Not going to Blackpool on Saturday now. May upload some more photos from last Fridays trip to Gateshead and Newcastle on Saturday evening.

Thinking of doing something tomorrow afternoon but I have zero idea what yet though.

(31 Mar 2015, 2:19 pm)Jimmi wrote Yeah that's true, there is two weekday workings I can imagine will definitely be E400 operatered which would be the two Darlington - Framwellgate Moor morning journeys as they are very busy, I also know which journeys are Belmont operated on weekdays.

Still be better variety than solid Pulsar though, used to get all sorts pop up when it was the 713/723 Darlington - Arnison Centre although I had ideas what could turn up as I knew whether Darlington or Durham depot was doing the journey in question.

I have to use (in school time), the X21/22 every day as part of my journey, and it does get boring

Seem to recall, when I was younger, two depots operated a service I used, one depot provided deckers, the other MPD's (may have been one depot, with massively contrasting allocation like), always tried to get the decker runs.

I'm considering a trip into Northumbria; Blyth and Ashington mainly, as they have Arriva depots just a short walk away from the bus stations.

I've decided to go to Blyth first, get Service 1 to Ashington, then an X21/X22 back to Newcastle - but, I'm wondering which route up to Blyth anyone recommends? I understand theres the X4/X5, X10/X11, X13, the list goes on! Any suggestions?

Thanks.

(31 Mar 2015, 5:23 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote I'm considering a trip into Northumbria; Blyth and Ashington mainly, as they have Arriva depots just a short walk away from the bus stations.

I've decided to go to Blyth first, get Service 1 to Ashington, then an X21/X22 back to Newcastle - but, I'm wondering which route up to Blyth anyone recommends? I understand theres the X4/X5, X10/X11, X13, the list goes on! Any suggestions?

Thanks.

You like GNE's B5s, so go for the 308. Most scenic (goes via Whitley Bay coast), too!

(31 Mar 2015, 5:27 pm)Dan wrote You like GNE's B5s, so go for the 308. Most scenic (goes via Whitley Bay coast), too!

Thanks, Dan!

(31 Mar 2015, 5:23 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote I'm considering a trip into Northumbria; Blyth and Ashington mainly, as they have Arriva depots just a short walk away from the bus stations.

I've decided to go to Blyth first, get Service 1 to Ashington, then an X21/X22 back to Newcastle - but, I'm wondering which route up to Blyth anyone recommends? I understand theres the X4/X5, X10/X11, X13, the list goes on! Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Unsure if timings would work but you could give this a try:

X15 Newcastle to Alnwick
X18 Alnwick to Morpeth
35.  Morpeth to Ashington 
X21 Ashington to Newcastle
308 Newcastle to Blyth
X13 Blyth to Newcastle 

What day you going, I might see you?

(31 Mar 2015, 5:43 pm)mb134 wrote Unsure if timings would work but you could give this a try:

X15 Newcastle to Alnwick
X18 Alnwick to Morpeth
35.  Morpeth to Ashington 
X21 Ashington to Newcastle
308 Newcastle to Blyth
X13 Blyth to Newcastle 

What day you going, I might see you?

Don't think I'll be going as far as Alnwick. haha But thanks for the suggestion anyway, mb134!

Would be this Saturday (4th April). 

(31 Mar 2015, 5:45 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Don't think I'll be going as far as Alnwick. haha But thanks for the suggestion anyway, mb134!

Would be this Saturday (4th April). 

Haha, no problem, just thought it might be nice and scenic for you, in the summer if it's a nice day I'd recommend getting the X18 all the way up to Berwick, very nice ride

Might see you then, I'm in Newcastle with some friends in the afternoon/ evening, but might go on a journey first  

(31 Mar 2015, 5:45 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Don't think I'll be going as far as Alnwick. haha But thanks for the suggestion anyway, mb134!

Would be this Saturday (4th April). 

Might see you too, if you give me approximate times I can try and delay my Asda shop for you 

(31 Mar 2015, 5:56 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Might see you too, if you give me approximate times I can try and delay my Asda shop for you 

I'll work out timings and the final plan closer to Saturday (providing nothing comes up), so yeah I meant see you too if I can fit it in. Not planning on a long time in Ashington, just a quick walk to the depot (which I imagine is no more than 30 seconds haha) for some photos then return to get the next Sapphire back to Newcastle.

You'll all in for a treat, I'll voice my opinions of the full Ashington-Newcastle route on the X21 or the X22, and the Newcastle-Blyth route on the Coastliner 308.

(31 Mar 2015, 5:59 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote I'll work out timings and the final plan closer to Saturday (providing nothing comes up), so yeah I meant see you too if I can fit it in. Not planning on a long time in Ashington, just a quick walk to the depot (which I imagine is no more than 30 seconds haha) for some photos then return to get the next Sapphire back to Newcastle.

