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Service Numbers of the Past - Retro Nero - 05 May 2026
Just having a remember moment !
When each Northern General / Go ahead Northern, depot had their own service number batch -----
Chester le st depot were 700s (721,22 etc)
Gateshead (Sunderland Rd) were double numbers (20s and 50s)
Winlaton and High Spen Depots...600s
Wallsend and Percy Main Depots...300s
Park Lane , Murton,and Philadelphia Depots were 100s
South Shields and Jarrow Depots....500s
Washington Depot were also 100s and the mini links were colours, Orange Route etc.
Anybody correct me or add to this.... thanks
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - X919 WGR - 05 May 2026
(05 May 2026, 2:59 pm)Retro Nero wrote Just having a remember moment !
When each Northern General / Go ahead Northern, depot had their own service number batch -----
Chester le st depot were 700s (721,22 etc)
Gateshead (Sunderland Rd) were double numbers (20s and 50s)
Winlaton and High Spen Depots...600s
Wallsend and Percy Main Depots...300s
Park Lane , Murton,and Philadelphia Depots were 100s
South Shields and Jarrow Depots....500s
Washington Depot were also 100s and the mini links were colours, Orange Route etc.
Anybody correct me or add to this.... thanks
I think Washington had a 200 route in the 294 I think it was? And there was also a 292.
I do also remember when the route numbers were coloured to match their brand.
43/44 was Orange for the Diamond
78 was Green for the Lime
45/46 was Red for the Red Kite
50 was Blue for the Whey Aye Five O
11/32/47 was Purple for the ToonLink
20 was Purple for the Prince Bishops
and thats just to name a few.
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - F114TML - 05 May 2026
Broadly I believe,
1-99 Newcastle & Gateshead
100-199 Wearside
200 - 299 East Durham
300 - 399 North Tyneside
400 - 499 Washington (I think)
500 - 599 South Tyneside
600 - 699 Hexham, etc.
700 - 799 West Durham/Derwentside
800 - 899 Not sure
900 - 999 special/workers
Anyone able to add/ammend?
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - BusLoverMum - 05 May 2026
Yeah, the 294 sort of weaved in and out of the 194 between heworth and the galleries and pretty much replaced it on Sundays.
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - V514DFT - 05 May 2026
How far back are you wanting to go?
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - Retro Nero - 05 May 2026
(05 May 2026, 4:47 pm)F114TML wrote Broadly I believe,
1-99 Newcastle & Gateshead
100-199 Wearside
200 - 299 East Durham
300 - 399 North Tyneside
400 - 499 Washington (I think)
500 - 599 South Tyneside
600 - 699 Hexham, etc.
700 - 799 West Durham/Derwentside
800 - 899 Not sure
900 - 999 special/workers
Anyone able to add/ammend?
400s were hospital specialis and summer services, 413 was South Shields to Blackpool, 412 was Scarborough and 421 Bridlington, and 450-460 were hospital services to Stannington Hospital in Morpeth from various places .
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - V514DFT - 05 May 2026
500's and 600's were also in Gateshead and Newcastle
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - DaveFromUpNorth - 05 May 2026
I remember 638 great memories being forced as a kid to go to my old grand parents house that I didnt like as they stunk and to pass the time by used to watch from the upstairs flat the Jolly bus then Favourite buses and the 638
Watching simpsons on a black and white telly wasnt the same as in colour....
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - Adrian - 05 May 2026
(05 May 2026, 4:47 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Yeah, the 294 sort of weaved in and out of the 194 between heworth and the galleries and pretty much replaced it on Sundays.
The only addition to the 294 was that it went up the Coach Road, left at the Blue Bell, along Well Bank Road, left down the Drive, and right back onto Heworth Road. The remainder was the same route, other than it turning right at Philadelphia, terminating on Success Road.
Then for the return trip, left onto Blind Lane, left at the Beehive onto Coaley Lane, then left onto Newbottle front street.
On an evening and Sunday, it also looped Fallowfield Way, turning back on to Biddick Lane for the return trip to Heworth.
