(05 May 2019, 2:08 pm)MurdnunoC wrote MetroCentre is certainly a better venue but the event was still as lacklustre as ever. 2/10.

(05 May 2019, 2:08 pm)MurdnunoC wrote MetroCentre is certainly a better venue but the event was still as lacklustre as ever. 2/10.

(05 May 2019, 3:04 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Why?

(05 May 2019, 3:49 pm)MurdnunoC wrote It's just the same old, same old innit!

I think that the event is usually scheduled a week after the Teesside Running Day probably doesn't help matters as I tend to enjoy that one more - largely due to the variety of trips on offer and, perhaps, because it's more of a day out. I've done both now for 5 or 6 years on the trot so maybe it's time for a break from attending this one - even though it's the most convenient for me to attend. 

On another note, I believe you and I briefly met today whilst you were trading Pokemon so it's nice to put a face to the name at last.

(05 May 2019, 5:13 pm)Boggle wrote My main gripe was that there was no easy way of finding out what was going out on the shuttles at any given point. The guy with what was seemingly the only copy of the roster was clutching it tightly on his clipboard. Surely a copy of the roster could be posted on the free bus stop? It would save joining the queue without any clue as to whether you will actually want to ride on what rolls up. The lack of organisation summed up by the guy with clipboard quibbling with the guys on 574 who came out to do a run when it wasn’t their slot. Overhearing the conversation, he seemed genuinely annoyed and would rather have a queue of people standing around waiting than send a bus load of happy people out on a bus that wasn’t scheduled even though the owners of the bus were willing to provide added interest to the event.

(05 May 2019, 5:29 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I must have been standing close to you while the guy with the clipboard started arguing with Lee about doing a run on 574. While I understand it wasn't 'scheduled' so to speak, I honestly don't understand why he tried to make such fuss about it. If someone wants to do an unscheduled run using their vehicle and fuel then it's entirely up to them, it has no real bearing on the actual timetable of events - if anything, it's an added bonus. 

His complaint didn't end there either, I passed upon the opportunity to board 574 in favor of the next bus, Jordan Hunter's preserved Lime-branded Volvo B10. Not only was he still miffed about 574 departing when it did, he actually made Jordan wait around 10 minutes until the next 'scheduled' slot (2pm I believe). Unbelievable.

(05 May 2019, 5:50 pm)LeeCalder wrote I must say we were overwhelmed by the reaction to 574's presence today. I was also miffed by the NEBPT representative with the clipboard, as you could probably tell by my reaction. He was moaning we were taking the passengers of the 2pm service, despite Jordan being aware we were going to do a trip.

I will be mentioning this to the NEBPT, as I thought the attitude of the gentleman was poor, and if the passengers would have rather waited for Jordan's 2pm journey, they could have done so. The majority of the queue opted for a ride on the MPD, and I certainly hope they enjoyed it.

(05 May 2019, 6:58 pm)Jimmi wrote Massive thanks Lee & co for taking 574 out for some unscheduled trips, was nice to finally be able to sample it.
Preserved: 574 / NK53TMZ by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

(05 May 2019, 5:50 pm)LeeCalder wrote I must say we were overwhelmed by the reaction to 574's presence today. I was also miffed by the NEBPT representative with the clipboard, as you could probably tell by my reaction. He was moaning we were taking the passengers of the 2pm service, despite Jordan being aware we were going to do a trip.

I will be mentioning this to the NEBPT, as I thought the attitude of the gentleman was poor, and if the passengers would have rather waited for Jordan's 2pm journey, they could have done so. The majority of the queue opted for a ride on the MPD, and I certainly hope they enjoyed it.

(05 May 2019, 7:33 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Oooh. Is that Swallwell Lidl in the background?

That's not following the agreed shuttle route! Very naughty indeed!!

(05 May 2019, 8:27 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I think the 'official' route was a bit silly anyway. Metrocentre is quite easy to access through frequent services from both Newcastle and Gateshead so, unlike Spillers Wharf (or the Transporter Bridge for the Teesside Running Day), there's no need for a shuttle service into Newcastle. On the run I was on, we ended up waiting in traffic while traversing through Newcastle as well as doing a circle as to go around the Central Station twice.  Now, I'm not saying there's no merit in doing a run across the Tyne Bridge then back over the Redheugh, but there are other places you could go which would take a similar amount of time. For example, why not run a route up through Ryton and Crawcrook then back along the bypass to Blaydon and Metrocentre, or a run along the A1 then up through Lobley Hill and Whickham. There are other options available where less traffic would be encountered.

