(27 Feb 2015, 7:12 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote I love writing them...when you get 6 or 7 likes you know they're worth doing!

(27 Feb 2015, 7:15 pm)Jimmi wrote I wrote a long review of my trip on Wednesday and I'm never doing that again as it took forever to write and I don't think people really cared that much.

(27 Feb 2015, 7:15 pm)Jimmi wrote I wrote a long review of my trip on Wednesday and I'm never doing that again as it took forever to write and I don't think people really cared that much.

(27 Feb 2015, 7:19 pm)citaro5284 wrote Oh I did.....I find them quite interesting if I am honest, quite like to see the journeys you lot have made.

(27 Feb 2015, 7:20 pm)Tom wrote I'll only ever write them for big trips as it will take too much time probably.

(27 Feb 2015, 7:53 pm)Dan wrote Last night I had to decide between going to Carlisle to catch some of the (now not so) new Enviro200s in service since they were only starting to be dripped into service when I was last there or having a bit of a County Durham trip to catch up with some of the things I still need to photograph here... I ended up opting for the latter in the end, and I'll consider going to Carlisle tomorrow morning depending on what I feel. It's unlikely that the Solo SR will be out on Carlisle town routes as they have a couple of extra buses on a Saturday, and that's one of the main things I wanted to catch.

Onwards with today's outing:
1148 #9 (5l): Newcastle Road to Park Lane - GNE 3981
1210 #20: Sunderland to Carrville - GNE 4970
1311 #20: Carrville to Durham - GNE 4971
1337 #64: Durham to Arnison Centre - ANE 1328
1415 #64: Arnison Centre to Durham County Hall - GNE 6022
1444 #62: Durham County Hall to Durham - ANE 1762
1500 #15: Durham to Consett - GNE 6012
1608 #X78: Consett to Stanley - GNE 3831
1638 #X30: Stanley to Newcastle - GNE 641
1744 Metro: Monument to Stadium of Light - T&WM 4038

The 20 service due at 11:47am from Newcastle Road turned up two minutes early, which meant I just missed it. I was a little disgruntled as it meant I was putting myself back by 10 minutes, but it did mean that I added a little bit more variety to the trip! It also meant that I had a bit of time to take some photographs at Park Lane (including a shot of a red Volvo B9 on the 35). Prior to the January service changes, a number of members of this forum were worried that delays would be prevalent as a result of such a long-distance route, but early-running between timing points has been more of an issue as of late...

I hopped off at the Belmont Park & Ride site when I saw the sun was at a decent angle and the PR1 was due to depart. Sadly, by the time I got across the busy road, the bus had already departed and I missed my photo of it. I got the bus due to depart 10 minutes after, and got the next two Solos which were parked up ready. Twenty minutes later, back on the 20, and I got a couple of photos in Durham before heading up to the Arnison Centre on the 64. I've already given a fairly negative review in the "Arriva North East - Latest" thread, so I needn't repeat myself... I had intended to get the 64 due 10 minutes behind the one I got to the Arnison Centre, but it was at least five minutes late and Go North East's 14 service turned up first. More variety, nevertheless!

Took a ride of that to Durham County Hall and got a couple of photos there, and then saw the 62 was due. Haven't been on that before, and I hadn't been on 1762 before. Wasn't particularly impressed and the passengers on the bus were quite rowdy. Quick journey down to the bus station and I waited for 7610 to show on the X12 from Middlesbrough - but as already established elsewhere on the board, I missed it as it was >15 mins late. Not much to say about 6012 - not a great President, but glad it turned up as I needed a photo of it following its recent repaint. Was pleasantly surprised that the kids who got on from Robert's school weren't particularly rowdy, but they did look older, so perhaps that's why. Missed the Weardale scholars services but did get some photos of some of Go North East's.

Haven't used the X78 since June or July 2014, so decided that it would be best to have one last ride of it. Probably will be my last time on it as I'll be otherwise occupied on weekdays from next week. It's a nice little run and I'd highly recommend it to anyone. You're more or less guaranteed to get an Olympian, and if one is allocated, you'll definitely get the upper-deck front seat with loads of leg room as it only tends to be one or two OAPs that use it. Wanted to head back to Newcastle for a shot of Arriva's X85, so caught the X30 (a warm Solo which provided a lovely ride - but a bit cramped on the back row) to Newcastle. Glad the 1720 departure was an OmniCity and not a Streetlite as I originally thought it was, as I missed it due to traffic on Percy Street! Managed to get a photo of a Solar on the X1A though, which is quite a rare working indeed, so at least I got a photo of something before heading back home on the Metro.

