Hi guys
Just been planning a possible future 'Key bash' where I can use my Get Around Key for a £3.65 day ticket.
I am maybe thinking of a Citaro bus bash - basically, trying to run on as many routes that utilise Mercedes Citaros on a regular basis (bendy or standard).
Can anyone therefore help me please? I understand that Winlaton, Stanley, Deptford, Gateshead and Percy Main use the buses but can anyone please list the routes that they are normally used on please?

Might sound a bit odd but I love these kind of days out!

TIA
Sean

Hi guys
Just been planning a possible future 'Key bash' where I can use my Get Around Key for a £3.65 day ticket.
I am maybe thinking of a Citaro bus bash - basically, trying to run on as many routes that utilise Mercedes Citaros on a regular basis (bendy or standard).
Can anyone therefore help me please? I understand that Winlaton, Stanley, Deptford, Gateshead and Percy Main use the buses but can anyone please list the routes that they are normally used on please?

Might sound a bit odd but I love these kind of days out!

TIA
Sean

Ciatro's are allocated to the Crusader 27, Laser 35's, Silver Arrows 2A/2C, Diamond 43/44, Blaydon Racers 49's, Cobalt Clipper 309/310, MetroCentre X66 & Citylink 58.

Strictly speaking the X66 & 58 use Ciatro arctics, however it's rarer to see the latter with a Ciatro bendy. Cobalt Clipper 309/310 is a shared Omnicity and Ciatro. Crusader Ciatro's can often wonder about onto other Gateshead routes where as Blaydon Racers, Diamond, Laser & Silver Arrows Ciatro's tend to stay on route more often than not.

Hi guys
Just been planning a possible future 'Key bash' where I can use my Get Around Key for a £3.65 day ticket.
I am maybe thinking of a Citaro bus bash - basically, trying to run on as many routes that utilise Mercedes Citaros on a regular basis (bendy or standard).
Can anyone therefore help me please? I understand that Winlaton, Stanley, Deptford, Gateshead and Percy Main use the buses but can anyone please list the routes that they are normally used on please?

Might sound a bit odd but I love these kind of days out!

TIA
Sean

I've done them and visited pubs on a day ticket. Get a bus, see a pub, get off, have a pint etc

The Citaros are on the 2a and 2c, 27, 35a and 35, 43 and 44, the Blaydon Racers, 58 and X66.

Hi guys
Just been planning a possible future 'Key bash' where I can use my Get Around Key for a £3.65 day ticket.
I am maybe thinking of a Citaro bus bash - basically, trying to run on as many routes that utilise Mercedes Citaros on a regular basis (bendy or standard).
Can anyone therefore help me please? I understand that Winlaton, Stanley, Deptford, Gateshead and Percy Main use the buses but can anyone please list the routes that they are normally used on please?

Might sound a bit odd but I love these kind of days out!

TIA
Sean

X66 - Gateshead
58 - Heworth to Wallsend
27 - shields to newcastle
43/44 - Newcastle to Durham
35 - Shields to Houghton way
2A/2C - Sunderland to Washington
49/49A/49B - Gateshead
309/310 - Newcastle to North Shields/Blyth

Also... the M1 will be citaro soon, not sure if they will be when you do your day out but their expected to be here by end of the month i think

X66 - Gateshead
58 - Heworth to Wallsend
27 - shields to newcastle
43/44 - Newcastle to Durham
35 - Shields to Houghton way
2A/2C - Sunderland to Washington
49/49A/49B - Gateshead
309/310 - Newcastle to North Shields/Blyth

Just be aware that service 309/310 also use Scania Omnicity vehicles. But with the service being every few minutes between Newcastle and Cobalt South, you won't have long to wait for a Citaro if it isn't one!

Just be aware that service 309/310 also use Scania Omnicity vehicles. But with the service being every few minutes between Newcastle and Cobalt South, you won't have long to wait for a Citaro if it isn't one!

..and don't forget you're likely to get a "North Tyne Links" MPD, "Centurion" Renown or "Yellow Bus" Olympian before any "Cobalt Clipper" branded vehicles show - because these services are operated by Percy Main!

Looking at those routes, I'm trying to work out if it is possible to do the lot, without having to make a return journey on the same service...

Is it possible or not?

