(01 May 2016, 8:42 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Got there for around 2:30PM and spent most of my time playing around with 7603 which I thank the driver for letting me do, Though if Tommy didn't lock himself in the bloody cab I probably would have had a lot more time in it!  

Anyways putting that moment of madness aside, I took some photos from the GNE lineup and various other Preserved Vehicles and other Independents, Also took a lot of the Arriva Lineup too though I pulled the short straw with Tommy and ended being locked out the cab by him and having to take the photos of nearly every single blind on the log.

Thanks for the good day

(01 May 2016, 8:44 pm)4691 wrote Spent an enjoyable afternoon at the rally. A few different independents and loved the line up of preserved NE buses; had a great ride on the South Sheilds Atlantean.

I was disappointed in the presentation of some of GNE's offerings - 4898 was a disgrace! Loop and Green Arrow Scanias already look quite rough, and wheels were filthy. Incidentally, why did GNE take off the wheels trims a couple of years ago, eg.. all Volvos used to come with them fitted from new. They also used to keep wheels clean in painted silver.  Compared to First's buses and most Transdev fleets, GNE don't look as smart, well presented and professional. I thought Arriva's fleet put them to shame today.

(01 May 2016, 8:42 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Was a good day today, Though I didn't get there as early as other forum members did due to me having football at 10 in the morning!

Got there for around 2:30PM and spent most of my time playing around with 7603 which I thank the driver for letting me do, Though if Tommy didn't lock himself in the bloody cab I probably would have had a lot more time in it!  

Also spent a bit with Lee in 1405, Battery was a bit dead in this one I believe and the destinations couldn't be started up as usual though came on later on.

As the MAX X75/76 Omnicity was being readied for a run I had a little moment of madness and went to the Frequenta Solo and let myself in ( which I regret doing )
One other enthusiast who I recognised from the first Saturday of the Tynedale Links Solo's in operation decided to have a full on rage with me from 1405 for nothing, I didn't bloody touch anything.
One of the Arriva Drivers who had a cockney accent came over and I apologised and he was fine with it, Though for the enthusiast to shout his head off at me wasn't needed, I still don't know why he done it in the first place.

Anyways putting that moment of madness aside, I took some photos from the GNE lineup and various other Preserved Vehicles and other Independents, Also took a lot of the Arriva Lineup too though I pulled the short straw with Tommy and ended being locked out the cab by him and having to take the photos of nearly every single blind on the log.

Met Sean Harris aka Northern156 for the first time today, We chatted for a minute or two before going separate ways.

Also seen Daniel Graham and some other enthusiast's with him for the first time, I don't know if there NEB Members or not.

Other's seen today were Davie, Dan Picken , Kieron Matthews outside the Bus Station , Steven Hodgson , Bazza's Mate who I still don't know the name of and Jimmi.

Been nice meeting new people and talking to ones I already know and I hope to see you out and about or at the Durham Rally which Is coming up.

Might upload some of the photo's to Flickr tonight though I'm quite tired so see what happens.

Thanks for the good day

(01 May 2016, 9:04 pm)Jackamcardle wrote Arriva weren't even meant to bring the Max pulsar I think, a gas bus was meant to be coming along but it failed.

I think a Sapphire 7 was due too, but it never came.

(01 May 2016, 9:51 pm)Tom wrote Probably won't go to Durham but what's the one after - Seaburn?

(01 May 2016, 9:51 pm)Tom wrote Probably won't go to Durham but what's the one after - Seaburn?

(01 May 2016, 9:56 pm)Jimmi wrote There's the Whitley Bay rally on Sunday July 17th.

Not certain if I'm going to bother with that one or not as last year I didn't feel it was totally worth the 3 hour journey (in EACH direction) I had to make to attend the rally. Wasn't helped by the fact that when I arrived the only ride outs where the two preserved buses The Eden had and GNE provided a TTX B9 and a Toonlink OmniCity.

(01 May 2016, 9:57 pm)Davie wrote Won't Whitley Bay the next rally, after Durham?

(01 May 2016, 10:02 pm)Tom wrote Ah yeah forgot about that one. Will probably go to that one then as it's not far from me.

