember if you want the new 2/2A you'll have to get them on Green Terrace, Holmeside or at the Winter Gardens, since they don't go in Park Lane now. 

Cheers mate

(25 Jan 2015, 9:15 am)leestransportphotos wrote Thanks - If that was directed at is haha

---

Where's the best spot mate?

Away from the Interchange. Based on data from the site Dan posted yesterday: http://suncalc.net/#/54.9025,-1.3863,18/...1.25/10:31

(25 Jan 2015, 9:21 am)Michael wrote Have to remember if you want the new 2/2A you'll have to get them on Green Terrence, Holmeside or at the Winter Gardens, since they don't go in Park Lane now. 

Terrence wont be very amused if people get on him Michael

(25 Jan 2015, 11:34 am)MrFozz wrote Terrence wont be very amused if people get on him Michael

lmao! 

TMy day so far:

#17 1108 Rosehill to West Street Wallsend 1125 - ANE 2825
#58 1130ish West Street Wallsend to Gateshead 1155 - GNE 5382

(25 Jan 2015, 8:50 am)Kuyoyo wrote I'm out and about for service changes but in a very different city - Sheffield. The city of B9s and E400s. Oh, and Streetlites. For anyone planning a trip to here - I'm very much suggest a trip on the 52 from Hillsborough on both Stagecoach and First - Streetlite and E400Hs going up the biggest hill in Sheffield is a nerve-racking and joyful experience.

See here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/61391443@N02/5615882199/
Some of you may recognise this photo as getting in Buses magazine a few years ago!
It's one of the steepest banks I know of that buses climb, although Sheffield is built on 7 hills to start with.

Is anyone in Sunderland?

(25 Jan 2015, 11:40 am)tyresmoke wrote See here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/61391443@N02/5615882199/
Some of you may recognise this photo as getting in Buses magazine a few years ago!
It's one of the steepest banks I know of that buses climb, although Sheffield is built on 7 hills to start with.

Omg it's a DAF.

(25 Jan 2015, 1:39 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Omg it's a DAF.

Yup! The one they got from Bullocks in Manchester and was transferred to Stagecoach Yorkshire, based at Holbrook depot and it got used very sparingly! The 52 climbs Walkley Bank which is possibly one of the steepest parts of a bus route in the UK?

We've been everywhere today - Sunderland, North Sheilds, Newcastle and...... Sunderland lol

My plan for tomorrow if the B9s are out on the X93, Hopefully they are.

07:36 - 2 - Lambton to Washington Galleries - 07:39
07:44 - 4 - Washington Galleries to Heworth - 08:01
08:13 - X10 - Heworth to Middlesbrough - 09:15
09:35 - 5A - Middlesbrough to Guisborough - 10:12
10:56 - 5 - Guisborough to Middlesbrough - 11:28 
If I wait until 12:12 for the X66 in Boro as noted below this would therefore enable me to Photograph 4 of the B9TLs with a bit of luck, hope the service doesnt end up running late during the day as the trip will go to pot.
12:12 - X66 - Middlesbrough to Stockton - 12:26
12:46 - X66 - Middlesbrough to Darlington - 13:14
13:52 - 7 - Darlington to Newton Aycliffe - 14:17 - 13:52 Arrives into Durham at 15:01, Thinking I might do a quick Hop On/Hop Off at Newton Aycliffe and Ferryhill if there is quite a few Passengers getting on, thus cutting 30 Minutes out of the trip.
14:32 - 7 - Newton Aycliffe - Ferryhill - 14:56
15:11 - 7 - Ferryhill to Durham - 15:31
15:49 - 21 - Durham to Chester le Street - 16:12
16:22 - 50 - Chester le Street to Lambton - 16:29

Any recommended adjustments, and does anyone fancy joining me on the trip. 

@Malarkey - I would have if you were doing it on Thursday or Friday. At work the rest of the week though.

(25 Jan 2015, 6:03 pm)aureolin wrote @Malarkey - I would have if you were doing it on Thursday or Friday. At work the rest of the week though.

Was thinking of doing it on Friday but its going to be cloudy with sunny spells, whereas tomorrow is going to be like this http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2642607 - hence going tomorrow instead.

