6325 just did quite an impressive fuel (?) dump outside of The Canon on Low Fell.
Plenty of smoke and some very shrivelled vinyls on the engine cover.

(17 Apr 2026, 8:40 am)Richyyk wrote 6325 just did quite an impressive fuel (?) dump outside of The Canon on Low Fell.
Plenty of smoke and some very shrivelled vinyls on the engine cover.

Will be coolant, back out now on the 93.

6194 spent some time on the X10 today.

(17 Apr 2026, 8:17 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote 6194 spent some time on the X10 today.

6315 replaced 6362 in Eldon Square, made it as far as High Level Bridge before expiring, 6193 replaced it some 40mins late, unsure if there was a issue with 6193 at Peterlee then 6194 replaced it

8324 is now at Deptford on the 65/X20 today.

6376 is now at Riverside.

Had the pleasure of watching 5412 try to reverse off the stand at South Shields earlier. I think I died of old age by the time it had.

The White Display upgrade on the CityRider Gemini 2 looks really nice and suits it.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148814847@N06/55228415814

(24 Apr 2026, 4:26 pm)F114TML wrote Had the pleasure of watching 5412 try to reverse off the stand at South Shields earlier. I think I died of old age by the time it had.

Streetlites use their retarder whilst in reverse for some reason, so if you've got an emissions light on they really struggle to go backwards, it's always fun.

8349 has had a white destination blind fitted, as it's original orange blind has been scrambled ever since it arrived from First...

6328 has been abandoned at the Eighton lodge roundabout stop heading southbound since about 1 this afternoon

(25 Apr 2026, 4:42 am)Retro Nero wrote 8349 has had a white destination blind fitted, as it's original orange blind has been scrambled ever since it arrived from First...

8349 is ex Thamesdown - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1612048093

Also I think it's only been doing that since around November 2025, as I've got photos of it before then and the blind was displaying normally.

(24 Apr 2026, 4:26 pm)F114TML wrote Had the pleasure of watching 5412 try to reverse off the stand at South Shields earlier. I think I died of old age by the time it had.

5412 was always a problem bus when i was there,had to drive it one day on the 55 to wingate it crawled out onto the A19 at Hutton Henry, Was clear when i pulled out and got to about 20/25mph foot to the floor with waggons and a megabus interdeck
flying up behind me was definitely not safe was quite relived when i got back and seen a citaro for the 2nd trip.lets just say it couldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding.


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(29 Apr 2026, 8:48 pm)Theboyle92 wrote 5412 was always a problem bus when i was there,had to drive it one day on the 55 to wingate it crawled out onto the A19 at Hutton Henry, Was clear when i pulled out and got to about 20/25mph foot to the floor with waggons and a megabus interdeck
flying up behind me was definitely not safe was quite relived when i got back and seen a citaro for the 2nd trip.lets just say it couldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Was on 5401 on an X70 mid morning last week and it was painfully slow with no power at all. It left Eldon sq on time and was 10 mins late into Consett.

6083 has been wrapped into a Metrocentre 40 Years Livery
https://ibb.co/vCwpz9Vr

(21 May 2026, 4:18 pm)X919 WGR wrote 6083 has been wrapped into a Metrocentre 40 Years Livery
https://ibb.co/vCwpz9Vr

6153 or 6154 would of been a better option surely?

(21 May 2026, 8:42 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote 6153 or 6154 would of been a better option surely?

Any work to be honest.
It'll probably get its repaint once the 40 Year thing is over.

I would say if they were to do more than 1 Livery Wrap for the Metro 40 Year thing, they could then use either 53/54 as the next bus.

6083 looks hidious, the green on the front clashes with the shocking pink.

(22 May 2026, 2:07 pm)Rapidsnap wrote 6083 looks hidious, the green on the front clashes with the shocking pink.

give it a yellow roof and you've got rhubarb and custard. Yum.

6993 has recieved the name of "Northern Daughters"
https://ibb.co/7dLhTBqw

(24 May 2026, 1:16 pm)X919 WGR wrote 6993 has recieved the name of "Northern Daughters"
https://ibb.co/7dLhTBqw

On a mission to inspire, support, and give a voice to girls navigating the challenges of growing up, new girl band Northern Daughters are aiming to make their mark in the music world.

