Here's my review today. Planned to go it alone but a friend wanted to tag along.

Stagecoach in Cumbria 27142 0643 685 Greenhead to Lemington Road Ends
My stalker 27142 was on the first one again. Didn't have the silly squeal like normal however it did do it once coming out of Corbridge which was unusual!
Was strangely busy, normally there's only a handful of folk on it but most pairs of seats were occupied by Walbottle! Bus was on time so we did the 'Lemington Leap'.


SNE 35159 0803 7 Lemington Road Ends to Metrocentre
After a quick look up the road from the Road Ends roundabout, I didn't see the bus coming down the road which is usually the sign that I can make the leap. However, after a brisk walk, I seen the bus approaching the stop - balls! Had to run for it, it was a Dennis Dart. Not too busy but not too quiet either, certainly got a few more people on as we carried on.

GNE 5416 0833 46 Metrocentre to Eldon Square
After getting a gorgeous bacon, sausage and omlette baguette with a mocchachino from Greggs (£3.45!) we looked to see what the next decent bus in would be. A Streetlite turned up on the Red Kite 46 so, as I hadn't bashed it yet, gave it a go. Had a really jerky gear change (something I thought the new Streetlites didn't have now!) en route but otherwise fine, if a tad boring. Raced in 5338 on a 43 from Metrocentre, it won after we took the stupid route down alongside the Metro arena.

GNE 5234 0900 11 Eldon Square to Ryton, Main Road
Noticed two Toonlink Omnicities in Eldon Square, 5240 and 5234. One on the 31 and one on the 11. Decided to go on the 11 as it would give us a chance to go on a 47 later on. 5234 was a bloody brilliant bus, you wouldn't think it previously was on Red Kites itself! Took hills etc in its stride. Also the driver was spot on, very talkative and friendly. Sent a message to GNE's facebook to praise the driver which they say has been passed on .
Along the route we noticed two Toonlink B10BLEs pass us. Both what I assume should have been the next two departures after us; the 09:30 and 10:30. We wanted to get these before they're gone so we decided to get off 5234 then double back to catch one of them. We alighted at Ryton, alongside the football club and just after the main school there and crossed the road for the next bus back over to Blaydon area.

GNE 6082 0941 10 Ryton, Main Road to Stella Road
After a long-ish wait (luckily it wasn't raining) we caught TEN 6082 on the 10. Plan was to get it to Blaydon Bus Station however my mate realised that we would probably miss it..! Alighted alongside the railway line on Stella Hill/Stella Road and crossed the road again to see this come over the bank...

GNE 5242 0955 11 Stella Road to High Spen
...Crap! I assume one of the Renowns was swapped out for this. Unfortunately this vehicle was nowhere near as good as 5234, just seemed a bit more tatty and didn't sound as good. Lasted on this for a while before getting to High Spen where I realised the 11 and 47 share the route (Bute Inn). Alighted and walked back down to the other stop to catch a 47 back to Newcastle where we firstly saw a gorgeous little house sparrow sitting motionless in the road (was alive but wasn't phased by anything - cars etc). Since it was sitting right in the bus stop we shoo'ed it over to the green where it sat in the phone box, poor little thing. Also looked over the road when I heard a loud crow 'cawing' where I realised it was a massive bloody peacock with a huge tail! I think it's a resident of the area but my mate still took a picture of it whilst I was on 'bus watch'.


GNE 6121 1030 47 High Spen to Metrocentre
Eventually, running a few minutes late, Volvo B9TL 6121 appeared and we sat on the bottom deck at the back to hear the engine noise. Not a bad vehicle although didn't really feel any different to other B9s although the seats were rather comfy and it was a decent ride over. Decided to bail at Metrocentre and get an X66 to Gateshead where we'd go south...

There was two buses on adjacent stands at Metrocentre - 4902 on 96 and 5391 on X66. Both leaving in the same two minutes as each other, we decided to go on...

GNE 4902 1100 96 Metrocentre to Gateshead (via Lobley Hill)
Thought we'd see more Streetlites than Renowns today so went for the obvious choice even though it took a lot longer to get to Gateshead. Was a really good performing bus, especially on the hills. Great to hear the ZFs on these once more! Had two unfolded pushchairs on halfway through where another woman tried to board with one but was refused, so her husband spent a couple of minutes faffing on with the chair before the driver (and us passengers) had enough so they gave up and waited for the next one.

ANE 7626 1134 X12 Gateshead to Durham Bus Station
Plan originally was to get a Pronto X21 down however we'd just missed one with our Lobley Hill diversion so we got one of the 'standard' routes instead. Both a 21 and X12 appeared at the same time, the X12 being a VDL SB300/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 2. Went for this, lucky we did as we actually overtook two or three other 21s on the way down! Good ride, seats weren't nice at the back but it was doable. Now around lunchtime, dinner was on my mind! Had to pick up a freshly charged EE power bar too so quickly did this also.

Went to Sainsbury's and abused their £3 meal deal by getting a tuna/sweetcorn pasta, Kettle crisps and a large bottle of water along with a Terry's Chocolate Orange (only £1!!!) and a Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut bar (again £1). Absolute winner!