Forgot my adventure from yesterday! #whoops

#21 - My House to Durham Bus Station (10:05 --- 10:22) - GNE 6058 - Volvo B5HL/Wright Gemini 2
Got a Get Around day ticket for £3.75 - and a very friendly driver. Sat upstairs at the top, and enjoyed the run into Durham. I always love that stretch of the 21 route - Chester to Durham...no idea why. I think I can relate it back to when I was younger, I've mentioned before I used to do regular trips into Chester with him when little - I fondly remember getting on an Arriva bus - a Delta, fondly remember getting on it - at the Black Horse and getting off in Durham Bus Station. Back on topic, 6058 sounded nice and elegent.

#15A - Durham Bus Station to Consett Bus Station - (10:30 --- 11:09) - GNE 6014 - Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President
I was hoping for an Olympian, but I love the Volvo Presidents so was still pleased. Wouldn't have minded a Lolyne either, but I was happy with the President shall I say. I always love the stairs heading towards the back, then the seemingly long walk to the front seats upstairs lol. I was having a field day as there was only one more person upstairs, a drunken chav at the back. Put my headphones in and enjoyed the scenic journey.

#45 - Consett Bus Station to Newcastle, Eldon Square - (11:33 --- 12:39) - GNE 3822 - Volvo Olympian/Palatine 2
Wooooo!!!! FUCK YEAH!! Oh. My. God. I've finally got an Olympian!! After weeks of searching - the hunter has found his prey....I walked upstairs to sit at that spot with loads of legroom. There was a couple of families towards the back, and an Asian couple joined me at the front. As I enjoyed the journey listening to David Soul through my headphones, I watched them and smiled as they photographed the fields and sights through the front window. I did opt to only go as far as the MetroCentre, but I was enjoying myself too much to resist going all the way to Newcastle. Might even scrap my Explorer planned for next week to do another Olympian hunt.

#10B - Newcastle, Eldon Square to MetroCentre Interchange - (12:46 --- 13:11) - GNE 6084 - Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2
I was thrilled when I walked out of the Haymarket to see this on Percy Street. It looked resplendant in it's new coat, and I caught it on the 10B. Upstairs was quiet throughout, and I noticed it's front screen displaying next stop info had 'FAB FIFTY SIX' on with the branding, etc. Took a photo or two for evidence, haha. Nonetheless, the journey was very nice, and I was enjoying it that much I forgot where I was getting off and got a shock when I snapped out of it and hopped off at the MetroCentre. Blame Matthew Wilder and 'Break my Stride'...

#31 - MetroCentre Interchange to Newcastle, Eldon Square - (13:29 --- 13:45) - GNE 5140 - Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown
It was taking ages for a bus to Newcastle to show up, and about twenty five people were waiting when 5235 showed up on the 45. It was already packed so I went for 5149 on the 31. Unfortunatley I wasn't discreet enough and about ten people followed me. We left absolutely packed - the journey made more uncomfortable by about ten Year 7 boys sitting at the back with their caps on backwards making a huge noise. Did my head in. Pleased to get off, little bastards...

#21 - Newcastle, Eldon Square to My House - (13:45 --- 14:35) - GNE 6056 - Volvo B5HL/Wright Gemini 2
Ah, an Olympian and a newly repainted bus in one day - time to end it with a lovely long, quiet ride on the 21. We leave Newcastle with only 3 upstairs and about 10 downstairs. We get to Gateshead - 3 people get on. They make the journey unbearable. Uncivilised scruffs. I actually got an inkling, one was an enthusiast - and the other two were his carers...

I got the impression he may have had autism, and I know I've always stood by my rule of autistic people being treated the same - but now I feel different. I know that is wrong, but this...'man-child'...has changed my mind!!

They get on, and runs upstairs, a great big fat twenty odd year old, and starts looking for plug sockets on 6056. He shouts downstairs: 'MAFFEW - THEY DONT HAVE ANY PLUG SOCKETS'...the guy I can only assume is called 'Matthew', gets irritated as they go towards the back, accompanied by a young woman who looked like a scruff. Matthew gets irritated when he finds there are none upstairs, and threatens to get off. He punches the head rests in frustration, and the driver stops short of leaving thinking they were getting off. The woman convinces him to stay, and Matthew notes the fleet number as 'sixty fifty six' - this alone made me think they were enthusiasts. They start shouting about how there are no plug sockets and how they are advertised, and I can hear them through my bloody headphones. I try to relax, but that fat gorilla keeps complaining about how there are no plug sockets.