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - Retro Nero - 05 May 2026
(05 May 2026, 5:58 pm)V514DFT wrote 500's and 600's were also in Gateshead and Newcastle
500s did go into Newcastle, but were South Tyneside operated ( Jarrow/ South Shields Depots). Majority of 600s operated from Winlaton and High Spen with the 648/649 were joint operated by Gateshead (Sunderland Rd.,) and Winlaton Depots
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - Storx - 05 May 2026
(05 May 2026, 4:47 pm)F114TML wrote Broadly I believe,
1-99 Newcastle & Gateshead
100-199 Wearside
200 - 299 East Durham
300 - 399 North Tyneside / Northumberland Blyth + Seaton Valley
400 - 499 Rest of Northumberland
500 - 599 South Tyneside
600 - 699 West Gateshead / Northumberland Tynedale
700 - 799 West Durham/Derwentside
800 - 899 Independent
900 - 999 special/workers
Anyone able to add/ammend?
Think that's the way it was wasn't it? Obviously Northern didn't run North of Blyth so didn't have anything upthere but it's generally how things were as far as I can remember between Northern / United, bar a few oddities.
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - MurdnunoC - 05 May 2026
(05 May 2026, 4:47 pm)F114TML wrote Broadly I believe,
1-99 Newcastle & Gateshead
100-199 Wearside
200 - 299 East Durham
300 - 399 North Tyneside
400 - 499 Washington (I think)
500 - 599 South Tyneside
600 - 699 Hexham, etc.
700 - 799 West Durham/Derwentside
800 - 899 Not sure
900 - 999 special/workers
Anyone able to add/ammend?
You could even drill it down further....
60x - Tyne Valley (South of Tyne)
61x - High Spen/Chopwell
62x - Local Hospital Services (Prudhoe/Norman's Riding)
63x - Blaydon Bank/Blaydon Burn/Winlaton
64x - Shibdon Bank/Winlaton/Swalwell
65x - Whickham/Lobley Hill
66x/67x - Don't really recall any services in this range.
68x - Tyne Valley (North of Tyne)
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - missedbus - 05 May 2026
I seem to recall that this route numbering scheme was introduced in 1973, and vestiges of it still exist today.
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - Sland2000 - 06 May 2026
It all made so much sense then!
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - Ex-conductor - 06 May 2026
(06 May 2026, 7:46 am)Sland2000 wrote It all made so much sense then!
The 4xx series was Northumberland. Some of the existing services in the county are remnants of that system (419, 460, 472, 464, 473, 477). At the beginning of three-digit numbering, the 308 was actually 408.
8xx was allocated by Northumberland CC to the many independent operators, the only remnants of which are the 888 and 889. Until quite recently the Otterburn - Newcastle service was numbered 808. Northumberland also numbered its school day services 9xx. These services were open to the general public.
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - Storx - 06 May 2026
(06 May 2026, 9:34 am)Ex-conductor wrote The 4xx series was Northumberland. Some of the existing services in the county are remnants of that system (419, 460, 472, 464, 473, 477). At the beginning of three-digit numbering, the 308 was actually 408.
8xx was allocated by Northumberland CC to the many independent operators, the only remnants of which are the 888 and 889. Until quite recently the Otterburn - Newcastle service was numbered 808. Northumberland also numbered its school day services 9xx. These services were open to the general public.
You sure on that? There's timetables available on Timetable World and as far back as 1977 it's always been the 308.
Blyth has always been the 3xx series, the town services being in the 38x/39x series hasn't it?
(1977 Timetables - https://timetableworld.com/ttw-viewer.php?token=bf187cd5-4e39-4a68-ac92-236fc55d5b3d)
(1981 Timetables - https://timetableworld.com/ttw-viewer.php?token=c5a8da70-4f81-411a-9ce6-7790dd144fa3)
The 40x series were the Cramlington / Ashington services.
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - ian foster - 06 May 2026
(05 May 2026, 4:47 pm)F114TML wrote Broadly I believe,
1-99 Newcastle & Gateshead
100-199 Wearside
200 - 299 East Durham
300 - 399 North Tyneside
400 - 499 Washington (I think)
500 - 599 South Tyneside
600 - 699 Hexham, etc.
700 - 799 West Durham/Derwentside
800 - 899 Not sure
900 - 999 special/workers
Anyone able to add/ammend?
800 - 899 were independent operators eg. Hunters
There was also a few exceptions like the long distance services to North Northumberland which had 500 numbers and Jolly in Sunderland which never had a route number whilst independent. The 294 ect. services only came after de-regulation.
