(13 Mar 2015, 6:00 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote So......who's looking forward to tomorrow?
Looking forward to the review
Is anyone heading into Northumberland tomorrow? I'm out and about in Morpeth so I may see people if you're up that way
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(12 Mar 2015, 7:11 pm)tyresmoke wrote Well I decided to have a quick blast out today with a few targets in mind, and I got photos of all of them so I count it as a successful day! Just got home now but didn't go out til just before 10...
0948 Rimswell Shops - Stockton 13 17027
1006 Stockton - North Road Morrisons X66 4651
1043 North Road Morrisons - Darlington X66 4656
1105 Darlington - Neasham Road Matalan 13B 2503
1122 Neasham Road Matalan - Darlington 13B 2849
1140 Darlington - Richmond X26 4644
1323 Richmond - Darlington X26 4646
1400 Darlington - Bishop Auckland X1 1425
1520 Bishop Auckland - Ferryhill 56 2817
1557 Ferryhill - Darlington 7 1517
1750 Darlington - Stockton X66 4656
1832 Stockton - Malcolm Drive 59 22062
Very impressed with all of today's travelling, everything has been on time (more or less) and mostly of good quality. First time I've used the MAX Scanias on the X26/X27 and (since refurb) on the X66 and they're well suited to the role they have, the seats may look uncomfortable but they're really not, and the colour scheme looks worse on photos (I was very critical at first too!) but it's not as obvious when you're onboard. Glad to say they've spent some time screwing them together better too!
Easy to see why the 7 needs deckers too, not even a peak time one and the one I travelled on arrived at Ferryhill with standing passengers and disgorged about 12 college students so thankfully there was a bit more space after that!
Had to have a ride on 2503 before that disappears too, shame it wasn't on something more useful but it filled a gap before going to Richmond for lunchtime... Quite pleased to catch up with former Leven Dart SN06BRV on loan at Dales & District working the town service in Richmond, and Hodgsons sent one of the Darts I hadn't seen before on the 79 too. Shame the (Thursday only!) 79A wasn't something new for me, LDV Maxus W6BUS again.
Managed a shot of 2869 on the X59 to Leyburn (and onwards to Askrigg as svc 59) on the way home, even if it meant missing the 1725 X66 by seconds! That route will become a college days only contract service come April sadly! Shame because it gets decent loadings out of Darlington as far as I could see. That was my main focus today and thankfully managed it.
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(13 Mar 2015, 7:33 pm)mb134 wrote Looking forward to the review
Is anyone heading into Northumberland tomorrow? I'm out and about in Morpeth so I may see people if you're up that way
(13 Mar 2015, 9:58 pm)aureolin wrote I was going to, should my day have went to plan. Something has come up and will take most of my morning up, so will just head through Newcastle in the PM I think.
I need to get my arse into gear, but not too worried, as I've a week off before Easter. I intend to have a long awaited trip over to Carlisle for then.
(13 Mar 2015, 10:18 pm)Jimmi wrote Think I was planning on doing Carlisle this month at some point, think it was originally next Saturday but may change it to another date so I can get some of the Leven Valley replacement services.
Can't remember anything though as all my plans where in my notes and calendar on my dead phone.
Seriously I have lost so many ideas for where to go and where to take photos which were all on that phone.
All I remember is Saturday March 28th will be Durham for a shot of the 128.
(13 Mar 2015, 10:19 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Will be riding that over the course of the day, so I may see you about!
(13 Mar 2015, 9:58 pm)aureolin wrote I was going to, should my day have went to plan. Something has come up and will take most of my morning up, so will just head through Newcastle in the PM I think.
I need to get my arse into gear, but not too worried, as I've a week off before Easter. I intend to have a long awaited trip over to Carlisle for then.
(13 Mar 2015, 10:18 pm)Jimmi wrote Think I was planning on doing Carlisle this month at some point, think it was originally next Saturday but may change it to another date so I can get some of the Leven Valley replacement services.
Can't remember anything though as all my plans where in my notes and calendar on my dead phone.
Seriously I have lost so many ideas for where to go and where to take photos which were all on that phone.
All I remember is Saturday March 28th will be Durham for a shot of the 128.
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(14 Mar 2015, 4:58 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Review will be up by the end of tonight, absolutely exhausted after an excellent day out on an Explorer. 11 journeys in total, 8 Go North East buses, 2 T&W Metro hops and Northern Rail back to Sunderland from Newcastle.
Absolutely drained, but satisfied.