(05 May 2019, 7:08 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Was planning on getting out on a shuttle but never got round to it due to the constant queues as I wanted a double decker front seat upstairs for some videoing for my YouTube channel but wasn’t aware of which vehicles were running so I had a walk down to Riverside and back instead and got a few photos there as well as some buses out on shuttles on the way there and back.

Photos linked below

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ten6083/shares/Xc2G35


Sent from my iPhone XS using Tapatalk

(05 May 2019, 8:27 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I think the 'official' route was a bit silly anyway. Metrocentre is quite easy to access through frequent services from both Newcastle and Gateshead so, unlike Spillers Wharf (or the Transporter Bridge for the Teesside Running Day), there's no need for a shuttle service into Newcastle. On the run I was on, we ended up waiting in traffic while traversing through Newcastle as well as doing a circle as to go around the Central Station twice.  Now, I'm not saying there's no merit in doing a run across the Tyne Bridge then back over the Redheugh, but there are other places you could go which would take a similar amount of time. For example, why not run a route up through Ryton and Crawcrook then back along the bypass to Blaydon and Metrocentre, or a run along the A1 then up through Lobley Hill and Whickham. There are other options available where less traffic would be encountered.

(05 May 2019, 9:56 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Totally agree - the route was crazy - probably couldn't have chosen a route to hit more traffic.  Sitting in a queue of traffic waiting to go on a pointless loop round to Bewick Street to get stuck in the queue of 327s and 900s was particularly annoying (especially as we stopped on Neville Street anyway).

(05 May 2019, 7:50 pm)Boggle wrote 574 is a credit to you.  It's great to see younger enthusiasts preserving modern vehicles (albeit 574 is now somehow 16 years old - where does time go?) and also great to be allowed to enjoy a ride out on your bus.  You made my daughter's day by letting her sit in the driver's seat for a photo.  It's going on her "What i did at the weekend" report for school and she's looking forward to telling her friends and teacher about it.  I hope you have it out and about on the rally scene for many years to come for people to enjoy and that you and your mates enjoy every minute of it too.

(06 May 2019, 5:53 pm)Ds1197 wrote https://flic.kr/s/aHsmD4Ysfp help with some of the info on the older buses

(06 May 2019, 9:06 pm)Adrian wrote I was really pleased when I heard that this rally was going back to the Metrocentre. Whilst I appreciate that the NEBPT had to move quickly to find a replacement site, when intu said 'no' in 2017, I just don't think it was ever suitable. However, as soon as I arrived at the Metrocentre, the first thing I noticed is how quiet it seemed. The numbers seemed to be down dramatically compared to the last few rallies there, and so did the amount of vehicles in attendance to be honest.

It was great seeing the locally preserved buses out in force, some fresh to the scene, and others that we haven't seen for a few years. The highlight for me was seeing former Tyne and Wear PTE 413 / JFT413X back on the scene. What a fantastic preserved bus this is - a credit to the group that owns it. It was also nice to see two new debutantes in ex-GNE Transbus MPD 574 and ex-GNE Renown 4898, fresh in it's 'Lime v2' branding. Both are an absolute credit to their owners.

For me though, what really lets this rally down, is the real lack of organisation. Something which I've commented on before, but appears to show more and more. 

Even before the rally day, I found the lack of advertising of the event to be somewhat surprising. This goes back to the 'well its always on every year' attitude, which I cannot disagree with as a statement, but it is never going to grow the rally into an event. I think this shows in the attraction to outside of our region, with none of the preservation groups a little further afield, choosing to support the event. A stark contrast to something like Kirkby Stephen, despite it only being 55 miles away. Its also worth noting that 10 out of the 24 vehicles listed as participating in the event were not present, and others in attendance weren't listed. I appreciate that things change at short notice, but 10/24 is almost half of your line up gone. 

At the rally itself, I found the layout to be somewhat confusing. Lots of cones and tape around areas on the way in, but no real explanation (or rally stewards) to say why or what for. The majority of people choosing to walk straight through the road and into traffic instead, given that the staff car park to the right was still open. The site itself was parked up better than in previous years, with buses being adequately spaced, rather than cramped together. Although this still made the rally look quiet, given half of the car park remained empty. 

The 'free' bus service, as others have alluded to, was probably the best example of shocking organisation. Although the bus stop was on your immediate right as you walk into the site as normal, there was nothing to say what was going on. In previous years, there was a circular service and also one running up to Tanfield. Routes were listed by the stop, and a list of times also present. Nothing was this year, and the rally stewards didn't seem to know what was going out and when, other than it appearing to be every half hour. Perhaps the most bonkers thing that I witnessed, was two of the stewards wanting to argue with two separate bus owners, for wanting to donate their time, personal expense and bus, to operate on the rally's 'free' bus service. Pedantically arguing about set times, whilst ignoring the long queue of people waiting for a bus. The owner of the Lime bus was actually held for a good 5-10 minutes, despite being full, just to appease a steward. Unbelievable really.

