(04 May 2025, 4:50 pm)BusLoverMum wrote This section has become quieter, hasn't it? 

I don't know if anyone else bothered, this year. The few buses displayed (very few of those were preserved vehicles) were shoved right to the back of the car park. The only big operator exhibiting was Stagecoach. It was nice to see their busways commemorative vehicles all together, though.

The weather was foul and some of the stallholders were on the verge of giving up quite early.

(04 May 2025, 7:10 pm)Rapidsnap wrote There was a bit of a barny when an operators vehicle nearly reversed into another persons preserved vehicle which lead to some of the preserved vehicles leaving earlier.

Noticed 11297 had a bit of a scrape on its offside rear corner when I photoed it at Walker Bus Terminal on my way home (resulting in me photoing all Busways heritage liveries today).

Also there was an event on at Whitehaven too.

The one event I think is a great miss was the 500 Group running day event, was usually a well organised affair. Sadly they were prevented from using the Transporter Bridge as the base for the event.

(04 May 2025, 7:10 pm)Rapidsnap wrote There was a bit of a barny when an operators vehicle nearly reversed into another persons preserved vehicle which lead to some of the preserved vehicles leaving earlier.

Noticed 11297 had a bit of a scrape on its offside rear corner when I photoed it at Walker Bus Terminal on my way home (resulting in me photoing all Busways heritage liveries today).

Also there was an event on at Whitehaven too.

The one event I think is a great miss was the 500 Group running day event, was usually a well organised affair. Sadly they were prevented from using the Transporter Bridge as the base for the event.

491513914_29487387794243228_1132595308139892584_n.mp4 (Size 3.37 MB | Downloads 37)

(04 May 2025, 9:12 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Someone sent me a video of the incident in question.

(04 May 2025, 6:25 pm)Adrian wrote I'm not sure what's happened this year, but it doesn't feel like it's been heavily promoted or anything? Aside from the Facebook event created, there was only a reminder on posted on Thursday.

I imagine some of it is due to the Trust struggling with volunteers, but the lack of preserved vehicles is surprising.

(04 May 2025, 4:50 pm)BusLoverMum wrote This section has become quieter, hasn't it? 

I don't know if anyone else bothered, this year. The few buses displayed (very few of those were preserved vehicles) were shoved right to the back of the car park. The only big operator exhibiting was Stagecoach. It was nice to see their busways commemorative vehicles all together, though.

The weather was foul and some of the stallholders were on the verge of giving up quite early.

(05 May 2025, 7:11 am)Aaron21 wrote Pushed futher back due to Go North East wanting to run an X50 for the Magic weekend so GNE had spoke to the trust asking for them to have the bottom half of the car park so the trust agreed. Then no sign of the X50 today as was told the gne team who run the X50 "kicked off a fuss about the event so didn't bother running it". So gne talked to them about it asked them to do this and then decide "nah cba" and just didn't bother

(05 May 2025, 2:21 pm)Rapidsnap wrote But people aren't wrong, I've heard complaints from other about groups of younguns causing issues like swearing loudly, getting in the way and charging around the place.

(05 May 2025, 11:34 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Unfortunatley Adrian, these people are probably aware and don't give a fluff about it and will continue to behave this way as they can continue to do so without punishment. As long as their mates think they're cool, they continue to do it regardless of anyone else.

A video from onboard the JH Trident has appeared, and it sounds like they were doing football style chanting and shouting loudly during the journey causing other passengers to feel scared and intimidated, basically like getting on a bus when the schools kick out or when kids from a rough estate go roaming around in a gang causing mischief.

Don't get me wrong, but if I want to ride on a vehicle at a rally, I rather it be a relaxing experience with people relaxing either listening to the classic engine sounds of the vehicle, enjoying the passing scenery or quietly talking to their friends sat next to them.

(06 May 2025, 7:04 am)Storx wrote Just sounds like a bunch of virgins being virgins to me. The scene is riddled with them up here, better to stay well clear of them imo.

Someone like they need some bans imo as there's no place for feral kids and promote the events to families which would enjoy this sort of thing - well if they actually bother to advertise it at all. Both don't mix at all. 

The whole thing just sounds a complete mess, good on GoNorthEast for pulling out of this nonsense, sensible management for once. I wouldn't be anywhere near them after the events which led to that decision. In fact I'm surprised the Metrocentre didn't tell them to do one as I wouldn't be having drag racing on my car park, nor would I want to be associated with it either.

(06 May 2025, 8:48 pm)streetdeckfan wrote No offence to any of the fine folk on here, but I find the stereotypical bus 'enthusiasts' some of the most insufferable people on the planet! They're arrogant, selfish, entitled etc. Why anybody would bring along their pride and joy to one of those events is beyond me.