Now with the Red Kites and Toonlinks done, it was time to get the Omnidekkas in.

GNE 5297 1250 44 Durham Bus Station to Stanley Bus Station
Boarded a 'Diamond' Citaro (for the first time in ages), after seeing 5284 earlier on a 44A (I was quite miffed I didn't get this) up to Stanley. Once we got out of Durham I realised it was an absolutely brilliant bus with really nice kickdowns and gorgeous scenery too. Had my pasta & crisps and, wait for it, all but 3 segments of my choc orange (felt ill after mind!) on board. Alighted at Stanley along with most others. Seen two Olympians and two Lolynes parked up at the bus station out the way. Waited for the next Omnidekka to come in...

GNE 6127 1329 X30 Stanley Bus Station to Gateshead
Hooray! This came in on the X30 to Newcastle so we boarded and sat at the back for me to rate them. Strange how they sound just like an Olympian with higher revs! Great little route, couldn't fault the bus however nothing startling to point out either, I think for me to properly judge them I'd have to give them a go on the way back to get the hills in and appreciate the power they have.

TWM 4036 4063* 1403 136 Gateshead to Heworth Interchange
Since I had another craving, this time for Metros, we waited for the next southbound service and got this to Heworth where I had an idea what to do. Ideally wanted the Connections 4 but after a few pictures at Heworth, a Merit turned up on the 82. With it not being a route I'd been on before, I was interested in doing it. Also I'm a good fan of Merits too!

GNE 8262 1416 82 Heworth Interchange to Washington Galleries
Great little bus with very few passenger numbers - was our own private taxi for a good 15 minutes or so at one point! There's a stretch of road that is national speed limit, we managed to hit 58mph in the bus and it sounded just brilliant. Fantastic vehicle at speed! Shame the bus goes bloody everywhere though!

GNE 5408 78 1503 Washington Galleries to Sunderland Park Lane Interchange
Boarded this bus with a grumpy driver and no mood lighting, lights, working Wifi or plug sockets over to Sunderland so I gave up and read my book (Stephen Fry - More Fool Me. Great read). Didn't notice much en route apart from a strange fresh wood smell on the bus, strange to put my finger on! Tried looking out for Deptford depot when we passed but to no avail (I haven't a clue about most places in Sunderland but Deptford was on road signs).

Got to Sunderland with the intention of doing a 700 to Royal Hospital. Walked over to the stand to see a Simplicity Versa working it and reversing out the stand. I was wanting to go on it more for the Hybrid Solo but never mind. One of our other friends was in the area and on board 142067 to Sunderland (Nunthorpe service) so we stuck around to meet up.

TWM 4076* 4006 1547 112 Sunderland Park Lane Interchange to Sunderland (Station)
After a little wait we boarded this. Got front seats for the best part of 2 minutes where we bailed and waited the arrival of the pacer.

TWM 4058* 4061 1600 101 Sunderland (Station) to Pelaw
Got the next Metro northbound. Not too busy this one, decent ride over.

TWM 4059* 4041 1621 Pelaw to South Shields
Decided we'd go to Shields to get the ferry and then back. Front seats again all the way over, not a bad little journey.

Spirit of the Tyne 1717 South Shields Ferry to North Shields Ferry
After a little wait and seeing a DFDS cruise depart for Holland, we boarded the ferry where, by now, it was drizzling but still went upstairs on the top deck to see out. Cracking little journey!

Phoenix 907 (A20 OJO) 1726 333 North Shields Ferry to North Shields
Caught this Nexus-liveried Optare Solo up to North Shields where we'd catch the Metro back to Newcastle for the 1845 85 back home. Only half a dozen people on this, nothing really to say about the journey as it was pretty mundane.

At North Shields we noticed a GNE Training Minibus so we went to photograph this and a North Tyne Links MPD.

TWM 4041* 4059 1748 North Shields to St James
Bizarrely this was the same service we'd been on earlier on the last leg over to St James'! Bagged front seats again and seen Heaton T&RSMD with the Network Rail NMT in as well as a Northern 156 and Grand Central HST coaches.
Got to St James and walked over to the bus stop where I was wanting to catch a bus to Blackett Street but after 5 mins of waiting, got bored and walked it to Eldon Square. Seen 27509 and an ALX300 not in service pass.

ANE 4661 1845 85 Eldon Square to Hexham
Caught the last Carlisle bus (albeit with a connection at Hexham) of the day. Didn't pay attention to the journey really, was only a handful of us on. Did rain a fair bit and there was a lot of spray once we got onto the A69 past Horsley.

Stagecoach in Cumbria 24116 1941 685 Hexham to Greenhead
Really pleasant surprise to see this parked up ready to work the last westbound service of the day; usually the last one is formed from the bus that works the first service of the day (today would've been 27142). However it must've been swapped out! Not had an MAN Enviro on the route for ages now. Unfortunately 24116 is one of the gutless ones, but it was still nice to have. Almost fell asleep on it on the way back, but safely got back in the house afterwards.



Hope you've enjoyed reading this, unfortunately this is my last bus trip for a month or so!


Sean.