Oh, and I use the term 'free', because that is what it is incorrectly advertised at in my opinion. Whilst I appreciate that owners cannot charge fares and such, I do think that the rally organisers could do a hell of a lot more to support those owners willing to let their buses be used on the service. Perhaps selling 'rally supporter' wristbands on their trade stall, and the owners only permitting entry to wristband holders? The proceeds from the wristbands could then be divided up as a donation to each of bus volunteered on the bus service. But failing that, something as simple as bucket collections in the queue would be a start. Whilst the organisers continue to label it as a free service, I believe it'll always incorrectly set people's expectations in terms of a donation. 

Unfortunately I think we'll have the same gripes about Durham, Whitley Bay and Seaburn, and I cannot see it changing soon. We have one organisation now arranging five rallies a year, and that is probably three more than we actually need to have.

(06 May 2019, 9:06 pm)Adrian wrote I was really pleased when I heard that this rally was going back to the Metrocentre. Whilst I appreciate that the NEBPT had to move quickly to find a replacement site, when intu said 'no' in 2017, I just don't think it was ever suitable. However, as soon as I arrived at the Metrocentre, the first thing I noticed is how quiet it seemed. The numbers seemed to be down dramatically compared to the last few rallies there, and so did the amount of vehicles in attendance to be honest.

It was great seeing the locally preserved buses out in force, some fresh to the scene, and others that we haven't seen for a few years. The highlight for me was seeing former Tyne and Wear PTE 413 / JFT413X back on the scene. What a fantastic preserved bus this is - a credit to the group that owns it. It was also nice to see two new debutantes in ex-GNE Transbus MPD 574 and ex-GNE Renown 4898, fresh in it's 'Lime v2' branding. Both are an absolute credit to their owners.

For me though, what really lets this rally down, is the real lack of organisation. Something which I've commented on before, but appears to show more and more. 

Even before the rally day, I found the lack of advertising of the event to be somewhat surprising. This goes back to the 'well its always on every year' attitude, which I cannot disagree with as a statement, but it is never going to grow the rally into an event. I think this shows in the attraction to outside of our region, with none of the preservation groups a little further afield, choosing to support the event. A stark contrast to something like Kirkby Stephen, despite it only being 55 miles away. Its also worth noting that 10 out of the 24 vehicles listed as participating in the event were not present, and others in attendance weren't listed. I appreciate that things change at short notice, but 10/24 is almost half of your line up gone. 

At the rally itself, I found the layout to be somewhat confusing. Lots of cones and tape around areas on the way in, but no real explanation (or rally stewards) to say why or what for. The majority of people choosing to walk straight through the road and into traffic instead, given that the staff car park to the right was still open. The site itself was parked up better than in previous years, with buses being adequately spaced, rather than cramped together. Although this still made the rally look quiet, given half of the car park remained empty. 

The 'free' bus service, as others have alluded to, was probably the best example of shocking organisation. Although the bus stop was on your immediate right as you walk into the site as normal, there was nothing to say what was going on. In previous years, there was a circular service and also one running up to Tanfield. Routes were listed by the stop, and a list of times also present. Nothing was this year, and the rally stewards didn't seem to know what was going out and when, other than it appearing to be every half hour. Perhaps the most bonkers thing that I witnessed, was two of the stewards wanting to argue with two separate bus owners, for wanting to donate their time, personal expense and bus, to operate on the rally's 'free' bus service. Pedantically arguing about set times, whilst ignoring the long queue of people waiting for a bus. The owner of the Lime bus was actually held for a good 5-10 minutes, despite being full, just to appease a steward. Unbelievable really.

Oh, and I use the term 'free', because that is what it is incorrectly advertised at in my opinion. Whilst I appreciate that owners cannot charge fares and such, I do think that the rally organisers could do a hell of a lot more to support those owners willing to let their buses be used on the service. Perhaps selling 'rally supporter' wristbands on their trade stall, and the owners only permitting entry to wristband holders? The proceeds from the wristbands could then be divided up as a donation to each of bus volunteered on the bus service. But failing that, something as simple as bucket collections in the queue would be a start. Whilst the organisers continue to label it as a free service, I believe it'll always incorrectly set people's expectations in terms of a donation. 

Unfortunately I think we'll have the same gripes about Durham, Whitley Bay and Seaburn, and I cannot see it changing soon. We have one organisation now arranging five rallies a year, and that is probably three more than we actually need to have.