(17 Oct 2013, 6:29 pm)Dan wrote Speaking of the Streetlites, I forgot to mention that 8302 returned to Deptford at approximately 14:30 today. Certainly one to look out for tomorrow for those wanting photos of the exclusives!

(17 Oct 2013, 6:33 pm)Michael wrote Bet its green.. haha

(17 Oct 2013, 6:29 pm)Dan wrote Speaking of the Streetlites, I forgot to mention that 8302 returned to Deptford at approximately 14:30 today. Certainly one to look out for tomorrow for those wanting photos of the exclusives!

(17 Oct 2013, 6:39 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Well I can't see it been that different if its gone green like the current Lambton Worm, has it been branded or just repainted?. If I'm lucky I might catch it on the 60 tomorrow morning.

(17 Oct 2013, 6:36 pm)Dan wrote Haha, where's your guess for the fleet numbers?!

(17 Oct 2013, 6:33 pm)Michael wrote Bet its green.. haha

(17 Oct 2013, 6:44 pm)Michael wrote Think they will:
Versa's - 8339-8353 (incase the extra 15 buses are Versa)
Streetlite - 8369+

(17 Oct 2013, 6:52 pm)Dan wrote Close, but no cigar!

We'll start with the Versas - remember, these are a different length to the Versas that are currently in the fleet. Can you think of where else they may fit in?

As for the Streetlites... Let's just talk about the "Drifter" examples for now. As we know, these are the longer vehicles of the two batches (the "Saltwell Park" examples are slightly smaller in length).
You may be right with the last two numbers for NL63XAZ... I wonder what the first two numbers are though?

(17 Oct 2013, 6:54 pm)Michael wrote cba to go though every number

(17 Oct 2013, 6:52 pm)Dan wrote Close, but no cigar!

We'll start with the Versas - remember, these are a different length to the Versas that are currently in the fleet. Can you think of where else they may fit in?

As for the Streetlites... Let's just talk about the "Drifter" examples for now. As we know, these are the longer vehicles of the two batches (the "Saltwell Park" examples are slightly smaller in length).
You may be right with the last two numbers for NL63XAZ... I wonder what the first two numbers are though?

(17 Oct 2013, 6:56 pm)mattdw92 wrote Saltwell Park 10.8m Streetlites: 5369 - 5376
Citylink Versa: 5377-5390
Drifter 11.5m Streetlites : 8339 - 8346

(17 Oct 2013, 6:56 pm)mattdw92 wrote Saltwell Park 10.8m Streetlites: 5369 - 5376
Citylink Versa: 5377-5390
Drifter 11.5m Streetlites : 8339 - 8346
Sorry to spoil Michael's Game

(17 Oct 2013, 6:59 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Oh beat there by Matt. Oh I thought the Saltwell park ones might follow the Versas.

(17 Oct 2013, 7:01 pm)Dan wrote Very close!

11.5m "Drifter" branded Streetlites will be allocated fleet numbers 5369 - 5376.
10.8m "Saltwell Park" branded Streetlites will be allocated fleet numbers 8339 - 8346.

You are indeed correct in regards to the "Citylink" branded Versas. They are to be allocated fleet numbers 5377 – 5390.

(17 Oct 2013, 7:01 pm)Dan wrote Very close!

11.5m "Drifter" branded Streetlites will be allocated fleet numbers 5369 - 5376.
10.8m "Saltwell Park" branded Streetlites will be allocated fleet numbers 8339 - 8346.

You are indeed correct in regards to the "Citylink" branded Versas. They are to be allocated fleet numbers 5377 – 5390.

• 5369 - NL63 XAZ
  
• 5370 - NL63 XBA
  
• 5371 - NL63 XBB
  

(17 Oct 2013, 7:08 pm)Andreos1 wrote Can anyone explain why they are sticking with the Lambton Worm brand on a service which goes nowhere near the site of the Lambton Worm or anywhere near anything that has a connection to the story?

I'm half expecting a Toon Link brand appearing in Sunderland

(17 Oct 2013, 7:15 pm)CatsFast101 wrote It's a decent brand. There's no other service to put in on really, so the 34 needed a brand stick it on there. Works okay, looks nice.

(17 Oct 2013, 7:15 pm)CatsFast101 wrote It's a decent brand. There's no other service to put in on really, so the 34 needed a brand stick it on there. Works okay, looks nice.

(17 Oct 2013, 7:40 pm)Michael wrote What if GNE named all their buses starting with Fab..


Fab Fourty two
Fab Fifty Eight
Fab Fifty Fifty haha

(17 Oct 2013, 7:15 pm)CatsFast101 wrote It's a decent brand. There's no other service to put in on really, so the 34 needed a brand stick it on there. Works okay, looks nice.

(17 Oct 2013, 7:45 pm)Andreos1 wrote I know we're potentially getting off-topic and regardless whether it looks nice or not on MPD's, DAF's or Versa's...

The brand has nowt to do with Ouston, Pelaw Estate, Chester or Waldridge Estate though - whether it looks nice or not.

Branding divides people, (some love it, some don't) and putting my opinions on branding to one side, sticking a big worm on the side of those Versa's seems like a pointless excercise.
The Toon Link in Sunderland is an extreme example, but the Lambton Worm has as much in common with Urpeth Grange as the Toon has with Pennywell.

(17 Oct 2013, 7:41 pm)aureolin wrote I think the word Fab became extinct in the 60s. I'm hoping the new buses on the 56 will result in a less cheesy brand.

(17 Oct 2013, 8:17 pm)Dan wrote If I remember rightly, "SimpliCity" was introduced to Sunderland on services 36 and 42 to act as a 'simple' brand identity - and it was marketed as making the passenger experience easier. When it was first introduced, both services had a 10 minute frequency which gives us the brand's slogan, 'Simply turn up and go'.
These services also offered a 'money back guarantee'. This was perhaps more heavily weighted towards the 36 rather than the 42, as the 36 competed with several of Stagecoach in Sunderland's services in North Sunderland.
It would also seem that Go North East played on the fact that Sunderland is a city, rather than a town (it's likely you've heard about this on the radio too recently, as Sunderland has had a 'city' status now for 21 years). The letter 'C' is capitalized. This also looks stylish, but fits in well with with the idea of the "SimpliCity" brand being the Sunderland equivalent of Peterlee's "East Durham", Consett's "Venture" or indeed Hexham's "Tynedale Links".

I'd love for the brand to be expanded further.