You'll all in for a treat, I'll voice my opinions of the full Ashington-Newcastle route on the X21 or the X22, and the Newcastle-Blyth route on the Coastliner 308.

For your sanity, get one of the new ones! Aim for 7523/4 as I know everything works on both of them, I'll check some others tomorrow for you

Hoping to make a few trips over the holidays.

Want to do a County Durham trip, to ride a few Lowlanders, and I might go to the Sapphire launch.

Also planning to do a Northumberland trip to ride the H1/H2, and the 34. Possibly a run up to Ellington too, as well as a ride on the 100.

(31 Mar 2015, 7:08 pm)Tom wrote Hoping to make a few trips over the holidays.

Want to do a County Durham trip, to ride a few Lowlanders, and I might go to the Sapphire launch.

Also planning to do a Northumberland trip to ride the H1/H2, and the 34. Possibly a run up to Ellington too, as well as a ride on the 100.

34 is a good shout! Would like a ride on that, it just never seems to fit into the times of my outings very well...

(31 Mar 2015, 7:15 pm)mb134 wrote 34 is a good shout! Would like a ride on that, it just never seems to fit into the times of my outings very well...

Yeah and it seems to throw up anything!

(31 Mar 2015, 7:26 pm)Tom wrote Yeah and it seems to throw up anything!

Aye, think 7470/72 was  on it yesterday, can't remember which for the life of me! 

Is the 20 normally ALX400's?

(31 Mar 2015, 7:35 pm)Tom wrote Is the 20 normally ALX400's?

Or one of the three normal Enviro's I think (although I'm sure a MAX E400 has occasionally appeared)

(31 Mar 2015, 7:37 pm)mb134 wrote Or one of the three normal Enviro's I think (although I'm sure a MAX E400 has occasionally appeared)

Cheers. Should be a nice ride from Ellington, might continue to Amble too. 

(31 Mar 2015, 7:38 pm)Tom wrote Cheers. Should be a nice ride from Ellington, might continue to Amble too. 

I don't know what to do now tomorrow, I need to visit family, and be somewhere at 4.50, but there's so much else I want to do journey wise!!

(31 Mar 2015, 8:27 pm)mb134 wrote I don't know what to do now tomorrow, I need to visit family, and be somewhere at 4.50, but there's so much else I want to do journey wise!!

Just depends where your going!
Possibly the 44? 34?

(31 Mar 2015, 8:32 pm)Tom wrote Just depends where your going!
Possibly the 44? 34?

I need to start the day on an X21/22, so I'll be getting a lift to Bedlington. From there, maybe Newcastle to get an X15 to Morpeth, or something to Cramlington. I'll then have a study break. I'll head to family for lunchtime, then I'll have from about 3 to do as I please  (well until 4.40)

(31 Mar 2015, 5:23 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote I'm considering a trip into Northumbria; Blyth and Ashington mainly, as they have Arriva depots just a short walk away from the bus stations.

I've decided to go to Blyth first, get Service 1 to Ashington, then an X21/X22 back to Newcastle - but, I'm wondering which route up to Blyth anyone recommends? I understand theres the X4/X5, X10/X11, X13, the list goes on! Any suggestions?

Thanks.

You mean Northumberland. Technically speaking, you're already in Northumbria. 

(31 Mar 2015, 9:27 pm)MurdnunoC wrote You mean Northumberland. Technically speaking, you're already in Northumbria. 

Somehow I don't think I'm cut out for GCSE Geography...haha!

(31 Mar 2015, 9:28 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Somehow I don't think I'm cut out for GCSE Geography...haha!

It's actually History. Look up what Northumbria was!

(31 Mar 2015, 9:29 pm)MurdnunoC wrote It's actually History. Look up what Northumbria was!

Northern England and South East Scotland... Never knew that.

(31 Mar 2015, 9:30 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Northern England and South East Scotland... Never knew that.

Yup. Those were the days. When the North East had some clout. Far cry from now where everything is London-centric.

(31 Mar 2015, 9:29 pm)MurdnunoC wrote It's actually History. Look up what Northumbria was!

I always found that strange. The endings of Northumbria and Cumberland were swapped...logic?

Why did I decide to include Ferryhill on today's outing, it's a dump.

Had a pleasant, stressful, wet and tiring outing today, will write up the review later, absolutely shattered! 

(01 Apr 2015, 4:00 pm)mb134 wrote Had a pleasant, stressful, wet and tiring outing today, will write up the review later, absolutely shattered! 

I don't normally have them both in the same subject but oh well.