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - Retro Nero - 06 May 2026
(05 May 2026, 2:59 pm)Retro Nero wrote Just having a remember moment !
When each Northern General / Go ahead Northern, depot had their own service number batch -----
Chester le st depot were 700s (721,22 etc)
Gateshead (Sunderland Rd) were double numbers (20s and 50s)
Winlaton and High Spen Depots...600s
Wallsend and Percy Main Depots...300s
Park Lane , Murton,and Philadelphia Depots were 100s
South Shields and Jarrow Depots....500s
Washington Depot were also 100s and the mini links were colours, Orange Route etc.
Anybody correct me or add to this.... thanks
Forgot to mention, Stanley and Consett Depots , they were also 700s
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - Ex-conductor - 06 May 2026
(06 May 2026, 9:46 am)Storx wrote You sure on that? There's timetables available on Timetable World and as far back as 1977 it's always been the 308.
Blyth has always been the 3xx series, the town services being in the 38x/39x series hasn't it?
(1977 Timetables - https://timetableworld.com/ttw-viewer.php?token=bf187cd5-4e39-4a68-ac92-236fc55d5b3d)
(1981 Timetables - https://timetableworld.com/ttw-viewer.php?token=c5a8da70-4f81-411a-9ce6-7790dd144fa3)
The 40x series were the Cramlington / Ashington services.
I'm absolutely sure about that, from experience as a conductor in 1970 and from my copy of the 1968 and 1970 timetables.
Further information: Up to the mid-60s what is now the 308 was run jointly between Tynemouth and United, using different numbers. Tynemouth 5 ran from Newcastle to Whitley Bay, St, Mary's Island and United 8 ran the same route, continuing to Blyth. Both ran to a 20-minute frequency, giving a 10-minute frequency between Newcastle and Whitley Bay.
Around 1967, United decided to change to three-digit numbers for Northumberland to avoid confusion with their Durham services. For example there was a 56 Newcastle to Dudley circular and a 56 Newcastle to Bishop Auckland. Initially they started to use 408 for their 8 service and Tynemouth continued to use 5. By 1970, when I was on the buses, Tynemouth decided also to use 408.
In the early 70s the PTE (presumably along with Northumberland and Durham county councils) changed the numbers, most of which have been mentioned in this thread. It was at this time that the 408 became 308.
I distinctly remember the Tynemouth 408 interworking with Tynemouth 3. A 408 coming into Newcastle would change to a 3 to run along the Coast Road, down the newly-built Beach Road to Cullercoats where it terminated.
I hope that's useful.
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - Storx - 06 May 2026
(06 May 2026, 1:19 pm)Ex-conductor wrote I'm absolutely sure about that, from experience as a conductor in 1970 and from my copy of the 1968 and 1970 timetables.
Further information: Up to the mid-60s what is now the 308 was run jointly between Tynemouth and United, using different numbers. Tynemouth 5 ran from Newcastle to Whitley Bay, St, Mary's Island and United 8 ran the same route, continuing to Blyth. Both ran to a 20-minute frequency, giving a 10-minute frequency between Newcastle and Whitley Bay.
Around 1967, United decided to change to three-digit numbers for Northumberland to avoid confusion with their Durham services. For example there was a 56 Newcastle to Dudley circular and a 56 Newcastle to Bishop Auckland. Initially they started to use 408 for their 8 service and Tynemouth continued to use 5. By 1970, when I was on the buses, Tynemouth decided also to use 408.
In the early 70s the PTE (presumably along with Northumberland and Durham county councils) changed the numbers, most of which have been mentioned in this thread. It was at this time that the 408 became 308.
I distinctly remember the Tynemouth 408 interworking with Tynemouth 3. A 408 coming into Newcastle would change to a 3 to run along the Coast Road, down the newly-built Beach Road to Cullercoats where it terminated.
I hope that's useful.
Interesting history, never knew about that, if I had to be honest, knew they used to be single numbers and always assumed that it stayed the 8 until the change of the 308 so learnt something new tbh.
---
I don't know if anyone knows, but I'll hi-jack this but does anyone know why specific numbers were picked for certain area - especially the 5xx in South Tyneside.
You'd always thought they would've just went clockwise with Newcastle 0-99 and Sunderland 100-199 as they're the two core cities.
The only logical way I can think of is alphabetical order ie.