Made up of six friends from Sunderland, Washington and Whitburn, Northern Daughters made an impressive debut at the spectacular New Year’s Eve celebrations in Keel Square, performing in front of thousands.


https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/peop...ls-5471528

Noticed GNE's latest recruitment advert stating "We’re lucky to count some brilliant, talented and hardworking women as our colleagues at GNE. But we want to see more women applying for roles behind the wheel."

So inclusive! That it's totally exclusive to everybody else... Thought the definition of a Team was to include everybody, although it just seems that a lot of large corporate companies are just playing to the political and societal narratives to please the 1% elite club & TRY to be in their good books to get additional contracts & work in the future.

(8 hours ago)S830OFT wrote Noticed GNE's latest recruitment advert stating "We’re lucky to count some brilliant, talented and hardworking women as our colleagues at GNE. But we want to see more women applying for roles behind the wheel."

So inclusive! That it's totally exclusive to everybody else... Thought the definition of a Team was to include everybody, although it just seems that a lot of large corporate companies are just playing to the political and societal narratives to please the 1% elite club & TRY to be in their good books to get additional contracts & work in the future.

Well no, there's plenty of blokes who work at GNE, a massive majority, and they still are getting hired in the majority, they're wanting more women to APPLY. It's two different things. How is wanting more women in the industry got anything to do with the elite? Go outside and touch some grass man.

(7 hours ago)deanmachine wrote Well no, there's plenty of blokes who work at GNE, a massive majority, and they still are getting hired in the majority, they're wanting more women to APPLY. It's two different things. How is wanting more women in the industry got anything to do with the elite? Go outside and touch some grass man.

The advertising campaign is totally exclusive to everybody else. Woke Culture, all it is...

And how many times the large companies try to get on good terms etc with a certain political figure who loves nothing more than having her photo taken at every opportunity, for very little benefit sometimes.

(7 hours ago)S830OFT wrote The advertising campaign is totally exclusive to everybody else. Woke Culture, all it is...

And how many times the large companies try to get on good terms etc with a certain political figure who loves nothing more than having her photo taken at every opportunity, for very little benefit sometimes.

Jesus...woke.  I think you’re reading the intent a bit too narrowly.

Saying they want more women to apply isn’t the same as saying only women should apply. The job is still open to everyone, they’re just trying to encourage applications from a group that’s historically under‑represented in that role. Bus driving, like a lot of transport jobs, has been very male-dominated for years, so it’s not unusual for companies to actively try and balance that out a bit.

If anything, it’s about widening the pool rather than restricting it. They’re not excluding men, they’re just signalling to women that “you’re welcome here too,” which might not always feel obvious in certain industries.

As for the “woke” angle, I think a lot of this is less about politics and more about practical business. A bigger, more diverse applicant pool gives them a better chance of filling vacancies, especially given how hard it’s been to recruit drivers in recent years. It’s not necessarily about pleasing anyone it’s about solving a staffing problem and modernising the workforce a bit.

Actively encouraging an underrepresented demographic to apply isn't 'woke culture' it is standard recruitment marketing designed to widen a shallow applicant pool.
Legally, this is called positive action. It is entirely separate from positive discrimination, which is illegal.

The job is still awarded strictly on merit to the best candidate, regardless of gender. If you are qualified, you can still apply and win the role. There is zero need to take a company trying to get more CVs and increase its talent pool as woke.

(8 hours ago)S830OFT wrote Noticed GNE's latest recruitment advert stating "We’re lucky to count some brilliant, talented and hardworking women as our colleagues at GNE. But we want to see more women applying for roles behind the wheel."

So inclusive! That it's totally exclusive to everybody else... Thought the definition of a Team was to include everybody, although it just seems that a lot of large corporate companies are just playing to the political and societal narratives to please the 1% elite club & TRY to be in their good books to get additional contracts & work in the future.

“More women” does not mean the same as “only women.”

Stay away from the rage bait.