(05 Aug 2015, 10:56 am)S813 FVK wrote Other old services include:

MC1: Lanchester - Burnhope - Quaking Houses - South Moor - Stanley - Annfield Plain - Flint Hill - Burnopfield - Fellside Road - Metrocentre - Newcastle
MC2: East Stanley - Stanley - Shield Row - Tanfield Village (Sleepy Valley) - Fellside Road - Metrocentre - Newcastle

The Stanley - East Stanley circular section of the MC2 replaced the 702 which was originally operated by GNE using Metroriders before being passed to Stanley Buses who used Mercedes Varios. The MC1 used several branded Solos, some of which passed to Go North East when they took over the services. 

After the GNE takeover, the services did continue to Newcastle but as of 25th May 2008, the services no longer served Newcastle and instead terminated at Metrocentre. The MC1 was later withdrawn with the X30 being extended from Stanley back to Lanchester via South Moor and Burnhope (only difference being it doesn't go into Quaking Houses turning circle) while the Fellside Road section was replaced by the X43. The MC2 was replaced by the 143 which operated via Dunston Bank, Whickham, Broom Lane, Sunniside, Sleepy Valley, Shield Row and Stanley before continuing to do the East Stanley circular.

The 143 was then later curtailed to run from Crookgate to East Stanley only and was one of the only services marketed as 'Yellow Bus' (it was in the Diamond timetable anyway) as it used Olympians based at Stanley (interworked with scholars 828 to Stanley? possibly the East Stanley service). A while later the service was withdrawn completely and the Tanfield Village section was replaced by the X43 which was rerouted to serve Tanfield Village. The East Stanley circular was replaced by the 131 as it is today.

From 25th May 2008 - the 704 was shortened to how it currently is (Stanley - Avon Road - Stanley) and was renumbered MC4 - again using Venture branded Solo's. It was later renumbered 704 again when the other 'MC' numbers were dropped but the route didn't change and still remains like that today.

The services operated under the Venture brand using the Solo's before inheriting some of the older MPDs such as the V--- ERG's (included some 52 reg MPDs from Washington i think).

Don't forget about the FQ1 (Flippin' Quick 1).

Only two runs a day (I think). A morning peak-time journey into Newcastle and a late-night return to Oxhill. 

I know the FQ1 back to the depot used to run off the 16 service between Newcastle and Four Lane Ends. I think the FQ1 into Newcastle used to change to the 106 between Newcastle and Walker.