I start off my day at my local bus stop on Perth Avenue in Brockely Whins knowing that the board for the 88 im catching was a Versa operated board..
And im sure everyone will know now that I hate all the Versas on the 88 apart from 8294 well something different came...
Journey 1 Brockely Whins Perth Avenue - Jarrow Bus Station Scania L94UB Wright Solar GNE 4961
Well at least a Versa didn't turn up! This Scania will be covering for 8298 which as usual is VOR. The bus was 8 mins late and because of that the driver didn't hesitate in shutting the doors and pulling off before I showed him my Pop card. This service had quite a good load and id say was about 15 seats taken .
One thing that I did notice is that its ZF Gearbox was slipping Changing gear too early in the first 3 gears. Apart from that the journey was smooth and a OAP had her minute rant at the driver for missing her stop, One mistake I done was not getting off at the stop before the bridge over the Bus Station and catching the 27 from there.....
Yes I missed the 27 but of course it had to be a B10, 4915 to be exact.
So I for the next 27 which was operated by a Citaro....
Journey 2 Jarrow Bus Station - Gateshead Interchange Evobus O530 Mercedes Benz Citaro GNE 5318?
I get on the bus show my Pop Card and take my seat at the back on the Engine, I was expecting a ZF scream when the driver done a really powerful kickdown to get through the traffic lights just in time but no, The engine was so loud ( louder than any other Citaro ) I could barely hear the ZF Gearbox.
The driver was very rough on the pedal, keep putting his foot to the floor and a second later taking it off and the repeating again and again and again.......
But apart from that it was a good journey , driver was friendly but it was really busy with most seats taken by the time I alight at Gateshead Interchange.
I have a look round the bus station to find a B7 Vyking pulling into the resting stand in the middle of the station, It was showing A2 park and ride presumably for the Airshow
I also see my favourite Scania L94 arrive 5220, If anyone has had a ride on it youll no what I mean.....its a beast!
Journey 3 Gateshead Interchange - Metrocentre Interchange Scania L94UB Wright Solar GNE 5227
Like 5220, this Scania has a hell of a god ZF gearbox with the whining being heard from the other end of the bus station before arriving on its stand
I decide to sit right at the back on the engine and gearbox to get the full experience. We got heald in a traffic from the bus station all the way to Lobley Hill.
A brief encounter with my stalker 4967 at Lobley Hill roundabout and where off and up Lobley Hill, I have to say the Scania struggled a bit up the Hill but not a lot
I have to say for being on this service for around 3 years, They have done really good for being on this very challenging route and are still in good condition.......
Not like the Prince Shitops don't get me started on them!!!
Overall a very packed journey but that was made up by the quality of this built to last Scania, The last buses Built to last?
I run up the escalators to get a packet of crisps and run back down to find a Venture Solo on the 44A ( Possibly covering a late working and would get replaced at Stanley)
I see 4899 on the 96 but was full to the brim with chavs so decided against it and caught the X66......
Journey 4 Metrocentre Interchange - Gateshead Interchange Wright Streetshite GNE 5393
The bus was full and standing with me wishing the Bendys would come back and whisk me away comfortably to Gateshead but that was not the case...
We picked up around 6 or 7 Drivers from Riverside and that was it, Straight down the Centrelink and in Gateshead in 10 mins....
And of course it was a Streetshite so everyone will know how much I enjoyed this. laugh laugh laugh laugh.........
A quick dash to the Metro Station to find what I though was my train departing but no I was going to South Hylton today not South Sheilds so I was relived...
I needed to get the metro to Shields today...
Journey 5 Gateshead Metro - South Shields Metro Metrocar 4018 and 4038
Just a normal metro ride, Packed........ A far cry from when I was young and was surprised to find 10 people on the metro!
But then what do you expect from a bustling city like Newcastle and its surrounding suburbs ( Gateshead , Wallsend , North Sheilds ETC )
There was a strange OAP on this metro eyeing up girls which made me uncomfortable, actually he did look like Jimmy Saville....It makes me sick mentioning his name but anyways.....
By Jarrow the Metro was quieter than usual and 10 mins later I reach Shields and go and meet my Dad in Subway for a Sub and a Coke....
And then my Mam picks me and my Dad up and we go home and that is todays Outing........
Didn't go far today cause I had to be home early today to get ready for my holiday to America tomorrow, and because of that I will probably not be posting for a while though I will try and find the time to look at NEB and all of your posts. I will be the first person to read NEB on Clearwater Beach and the top of the State of Liberty!!
its also been nearly 2 months since I first posted on NEB and id like to thank you all for making me welcome and correcting me if I post something which isn't right
Anyways thanks for reading
See yous in 18 days!!