..and don't forget you're likely to get a "North Tyne Links" MPD, "Centurion" Renown or "Yellow Bus" Olympian before any "Cobalt Clipper" branded vehicles show - because these services are operated by Percy Main!

Spot on there Dan! - Just try the 17, you'll be more likely to see a Lolyne than a Renown!

Spot on there Dan! - Just try the 17, you'll be more likely to see a Lolyne than a Renown!

The Renowns will probably be on the 9!

Looking at those routes, I'm trying to work out if it is possible to do the lot, without having to make a return journey on the same service...

Is it possible or not?

Depends on where the journey is starting?

The Renowns will probably be on the 9!

Yep, or any other PM service

Depends on where the journey is starting?

Pick a central point, Newcastle for arguments sake.

Pick a central point, Newcastle for arguments sake.

Without making a return journey on the same service, it isn't possible. I can do it solely on Gemini 2s and Citaros, however?

Can we suggest Metrocentre instead?

Metrocentre to Newcastle - 43/44.
Newcastle to Gateshead - 27
Gateshead to Metrocentre - X66
Metrocentre to Gateshead - 49/A/B/C
Gateshead to Coast Road - 58
Coast Road to Newcastle - 309/310 (can't remember if it's both?)
Newcastle to Gateshead - 58
Gateshead to South Shields - 27
South Shields to Sunderland - 35/A/B/C
Sunderland to Washington - 2A/2C.


Used some of the same buses twice for different journeys, but they've not done the same return.

EDIT: Bugger - used the 58 twice.

A nice way to finish the day would have been:

Washington to Heworth - M1 (if travelling next month).
Heworth to Newcastle/Gateshead - 27/58.

I got something similar to Daniel. Mine does involve two Gemini 2s to stop a journey being repeated on the same route - but these routes used to be Citaro worked, so...

‘Diamond’ 43/44 (Mercedes Citaro)
From Newcastle, Eldon Square to Metrocentre Interchange

‘Blaydon Racers’ 49/49A/49B/49C (Mercedes Citaro)
From Metrocentre Interchange to Blaydon Bus Station

‘TEN’ 10/10A/10B (Volvo Wright Gemini 2)
From Blaydon Bus Station to Metrocentre Interchange

‘X66’ X66 (Mercedes Citaro ‘bendy’)
From Metrocentre Interchange to Gateshead Interchange

‘Citylink’ 58 (Mercedes Citaro ‘bendy’)
From Gateshead Interchange to Battle Hill Drive

‘Cobalt Clipper’ 309/310 (Mercedes Citaro)
From Battle Hill Drive to Newcastle, Haymarket

‘Crusader’ 27 (Mercedes Citaro)
From Newcastle, Market Street East to South Shields, Keppel Street

‘Laser’ 35/35A/35B/35C (Mercedes Citaro)
From South Shields, Keppel Street to Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange

‘Silver Arrows’ 2A/2C (Mercedes Citaro)
From Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange to Washington, The Galleries

‘Red Arrows’ X1 (Volvo Wright Gemini 2)
From Washington, The Galleries to Newcastle, Eldon Square

Without making a return journey on the same service, it isn't possible. I can do it solely on Gemini 2s and Citaros, however?

Whey that's easy that. Stick an SPD in the list and you have cracked it :p

Speaking of which, I thought I did....

310: Newcastle - Corner House
309: Corner House -Battle Hill
58: Battle Hill - Gateshead
X66: Gateshead - Metrocentre
49B: Metrocentre - Swallwell
43: Swallwell - Metrocentre
49A: Metrocentre - Gateshead
27: Gateshead - Shields
35A: - Shields to Sunderland
2A: Sunderland - Washington
2C: Washington - Sunderland
35: Sunderland - Shields
(The 27 ends up being used twice)
49C: Gateshead - Metrocentre
44: Metrocentre - Newcastle

Whey that's easy that. Stick an SPD in the list and you have cracked it :p

Speaking of which, I thought I did....

310: Newcastle - Corner House
309: Corner House -Battle Hill
58: Battle Hill - Gateshead
X66: Gateshead - Metrocentre
49B: Metrocentre - Swallwell
43: Swallwell - Metrocentre
49A: Metrocentre - Gateshead
27: Gateshead - Shields
35A: - Shields to Sunderland
2A: Sunderland - Washington
2C: Washington - Sunderland
35: Sunderland - Shields
(The 27 ends up being used twice)
49C: Gateshead - Metrocentre
44: Metrocentre - Newcastle

if lucky get 35a to sunderland

Thank you all for your replied - very helpful indeed.