East Durham - 200
North Tyneside - 300
Northumberland - 400
South Tyneside - 500
Tynedale - 600
West Durham - 700
but surely it's not that?
Service Numbers of the Past - GrahamD83 - 07 May 2026
I remember Washington’s local services have W prefixes eg W1, W2 etc.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - X919 WGR - 07 May 2026
(07 May 2026, 11:17 am)GrahamD83 wrote I remember Washington’s local services have W prefixes eg W1, W2 etc.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Oh yes the Washington StreetShuttles. Nice little Dart Brand.
There was a good few Network/Local Services that had Letter Prefixes
V - Consett/Stanley Venture Network
M - MetrocentreMini Network or the MetroLINK Network
W - Washington Network or Whitley Bay Network
R - Blaydon/Rowlands Gill
B - Beamish Museum
Q - Quayside
H - Hospitals
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - V514DFT - 07 May 2026
There was also A, S, and T services weren't there?
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - 220631612 - 07 May 2026
(07 May 2026, 5:58 pm)mV514DFT wrote There was also A, S, and T services weren't there?A for Asda and Ashington, S for Sainsburys, T for both Tesco and TaxiBus. Also had K for Killingworth, H for Hexham Scholars at one point and South Tyneside Hospitals.
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - Retro Nero - 07 May 2026
(07 May 2026, 4:05 pm)X919 WGR wrote Oh yes the Washington StreetShuttles. Nice little Dart Brand.
There was a good few Network/Local Services that had Letter Prefixes
V - Consett/Stanley Venture Network
M - MetrocentreMini Network or the MetroLINK Network
W - Washington Network or Whitley Bay Network
R - Blaydon/Rowlands Gill
B - Beamish Museum
Q - Quayside
H - Hospitals
Long before the Washington Street Shuttle was the Mini links
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - Ex-conductor - 08 May 2026
(07 May 2026, 8:20 pm)Retro Nero wrote Long before the Washington Street Shuttle was the Mini linksB - Berwick
C - Cramlington
M - Morpeth
N - Newbiggin
W - Whitley Bay.
B and W still exist, although not as extensive as in the past.
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - Ex-conductor - 10 May 2026
(06 May 2026, 1:41 pm)Storx wrote Interesting history, never knew about that, if I had to be honest, knew they used to be single numbers and always assumed that it stayed the 8 until the change of the 308 so learnt something new tbh.
---
I don't know if anyone knows, but I'll hi-jack this but does anyone know why specific numbers were picked for certain area - especially the 5xx in South Tyneside.
You'd always thought they would've just went clockwise with Newcastle 0-99 and Sunderland 100-199 as they're the two core cities.
The only logical way I can think of is alphabetical order ie.
East Durham - 200
North Tyneside - 300
Northumberland - 400
South Tyneside - 500
Tynedale - 600
West Durham - 700
but surely it's not that?
I don't want to prolong this discussion, but I would like to point out that the Northern timetable is on Timetable World and it includes the 408.
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - Robbie64 - 11 May 2026
Although most Washington service numbers were in the high 100s, looking at a list of service numbers I have from 2004, there were some that were in the 200s, 300s and 400s:
291/292 - Heworth to Washington Circular
293 - Heworth to Rickleton
294 - Heworth to Newbottle
393 - Heworth to Harraton
493 - Waterview Park - Houghton (via Concord and Barnwell)
Going further back, the following ran in the late 80s into the 90s (all three were evening services Mon-Sat):
297 - Heworth to Galleries (reappeared in 1995 as route Brady Square - Heworth - Brady Square)
298 - Heworth - Sulgrave - Concord - Donwell - Heworth
299 - Heworth Donwell - Concord - Sulgrave - Heworth
Plus at various times:
279 - Coach Road - Concord - Galleries - Rickleton (Mon to Sat, day services operated by St George Travel, evening services by Go Wear) (1995 to early 2000s if I recall)
284 - Washington - Wrekenton - Birtley - Washington (reverse journey of service number 184)
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - V514DFT - 12 May 2026
I remember there being a 193 also, cant remember its route though
RE: Service Numbers of the Past - Retro Nero - 12 May 2026
(12 May 2026, 12:13 pm)was Heworth toV514DFT wrote I remember there being a 193 also, cant remember its route though
I think it was Heworth to Rickleton via The Galleries