(17 Jul 2016, 10:05 am)Jimmi wrote Anyone know if there's any toilets near to the rally site? I ask for obvious reasons!

(17 Jul 2016, 10:26 am)Adrian wrote So what's the turnout like today? I've decided to give it a miss, as I was still a bit miffed following Durham last month.

(17 Jul 2016, 10:26 am)Adrian wrote So what's the turnout like today? I've decided to give it a miss, as I was still a bit miffed following Durham last month.

(17 Jul 2016, 2:52 pm)BusLoverMum wrote We passed through briefly as part of our plans for the day. Not much to stick around for, though.

Most amused that the merry go round came from our village!

We did spend part of the morning looking at the back of jimmi' head. Tried and failed to lure some Pokémon to bounce on it

(17 Jul 2016, 3:11 pm)Jimmi wrote Much the same story from me, the only thing of real intrest for me was the United liveried Olympian which sadly didn't go out on shuttles (or at least it didn't when I was there).

Saw a few forum members including BusLoverMum, Marcus and Thomas plus a few other familiar faces.

Left the rally at around 13:45 on the 309 with the intention of catching the 19 at Cobalt which sadly I just missed, annoyed me more as it was the Phoenix working I missed, I waited half an hour for the Arriva worked 19 then got off for a wander round Royal Quays before jumping on the Phoenix working 30 minutes later, then caught the ferry to South Shields and I am now on a E200 to Sunderland I will then catch either the 20 or 22 from Sunderland to head home, hoping for the latter but will depend if it's on-time.

(17 Jul 2016, 3:23 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Hope you have more luck than us. 14:25 angel didn't show, which has left us with 45 minutes to kill in Durham with a heavy bag and intermittent internet.

(17 Jul 2016, 3:33 pm)Adrian wrote So it doesn't sound like the rally was up to much then? A shame really, as it's not a bad location for a smaller rally, if you actually get a turn out that is...

(17 Jul 2016, 3:30 pm)Jimmi wrote I actually arrived in North Shields earlier than anticipated this morning as the 21 arrived in Newcastle early meaning I managed to catch the 10:45 309 to Whitley Bay, got off in the town centre to photograph service 17A then you'll be pleased to hear I found a toilet in the shopping centre, I then walked to the rally stopping at a Chippy on the way.

(17 Jul 2016, 3:43 pm)Jimmi wrote In my opinion, it really wasn't up to much. There was somewhere between 12-15 buses in attendance with Go North East bringing four (IndiGo North Tyne, Castles Express, Red Arrows and a Tynedale Links MPD), Stanley Travel brought their Leyland Tiger/Plaxton Paramount B10STX and the rest was just the usual mix of preserved stuff. I suppose this is the issue when you attend all the North East rallies, you see the same things at each one. There was a few people walking along the front who had a quick look at the buses and the odd enthusiast about but it wasn't owt spectacular in the way of numbers.

(17 Jul 2016, 6:17 pm)BusLoverMum wrote It's a shame this one is a little lacking, as it probably has the nicest site and the best potential for shuttle trips out of all the sites used, so far this year. Seaburn possibly even better for shuttle routes, but we can never get to that one to compare it.

(17 Jul 2016, 6:35 pm)Jimmi wrote I rode one shuttle which was Leyland National YFY4M, don't know if this was the official route but I didn't enjoy it so much as the traffic just made it a slow trundle along the Promenade, bus was great though.

Seaburn was a good event last year, there was a decent selection of stuff there plus there is a few other bits such as classic cars. The shuttle route is actually pretty decent but they are all the same route.

(17 Jul 2016, 7:25 pm)Tom wrote Judging by pictures this looks like one of the worst bus rallies for a while - I can't recall it or any rally being so quiet.

So glad I didn't waste my time today!

(17 Jul 2016, 7:43 pm)Jimmi wrote I couldn't even be bothered uploading photos from the rally today, instead I uploaded: IndiGo 679 on the 17A, Arriva 2816 and Phoenix NJ11EJX on the Nexus supported service 19 which is the last Sunday before GNE takeover these runs. It's bad when I'm continuing to prioritise my collection for the independent operators (didn't have a photo of that Phoenix Solo, so that pleased me).

(17 Jul 2016, 7:46 pm)Tom wrote That says something then! Some nice shots there, shame the E200 wasn't on the 19 as that has been out the last couple of times I've saw the night time 17.