I'm going on BJ10VUS's suggestion with a few changes:
Greenhead Eldon Square 685 0940 - 1118
Eldon Square Metrocentre 43 1135 - 1153
Metrocentre Blaydon 49B 1158 - 1209
Blaydon Metrocentre 10 1222 - 1230
Metrocentre Gateshead X66 1238 - 1248
Gateshead Battle Hill Dr 58 1304 - 1334
Battle Hill Dr Haymarket 310 1344 - 1406
Market St East South Sh Kep St 27 1434 - 1543
South Sh Kep St Sunderland Int 35 1552 - 1630
SunderlandInt Washington Gal 2A 1643 - 1715
Washington Gal Gateshead X1 1731 - 1752
Gateshead Metrocentre X66 1800 - 1810

Metrocentre Haltwhistle TRN 1832 - 1921

Will pencil in for a couple of weeks on Saturday

Sean

Thank you all for your replied - very helpful indeed.

I'm going on BJ10VUS's suggestion with a few changes:
Greenhead Eldon Square 685 0940 - 1118
Eldon Square Metrocentre 43 1135 - 1153
Metrocentre Blaydon 49B 1158 - 1209
Blaydon Metrocentre 10 1222 - 1230
Metrocentre Gateshead X66 1238 - 1248
Gateshead Battle Hill Dr 58 1304 - 1334
Battle Hill Dr Haymarket 310 1344 - 1406
Market St East South Sh Kep St 27 1434 - 1543
South Sh Kep St Sunderland Int 35 1552 - 1630
SunderlandInt Washington Gal 2A 1643 - 1715
Washington Gal Gateshead X1 1731 - 1752
Gateshead Metrocentre X66 1800 - 1810

Metrocentre Haltwhistle TRN 1832 - 1921

Will pencil in for a couple of weeks on Saturday

Sean

Instead of getting the 17:31 X1 you could get the New Connections 4(M1) to Heworth then 27 again to Gateshead before heading over to the MetroCentre to catch the Train

I did this trip just the other day on Thursday. Got a £3.65 Get Around day ticket with my Key - great value! Unfortunately I didn't get a Citaro on routes 58 (despite a couple of attempts, sigh) and 2A/2C.
© denotes a Citaro. dep. indicates timetabled departure; any notable delay to that service is shown as [x late].

Anyway, this is what I had on the day:
5233 X85 Hexham - Newcastle Eldon Square dep. 0843
5293 43 Newcastle Eldon Square - Metrocentre dep. 0935 ©
5275 49B Metrocentre - Winlaton dep. 0958 ©
5275 49A Winlaton - Metrocentre dep. 10xx ©
5347 X66 Metrocentre - Gateshead Int. dep. 1052 ©
4918 58 Gateshead Int. - Heworth dep. 1114
5359 4 Heworth - Washington Gall. dep. 1146 [8 late] ©
4920 2C Washington Gall. - Sunderland dep. 1241
5303 35A Sunderland - South Shields dep. 1327 [4 late] ©
5328 27 South Shields - Heworth dep. 1413 ©
3978(?) 58 Heworth - Gateshead dep. 1520 [1 late]
3965 21 Gateshead - Newcastle New Bridge St. dep. 1553 (actual)
5338 309 Newcastle Haymarket - Battle Hill Dr. dep. 1613 ©
*(Arriva North East)* 7622 308 West St. Wallsend - Newcastle Haymarket dep. 1644 (actual)
*(Arriva North East)* 4664 685 Newcastle Eldon Square - Haltwhistle dep. 1745 [18 late]