Bet you won't be doing the 1 all the way from Wrekenton again haha - must have took nearly 2 hours from Wrekenton to Whitley Bay. And we know how much you love the Omnicities 

(01 May 2016, 10:00 pm)GMitchelhill wrote I won't be attending Durham either, as I shall be attending the Peak Park rally instead, and hopefully get a ride on the Ulsterbus Tiger which went out on a run too late for me today, as I left at 4pm with 7603.

(01 May 2016, 10:16 pm)northern156 wrote Really enjoyed the rally today. Got there for 0800 and met up with Adrian to watch everything coming in.
Then met up one by one with the clan from here. Wandered around and jumped from clique to clique. Jollied around on a few shuttles too.

Weather was utter rubbish to start off with but it did get better!
Nice meeting some new faces today, too.

Gave a fellow forum member a lift to Newcastle afterwards, then went to Jesmond depot for a few photos, then Walkergate, then Percy Main before going to Maccies at Silverlink for some food, then went via the Tyne Tunnel (never done it by car before) heading back home.


Many thanks to all who I seen/spoke to today, really was good fun.

(01 May 2016, 10:17 pm)Davie wrote It was great meeting you today, Sean.

(01 May 2016, 3:10 pm)Jackamcardle wrote On the other hand, I did think that Go North East made a much better effort with the amount of buses this year, and all of the drivers were very friendly (particularly Mark and the driver that me and Marcus had on the Olympian, think it was Ben or Jack) and let you look around the buses and changed the destination displays.

(02 May 2016, 8:43 am)Versa5389 wrote It was my first year as a driver to the Metrocentre Show. I did bring 5288 from Stanley & 5221 from Riverside after arriving at the coach park.

(01 May 2016, 9:51 pm)Tom wrote Probably won't go to Durham but what's the one after - Seaburn?

(02 May 2016, 8:51 am)Dan wrote Thanks for bringing some buses along for us, Ben!

(02 May 2016, 12:01 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Uploaded my first photo from yesterday onto Flickr now, With some extras to read about in the description for the mechanical side etc

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97555/2016/04/02/advanced  Hope you enjoy it  

(02 May 2016, 12:10 pm)Adrian wrote Wrong link, I think?? 

(01 May 2016, 7:46 pm)Malarkey wrote Despite the rain and poor organisation of how Vehicles were parked up, I must say very close together, actually thought I was at Durham Rally for most of the event, and a lack of stalls and further lack of quantity when it came to model buses, I still managed to spend £51 on three GNE Models to add to my collection. Negatives out of the way I quite I enjoyed the 2 Hours I spent at the Rally with plenty of new additions to the preservation scene on display which did not disappoint me one bit.

I got to then MetroCentre at around 10:30am and was greeted by 3469 (AUP 360W) as I came down into the Coach Park, which resulted in many enthusiasts scrambling into position for photos, myself included. I then made my way up the left hand side where A-Line etc were parked up before heading over to the right side where you will find the usual ex Busways Vehicles, before having a look around the stalls, after buying a few models I continued my way up to the top bumping into Mr Fozz on my travels, I also spoke with and old gentleman who told me quite few stories of the Northern Vehicles during his childhood whilst attempting to get a photo of (FJ61 EXO) which I photographed yesterday also.

I then took a trip back to the early 2000s as I photographed what had be my highlight of the day in 4708 & 4855, I boarded 4855 and spoke with the owners of both Vehicles, and praised them for there efforts over the winter months along with thanking them for bringing back some great memories of my childhood, which they appreciated and thanked me for my kind comments.

After that I had look around the Arriva & Go North East Vehicles on show, along with photographing 3656 which also looks fantastic before heading back down the bottom, where I was greeted by the Yorkshire Coastliner and United Leyland Olympian ECWs coming in, which was the other highlight of my day before opting to head back home so I could watch the football, not before catching 4896 on the 46, 5210 on the 10B and a brief chat with Jack McArdle in the Bus Station, to then catch a late running 13:18pm X88 back to Washington.

Overall I thought it was a good rally and I am looking forward to Durham next month.