At Low Fell, the person occupying the front seats get off, and the ape runs down, spilling coke and crisps everywhere...to get them. Matthew and the woman follow him while he sits like a retarded dog...I honestly feel like chucking my lifeless body down the stairs while an Arriva X2 passes. He yells (to his friends who are less than a metre to the side of them) - 'MAFFEW - THERES A SOLAR ON THE X2, LOOK, LOOK!!!'. Matthew: 'Nah mate it's a Pulsar'. Chimp: 'Hew woz a Pulsar Maffew?'. They spend about 5 minutes explaining to him what a Pulsar is....groan...

They get to the Police Station at Chester and the autistic guy starts going on about how he doesn't like the 21 going past here because he's scared of it. Baby. ThetPulsar overtakes us, and he shouts 'MAFFEW - THERES THAT SOLAR AGAIN'...OH MY FUCKING GOD - HE HAS JUST EXPLAINED THAT IT IS A PPPPPULLLLLLSAAAARRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!

I can't take it any more as we leave Chester - thankfully my stop is only 3-4 minutes towards Durham. Phew! But nonetheless, he sees the Pulsar again...'MAFFEW - LOOK THERES THE SOLAR AGAIN WHATS THE NUMBER'. Matthew: 1452. Ape: 'MAFFEW YOUR WRONG THATS A VOLVO RENOWN'. Matthew: 'Nah mate, it's a Pulsar'. Ape: 'IT USED TO BE ON THE LIME I THINK YOUR LYING'...I just lost it and bailed...

Made the journey thoroughly disgusting - if I ever see them again I'll shove that bottle of coke down his goddamn asophagus!!!

A bad end to and otherwise brilliant day...5/10.

Todays outing.

1110 7 Newton Aycliffe - Aycliffe Village (ANE 1520)
1131 7 Aycliffe Village - Durham (ANE 1518)
1229 20 Durham - Sunderland (GNE 4992)
1537 61 Sunderland - Dalton Park (GNE 5323)
1631 22 Dalton Park - Peterlee (ANE 1465)
1701 21 Peterlee - Newton Aycliffe (ANE 4814)
1809 5A home (ANE 4805)

The reason I ended up in Aycliffe Village because I was going to head to Middlesbrough on the chance one of the B9TL's would be out on the X93 but then I saw Scott's post saying they weren't out so I jumped off the 7 in Aycliffe Village to catch a 7 to Durham so I could have longer in Sunderland and avoid tight connections.

I originally planned a trip to Scarborough for Saturday to get photos of the X93 MAX B9TL's but there was the possibility of snow showers and the weather seems quite decent tomorrow so instead of doing Sunderland again tomorrow which seemed a bit pointless after going there today I am bringing the Scarborough trip forward to tomorrow.

This is my plan.
Newton Aycliffe - Middlesbrough (routes & times TBC)
0950 5 Middlesbrough - Guisborough.
1047 X93 Guisborough - Scarborough.
1450 X93 Scarborough - Whitby.
1602 4/X4 Whitby - Middlesbrough.
1802 X66 Middlesbrough - Harrowgate Hill
1845 5A Harrowgate Hill - Newton Aycliffe.

This gives me two hours in Scarborough for shots most will probably be just around the town.

(25 Jan 2015, 9:31 pm)Jimmi wrote I originally planned a trip to Scarborough for Saturday to get photos of the X93 MAX B9TL's but there was the possibility of snow showers and the weather seems quite decent tomorrow so instead of doing Sunderland again tomorrow which seemed a bit pointless after going there today I am bringing the Scarborough trip forward to tomorrow.

This is my plan.
Newton Aycliffe - Middlesbrough (routes & times TBC)
0950 5 Middlesbrough - Guisborough.
1047 X93 Guisborough - Scarborough.
1450 X93 Scarborough - Whitby.
1602 4/X4 Whitby - Middlesbrough.
1802 X66 Middlesbrough - Harrowgate Hill
1845 5A Harrowgate Hill - Newton Aycliffe.