(15 Mar 2015, 8:51 am)danpick wrote 12:17 #88 Inverness Road - South Shields ASDA GNE 603
Was a nice comfortable ride on a Dart. Just put my earphones in and enjoyed the ride.
Made my way down to the Ferry Landing and walked down the ramp just to see people getting off so went down and got on.
12:45 Ferry South Shields - North Shields
Sat down and looked out the window on my short 7 minute journey.
12:56 #333 Ferry Landing - Town Centre Phoenix Coaches 907
Not much to say apart from we struggle to get through the Fish Quay.
13:17 #900 North Shields - Four Lane Ends ANE 7470
Really nice ride had someone who had just came out of Newcastle Crown Court took an hour as we got stuck in alot of Temp Traffic Lights. Really enjoyable.
14:20 Metro Four Lane Ends - South Gosforth 4016
All I can say is the NSA was really quiet.
14:27 Metro South Gosforth - Regent Centre 4015
Saw a refurbished set replacing another one doing permissive working on P1 at Regent Centre.
14:35 #33 Regent Centre - Market Street KX12 AXO(?)
Sounded alot like a 603. Had a really nice driver.
15:03 Metro Monument - Brockley Whins 4002
Really enjoyed the journey on 4002 as I've always loved 4001/2.
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(15 Mar 2015, 5:31 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Here's a couple of outings from a few years back. I'm not totally sure on the types of buses that were in service at the time.Probably would have been Olympians (M-FTY, P-CCU, or something that came from the Midlands), or an Enviro that they tried (and failed) to replace them with. (I say failed, obviously not now, but I remember after they came into service, rarely seeing them out and about)
Outing 1.
#X31? - Ashington 5th Avenue to Newcastle - Arriva serving Northumbria - Double deck vehicle
This outing was to go out with some of my mam's friends and their children etc, to go to the Metro Radio Arena to watch a show (possibly Thomas the Tank Engine), I must have only been 3 at the time.
#3?? then 441? - Newcastle to Ashington via Blyth? - Arriva serving Northumbria and/or Go North East Double Deck Vehicle(s)
All I remember on this trip was that I kept pressing the bell. I remember the bus went along Cowpen Road, Blyth.
Outing 2.
#X31/X21? - Ashington Bus Station to Newcastle Haymarket - Arriva North East - Double Deck Vehicle
I would assume that I was the age of 7 on this trip, basically a trip to KFC and Marks and Spencer's with my mam. I remember nearly falling off the seat when the bus was going around Bedlington.
#X31/X21? - Newcastle Haymarket to Ashington Bus Station - Arriva North East - Double Deck Vehicle
Can't remember much about the return.
(31 Jan 2015, 10:58 pm)RGR756V wrote To let you all know I am once again organising a bus trip to Kirkby Stephen for the excellent rally on Easter Sunday (5 April).
The haulage will be H728DDL, a superb all-Leyland Olympian operated by Stagecarriage.
Fare is £10 per person, no need to book just turn up.
Departure points and times are; Middlesbrough, BBC 0850, Stagecoach Transit depot 0900, Stockton Stagecoach Office 0910, Darlington Rail Station, Park Lane 0930, Shildon Byerley Road 0950, Bishop Auckland Market Place 1000.
Connections will be made at Darlington with the 0855 train from Newcastle.
Returning from Kirkby at 1630. Send me a PM if you need any more info.
(15 Mar 2015, 7:55 pm)aureolin wrote Thought I'd give this a bump, incase anybody has a free weekend! Can't think what else is on...
(15 Mar 2015, 8:06 pm)Jimmi wrote I'm thinking of going but I've just discovered the train I was planning on getting the time has changed, it was originally supposed to arrive at Darlington Rail Station at 0913 but has changed so it now arrives at 0838 - ugh! can't say I fancy waiting 50 minutes in Darlington Rail Station for the bus.
(15 Mar 2015, 8:06 pm)Jimmi wrote I'm thinking of going but I've just discovered the train I was planning on getting the time has changed, it was originally supposed to arrive at Darlington Rail Station at 0913 but has changed so it now arrives at 0838 - ugh! can't say I fancy waiting 50 minutes in Darlington Rail Station for the bus.
(15 Mar 2015, 8:14 pm)aureolin wrote You'll enjoy it when you get there no doubt! Gotta be worth 50 mins, instead of a boring Sunday instead?
(15 Mar 2015, 8:15 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Could take photos of the trains? Might spark a bit of an interest in them.