All in all, a good day out. The 1510 Heworth to Hadrian Park 58 didn't show up at all so everyone went onto the 1520, which was an 02-reg Vyking (absolute shed) which only went as far as Newcastle. I bailed at Gateshead Interchange and hoped to get the next bus up to Eldon Square. I got on a 21 (not a B5LH hybrid unfortunately) and immediately I was hit with the smell of poo; there was a drunk man asleep and I guessed it was him (barf) so I bailed again at New Bridge Street and walked up to Haymarket.
I then got the 1613 309 up to Battle Hill Drive - the light was fading and it was cold; to add to the problem I didn't know where the hell I was and I had to be at Eldon Square for the last 685 of the day back home.
I got off at Battle Hill Drive (Wallsend) and then an artic 58 passed me going to Heworth - annoyed was not the word! Because of the delays/cancellations on the 58 earlier I decided not to wait for the next one and I got an Arriva VDL DB300 back to Haymarket where I pondered what to do for the next 45 minutes or so. It was rush hour and I was half-tempted to have a small trip on the Metro but I (probably for the best) didn't.
I noticed that, at Eldon Square, 5 minutes before my 685 home, there was an announcement saying the 1745 685 to Carlisle will be 5 minutes late. I never knew they announced things like these on the buses?!
5 minutes late was too good to be true, and, in true Arriva style, 4664 was at the stand at 1803 - 18 minutes late.

Absolutely great day, I really did enjoy it. Its a shame I didn't get a Citaro on all routes but I didn't want to risk waiting for the next service where the previous bus wasn't a Merc because it would no doubt mess my plan up.
What really did annoy me was the amount of buses on the 58 route that weren't bendy Citaros - yeah there were a few, but a lot of the buses were the Vykings and generic single-deck Volvos.

I've got plans for another similar day out; next time chasing Wright Solars. However I'll ask for info on those later on.

Sean
P.S if you've got this far, thanks for reading!

I did this trip just the other day on Thursday. Got a £3.65 Get Around day ticket with my Key - great value! Unfortunately I didn't get a Citaro on routes 58 (despite a couple of attempts, sigh) and 2A/2C.
© denotes a Citaro. dep. indicates timetabled departure; any notable delay to that service is shown as [x late].

Anyway, this is what I had on the day:
5233 X85 Hexham - Newcastle Eldon Square dep. 0843
5293 43 Newcastle Eldon Square - Metrocentre dep. 0935 ©
5275 49B Metrocentre - Winlaton dep. 0958 ©
5275 49A Winlaton - Metrocentre dep. 10xx ©
5347 X66 Metrocentre - Gateshead Int. dep. 1052 ©
4918 58 Gateshead Int. - Heworth dep. 1114
5359 4 Heworth - Washington Gall. dep. 1146 [8 late] ©
4920 2C Washington Gall. - Sunderland dep. 1241
5303 35A Sunderland - South Shields dep. 1327 [4 late] ©
5328 27 South Shields - Heworth dep. 1413 ©
3978(?) 58 Heworth - Gateshead dep. 1520 [1 late]
3965 21 Gateshead - Newcastle New Bridge St. dep. 1553 (actual)
5338 309 Newcastle Haymarket - Battle Hill Dr. dep. 1613 ©
*(Arriva North East)* 7622 308 West St. Wallsend - Newcastle Haymarket dep. 1644 (actual)
*(Arriva North East)* 4664 685 Newcastle Eldon Square - Haltwhistle dep. 1745 [18 late]

All in all, a good day out. The 1510 Heworth to Hadrian Park 58 didn't show up at all so everyone went onto the 1520, which was an 02-reg Vyking (absolute shed) which only went as far as Newcastle. I bailed at Gateshead Interchange and hoped to get the next bus up to Eldon Square. I got on a 21 (not a B5LH hybrid unfortunately) and immediately I was hit with the smell of poo; there was a drunk man asleep and I guessed it was him (barf) so I bailed again at New Bridge Street and walked up to Haymarket.
I then got the 1613 309 up to Battle Hill Drive - the light was fading and it was cold; to add to the problem I didn't know where the hell I was and I had to be at Eldon Square for the last 685 of the day back home.
I got off at Battle Hill Drive (Wallsend) and then an artic 58 passed me going to Heworth - annoyed was not the word! Because of the delays/cancellations on the 58 earlier I decided not to wait for the next one and I got an Arriva VDL DB300 back to Haymarket where I pondered what to do for the next 45 minutes or so. It was rush hour and I was half-tempted to have a small trip on the Metro but I (probably for the best) didn't.
I noticed that, at Eldon Square, 5 minutes before my 685 home, there was an announcement saying the 1745 685 to Carlisle will be 5 minutes late. I never knew they announced things like these on the buses?!
5 minutes late was too good to be true, and, in true Arriva style, 4664 was at the stand at 1803 - 18 minutes late.