This gives me two hours in Scarborough for shots most will probably be just around the town.

Will see you in Middlesbrough or Guisborough Jimmi.

(25 Jan 2015, 9:56 pm)Malarkey wrote Will see you in Middlesbrough or Guisborough Jimmi.

I saw your plan earlier so you probably will see me somewhere tomorrow. Unless things go wrong which often happens on these trips, hopefully it will be like my Whitby trip last week where every bus was on-time except the 5A home although if it could be on-time to that would be even better.

(25 Jan 2015, 1:39 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Omg it's a DAF.

Part of the same batch GNEs 4983-4988 were in by the looks of things too with its R--- FNW registration!

My plan is fucked already, 08:13 has no showed, so im on the 27 heading to Gateshead as im busting for the loo and there no way im using the ones at Heworth.

(26 Jan 2015, 8:30 am)Malarkey wrote My plan is fucked already, 08:13 has no showed, so im on the 27 heading to Gateshead as im busting for the loo and there no way im using the ones at Heworth.

I made that mistake once!

(26 Jan 2015, 8:32 am)Dan wrote I made that mistake once!

Im now the X21 to Durham, going to do the trip in reverse of what I had planned, so ill be going up Darlington first then Stockton and onto Middlesbrough and possibly Guisborough if I have time.

My plan for Friday:
#56 Wrekenton-Sunderland
#20 Sunderland-South Shields
#27 South Shields-Newcastle
#56 Newcastle-Wrekenton

(25 Jan 2015, 8:45 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote #21 - Newcastle, Eldon Square to My House - (13:45 --- 14:35) - GNE 6056 - Volvo B5HL/Wright Gemini 2
Ah, an Olympian and a newly repainted bus in one day - time to end it with a lovely long, quiet ride on the 21. We leave Newcastle with only 3 upstairs and about 10 downstairs. We get to Gateshead - 3 people get on. They make the journey unbearable. Uncivilised scruffs. I actually got an inkling, one was an enthusiast - and the other two were his carers...

I got the impression he may have had autism, and I know I've always stood by my rule of autistic people being treated the same - but now I feel different. I know that is wrong, but this...'man-child'...has changed my mind!!

They get on, and runs upstairs, a great big fat twenty odd year old, and starts looking for plug sockets on 6056. He shouts downstairs: 'MAFFEW - THEY DONT HAVE ANY PLUG SOCKETS'...the guy I can only assume is called 'Matthew', gets irritated as they go towards the back, accompanied by a young woman who looked like a scruff. Matthew gets irritated when he finds there are none upstairs, and threatens to get off. He punches the head rests in frustration, and the driver stops short of leaving thinking they were getting off. The woman convinces him to stay, and Matthew notes the fleet number as 'sixty fifty six' - this alone made me think they were enthusiasts. They start shouting about how there are no plug sockets and how they are advertised, and I can hear them through my bloody headphones. I try to relax, but that fat gorilla keeps complaining about how there are no plug sockets.

At Low Fell, the person occupying the front seats get off, and the ape runs down, spilling coke and crisps everywhere...to get them. Matthew and the woman follow him while he sits like a retarded dog...I honestly feel like chucking my lifeless body down the stairs while an Arriva X2 passes. He yells (to his friends who are less than a metre to the side of them) - 'MAFFEW - THERES A SOLAR ON THE X2, LOOK, LOOK!!!'. Matthew: 'Nah mate it's a Pulsar'. Chimp: 'Hew woz a Pulsar Maffew?'. They spend about 5 minutes explaining to him what a Pulsar is....groan...

They get to the Police Station at Chester and the autistic guy starts going on about how he doesn't like the 21 going past here because he's scared of it. Baby. ThetPulsar overtakes us, and he shouts 'MAFFEW - THERES THAT SOLAR AGAIN'...OH MY FUCKING GOD - HE HAS JUST EXPLAINED THAT IT IS A PPPPPULLLLLLSAAAARRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!