(27 Feb 2015, 8:00 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Jesus Christ! You had a GNE bus on an Arriva route?!?! You lucky man!

Great review Dan.

(27 Feb 2015, 7:53 pm)Dan wrote Took a ride of that to Durham County Hall and got a couple of photos there, and then saw the 62 was due. Haven't been on that before, and I hadn't been on 1762 before. Wasn't particularly impressed and the passengers on the bus were quite rowdy. Quick journey down to the bus station and I waited for 7610 to show on the X12 from Middlesbrough - but as already established elsewhere on the board, I missed it as it was >15 mins late. Not much to say about 6012 - not a great President, but glad it turned up as I needed a photo of it following its recent repaint. Was pleasantly surprised that the kids who got on from Robert's school weren't particularly rowdy, but they did look older, so perhaps that's why. Missed the Weardale scholars services but did get some photos of some of Go North East's.

(27 Feb 2015, 7:53 pm)Dan wrote Haven't used the X78 since June or July 2014, so decided that it would be best to have one last ride of it. Probably will be my last time on it as I'll be otherwise occupied on weekdays from next week.

(27 Feb 2015, 8:15 pm)aureolin wrote What'd 7610 end up doing? I wonder if it was taken out and dropped back in somewhere?

(27 Feb 2015, 7:53 pm)Dan wrote Not much to say about 6012 - not a great President, but glad it turned up as I needed a photo of it following its recent repaint. Was pleasantly surprised that the kids who got on from Robert's school weren't particularly rowdy, but they did look older, so perhaps that's why. Missed the Weardale scholars services but did get some photos of some of Go North East's.

(27 Feb 2015, 8:45 pm)Robert wrote You were on that? I wouldnt have seen you but i was on 3880 towards the back of the 'convoy' of buses in the school - it was last red decker with 2 olympians bringing up the rear. 6010 would have passed 6012 not long after Lanchester heading in the opposite direction. Dont know if you managed to get a photo of it later/earlier in the day though.

(27 Feb 2015, 8:46 pm)Dan wrote Yep, I got both.  

(27 Feb 2015, 9:07 pm)Dan wrote So... What made Jimmi decide against using the Nikon today?

(27 Feb 2015, 9:17 pm)Jimmi wrote Today was not specifically a bus photo day, I decided I wanted a trip to the MetroCentre today and I didn't fancy lugging my Nikon round the Metro incase people bumped into me or shoved me into shop windows which happened on a previous trip. I am being cautious when I am carrying it around as it is an expensive piece of kit. So because I wasn't really going to be taking any photos today I took my little Sony camera which I could just shove in my pocket and not worry about it being damaged.

As ever I wasn't really talkative when I saw you in Durham, I am not really good with talking to people - I sometimes wish I was but sadly I'm not but there is actually a reason for this but its nothing bad.

(27 Feb 2015, 9:19 pm)Dan wrote Aye, nee worries...
I got a hi today - more I get from Marcus!

(27 Feb 2015, 9:21 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Whey...if ya was'ne gannen ta Carleel t'morra we's could'a made a day oot 'a it!

Sorry that's the best I can do.

(27 Feb 2015, 9:19 pm)Dan wrote Aye, nee worries...
I got a hi today - more I get from Marcus!

(27 Feb 2015, 9:22 pm)Dan wrote Well the invite was there but some of us don't like travelling huge distances!

(27 Feb 2015, 9:23 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Yeah I don't think I could last that long without losing the will to live.

(27 Feb 2015, 9:26 pm)Jimmi wrote Yeah it can make you lose your sanity after that long.

I will probably do Carlisle in May.

(27 Feb 2015, 9:23 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Yeah I don't think I could last that long without losing the will to live.

(27 Feb 2015, 9:28 pm)MrFozz wrote I am looking at doing Carlisle in the Summer, I will bus it up and get the train back

(27 Feb 2015, 9:22 pm)Dan wrote Well the invite was there but some of us don't like travelling huge distances!

(27 Feb 2015, 9:31 pm)Tom wrote The 685 isn't that bad! 

Are you bottling that too lol?  

(27 Feb 2015, 9:31 pm)Jimmi wrote I will get the bus both ways, I may jump off in Brampton on the way to Carlisle then jump on a short 685 to Carlisle.

(27 Feb 2015, 9:34 pm)Tom wrote If you get a North West Explorer you could go to Central Lakes too. 
Could you not get the train to Newcastle?