I'm sure I've said this before, but as a child I went to the Metrocentre show a few times as a family friend had a bus on show, this must have been the best part of 20 years ago, and I'd never felt so uncomfortable in my life. I'm not saying there's a correlation between people who like buses and... you know. But buses definitely weren't the only thing getting pictures taken of, and people definitely got uncomfortably close. Experiences like that is definitely what put me off going to any more, even to this day.

(04 May 2025, 9:12 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Someone sent me a video of the incident in question.

(06 May 2025, 9:55 pm)Adrian wrote I genuinely don't think they are. I think 95% of this kind of behaviour tends to happen because there's nobody prepared to tell them otherwise, and as seems to have happened over a couple of years now, they gradually become more and more boisterous. 

Don't get me wrong. I can see why people on a day out don't want to get involved, but this is where NEBPT stewards (and their need for more volunteers) becomes important. I haven't been to any for a couple of years now, but their volunteers appear to be dwindling in numbers and are far too thinly spread.

There's also a responsibility for those bringing buses. I think in the past that some behaviour has been enabled by those who should know better arsing around. Whether it be buses being ran up and down the rally site without a marshal, messing on with vandal alarms/horns, or even the drag-race incident last year. 

I've seen the JH Trident video and I agree, the behaviour in that is absolutely disgraceful and intimidating. I don't know the driver, but I actually felt a bit sorry for them. What really should have happened is the bus should have been pulled over, with them being told to get off. If they don't, then call the police. Again, it's another example of behaviour being enabled by not dealing with it.

I agree on your last point. I think everyone likes different things about a ride out on a vehicle, preserved or otherwise, but I think there's more than enough room for everyone to enjoy it in their own way. Fortunately the most runs I've been on have been like this, including ones we've both been on.


I don't think it's helpful to start name calling or stereotyping tbh. 

It's very difficult to ban them from somewhere like the Metrocentre Coach Park, which is essentially a public place, but Seaburn is a bit different with it being a private hire of the event ground. I do think there's other practical steps you can take, such as actively engaging with preservationists and operators alike, so that known troublemakers are well-known to everyone and you can at least prevent them from boarding buses.

Maybe that's the issue though? Not enough engagement with stakeholders.

I actually think it's a shame GNE pulled out, but I completely understand the reasons for it. I think it's a shame to all the young kids who enjoy that aspect of a rally, and on their part, it's a good PR exercise if done correctly. I've always thought they could make more of it, but it's usually been a bit of a free for all. This compared to somewhere like Whitehaven for example, where static exhibits are parked up and they don't move all day. 


That's an extremely serious allegation, I'd hope that your family friend reported those concerns to the Police at the time.

I don't share your experience of rallies. Fair enough, you're always going to get people aren't neurotypical, but I think it's helpful to try and draw parallels that don't exist. Most people I've encountered over the years have been sound, I've had good conversations with people and never had any issues really. I do find they've become a bit cliquey up here, but that is my only criticism.

(07 May 2025, 1:37 pm)BusLoverMum wrote If the kids are bored, then they shouldn't be there. There's plenty of other places to arse about.

Hobbies like this attract a huge neuro diverse following. Not all people on the spectrum are lively and out of control. I'd say that most are keen to avoid overload and seek to quietly enjoy their hobby, whatever hobby that may be.

(07 May 2025, 4:32 pm)Storx wrote Mind I think it's hard to brush it on just kids as it wasn't them having a drag race last year - it seems there's quite a few people making their own entertainment hence the bored comments. 

If people were entertained would be going off on a whim and having drag races etc? 

It's probably a big reason why Seaburn doesn't have the problems as there's a beach, arcades, parks and stuff around to go to, to take a break let's say. It's why the venue imo sucks in 2025 and events like Whitehaven on the same day went without issues.

(07 May 2025, 9:41 pm)Adrian wrote You're right on the first point. It's often kids/young adults that get the most flack, but when I've been to rallies in the North East, I've seen other behaviours which I don't think are right, and I think actually contribute to the problem.

We know there's been a big issue for years about folk letting themselves into buses, when they don't have permission to do so. I have to say, this is a fairly new issue, as I can't recall it happening say 10 years ago? But at the same time, I've seen buses brought to a rally with a whole entourage, which I've then watched running back and forth, letting themselves in and out of the bus, most of the day. 

Whilst obviously they've every right to, I've never thought this sets a good example. I've also seen similar from people bringing a bus from a major operator, then sitting inside with the doors closed with their mates, pissing around in the cab and so on. Again, if you're talking about an impressionable kid, you can see why they'd not think that is wrong when they do it.

What's probably needed here is a reboot, but I'd suggest it needs to be done by engaging all stakeholders. Otherwise we'll come back here talking about the same issues over and over again.