Absolutely great day, I really did enjoy it. Its a shame I didn't get a Citaro on all routes but I didn't want to risk waiting for the next service where the previous bus wasn't a Merc because it would no doubt mess my plan up.
What really did annoy me was the amount of buses on the 58 route that weren't bendy Citaros - yeah there were a few, but a lot of the buses were the Vykings and generic single-deck Volvos.

I've got plans for another similar day out; next time chasing Wright Solars. However I'll ask for info on those later on.

Sean
P.S if you've got this far, thanks for reading!

The 58 always has a mixed allocation! On Tuesday, there were about 3 B10BLE's, a President, 2 Vykings and a LOOP.

I see, how odd for such a large route!
I did see a LOOP on the 58 on Thursday too, knew there was something else.

On a side note, sorry I didn't let you know of it before I went, Tom - it was a last-minute type thing.

Sean

Finding a Citaro on the 58 these days is like finding water in the desert.

I've got plans for another similar day out; next time chasing Wright Solars. However I'll ask for info on those later on.

Wright Solars are on the following routes:

'Prince Bishops' 20, 20A and 20X
Sunderland - The Raintons - Belmont - Durham

'Waggonway' 28 and 28A
Chester le Street - Beamish - Birtley - Gateshead - Newcastle

'Laser' 35, 35A, 35B and 35C
South Shields - Sunderland - Houghton - Low Moorsley/Rainton Bridge/South Hetton

'Toon Link' 11, 31, 32 and 47
Newcastle - Blackhall Mill/Winlaton

'Fab Fifty-Six' 56
Newcastle - Gateshead - Wrekenton - Hylton Castle - Southwick - Sunderland

'Loop' 93 and 94
Gateshead - Heworth - QE Hospital - Team Valley - Gateshead

'Highwayman' 97
Newcastle - Lobley Hill - Whickham - Fellside Park - Metrocentre

'Highwayman' 98 and 98A
Newcastle - Dunston - Whickham

'Fast Cats' X35
Sunderland - Peterlee - Hartlepool

'Great Park and Ride' X40
Newcastle - Gosforth - Regent Centre - Great Park

'Tynedale Express' X84 and X85
Newcastle - Heddon-on-the-Wall - Corbridge - Hexham

Wright Solars are on the following routes:

'Prince Bishops' 20, 20A and 20X
Sunderland - The Raintons - Belmont - Durham

'Waggonway' 28 and 28A
Chester le Street - Beamish - Birtley - Gateshead - Newcastle

'Laser' 35, 35A, 35B and 35C
South Shields - Sunderland - Houghton - Low Moorsley/Rainton Bridge/South Hetton

'Toon Link' 11, 31, 32 and 47
Newcastle - Blackhall Mill/Winlaton

'Fab Fifty-Six' 56
Newcastle - Gateshead - Wrekenton - Hylton Castle - Southwick - Sunderland

'Loop' 93 and 94
Gateshead - Heworth - QE Hospital - Team Valley - Gateshead

'Highwayman' 97
Newcastle - Lobley Hill - Whickham - Fellside Park - Metrocentre

'Highwayman' 98 and 98A
Newcastle - Dunston - Whickham

'Fast Cats' X35
Sunderland - Peterlee - Hartlepool

'Great Park and Ride' X40
Newcastle - Gosforth - Regent Centre - Great Park

'Tynedale Express' X84 and X85
Newcastle - Heddon-on-the-Wall - Corbridge - Hexham

Don't forget the 4 . Seen the Northern spare on it everyday I have been local

Don't forget the 4 . Seen the Northern spare on it everyday I have been local

and the WheyAye50

The Toon Link has Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipses rather than Scania L94UB/Wright Solars. Much prefer the Eclipse to the Solar.

The Toon Link has Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipses rather than Scania L94UB/Wright Solars. Much prefer the Eclipse to the Solar.

Having never conciously ridden an Eclipse, apart from the engine, is there much of a difference between the two?

Having never conciously ridden an Eclipse, apart from the engine, is there much of a difference between the two?

I just find them to be like a more modern Solar... A lot more solid, less rattles and a smoother ride.
I'm sure others will have a more detailed list of the differences though, rather than small observations anyone could make.