I can't take it any more as we leave Chester - thankfully my stop is only 3-4 minutes towards Durham. Phew! But nonetheless, he sees the Pulsar again...'MAFFEW - LOOK THERES THE SOLAR AGAIN WHATS THE NUMBER'. Matthew: 1452. Ape: 'MAFFEW YOUR WRONG THATS A VOLVO RENOWN'. Matthew: 'Nah mate, it's a Pulsar'. Ape: 'IT USED TO BE ON THE LIME I THINK YOUR LYING'...I just lost it and bailed...

Made the journey thoroughly disgusting - if I ever see them again I'll shove that bottle of coke down his goddamn asophagus!!!

A bad end to and otherwise brilliant day...5/10.

I'm autistic and I have respite workers every other Saturday, my god, I wish I could end this stupid respite. They constantly remind me of the time - of which my camera displays - then a countdown every 20 seconds - they treat me like a baby and every time a bus comes around a corner - they'll mention it - I've told them to be quiet because I need to concentrate on the photo but they still talk, sing and all that. I just want to be treated like a normal person - not like a baby only because I have autism.

I was at a bus stop waiting for my X21 into Ashington - I was talking to an old lady - she asked if I had any problems - I said that I had autism - when my bus approached she was telling me how to hail the bus - like, really? I learnt how to hail a bus when I was two and started using the Internet when I was three.

I've been at nearly every bloody special school in the north east, but none of them worked. I found mainstream hard to handle - I wish I hadn't fucked it up at first school - I would have more friends than 2.

Here's my trip from yesterday

X21: Fifth Avenue to Newcastle - nice comfortable ride on 7526 with a friendly driver who even whacked the air con on when he noticed it was getting hot - shame there were OAPs using 2 of the front seats

X21: Newcastle to Gateshead - Driver nearly went up an Angel's arse and the staircase is to far along the bus (Plaxton President)

27: Gateshead to Jarrow - Nice comfy ride in a Mercedes - engine was quiet - and a friendly driver who was being helped by a passenger into what stand he should use a at Jarrow

9: Jarrow to North Shields - Renowns, Dual door, very peaceful ride into North Shields - a cute dog was brought on board in Jarrow - so everyone was loving the dog!

310: North Shields to Newcastle - after waiting in a long queue - the front seats were occupied by someone who smelt of shit - so the back of the bus was full!

Lunch and photos: Got photos of 3813 & 3814

X21: Newcastle to Fifth Avenue - refurb, so my back, arse, neck were killing me.

X21: Fifth Avenue to Ashington Bus Station - bloody new one turned up - shame I was only going a short distance

X20: Ashington Bus Station to Newcastle - ALX400 - shite.

15:15 306: Newcastle to Whitley Bay - very quiet for the time of day

16:17 308: Whitley Bay to Blyth - Max refurb - uncomfortable front seats on the bottom

1: Blyth to Fifth Avenue - Jesus Christ, a Commander, being driven by a person who should have his licence shredded. Angry, sweary, shouting at passengers. And there was a retarded fucktard sat next to me mumbling something.

4/10

If Davie is okay with it, I'm hoping to do the following on Saturday -

X1 Wrekenton - Washington
8 Washington - Sunderland
56 Sunderland - Newcastle

And then trainspotting in Manors for a while

Explorer on Saturday.

A few rides on the 36 followed by some runs on the Metro, and maybe some Newcastle-based stuff with Arriva and Stagecoach.

(29 Jan 2015, 5:49 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Explorer on Saturday.

A few rides on the 36 followed by some runs on the Metro, and maybe some Newcastle-based stuff with Arriva and Stagecoach.

What has happened with your ticket book?
You never seem to buy singles like you did previously. 

(29 Jan 2015, 5:52 pm)Tom wrote What has happened with your ticket book?
You never seem to buy singles like you did previously. 

Value for money tbh.

I'll buy the odd Get Around single for a run into Chester (and back maybe) after school or on Sunday's.

In hindsight, £2.30 from Monument to the MetroCentre is pretty steep imo.

Edit: May as well point out, I have been sticking in my last two Get Around Day Tickets and the 36 single from earlier in the week. The Explorer should give some variety...might even get an Arriva All Zones day (I saw that advertised somewhere - I hope they exist lol) the week after.