On Saturday I had my first proper spotting trip of 2016. I decided to visit independent operators that I had not been to before in the Sedgefield and Durham areas. My outing started just before 8.00 at the Canon, Low Fell. Here I caught surprisingly busy Gemini bodied Volvo GNE 6065 working the 21. This was a nice easy journey. I had to take this bus as the first X12 on a Saturday starts from Birtley. I got an upstairs seat and watched the Angel of the North grow larger as the sun rose. The journey passed quickly and I soon found myself standing at Birtley War Memorial.

After about 10 minutes wait, I was excited to see Arriva Trident 7521 appear working the 08.17 X12. This bus has been upgraded to Sapphire standard and carries branding for the number 6 service. The bus was empty and I was the first passenger of the day, buying an Arriva Day Ticket. I took the front seat above the driver, sat back and enjoyed the journey. One of other passenger got on at Birtley with me. The service picked up more people at Chester but was not more than 1/3 full by the time we arrived on time at Durham after a hearty thrash down the motorway section to Pity Me.

I was expecting to take the Trident to Sedgefield, but we had to change at Durham. The replacement was Wrightbus 7627. Again I was able to get the seat above the driver. We left on time and I enjoyed the impressive views of Durham Castle and Cathedral as the bus went over the Wear. A number of passengers had been picked up at Durham and the bus had a healthy load. More people boarded at Bowburn and Coxhoe and the bus was getting quite full. At Coxhoe we passed Talbots Transport yard which had 6 vehicles present, mainly Transits running on taxi plates.

We arrived at Sedgefield on time; it had been over 20 years since I last visited. I was surprised at the amount of new housing. The old secure hospital site at Winterton has now been mainly redeveloped into residential and industrial usage. At Sedgefield I looked round the village then made my way to Boynston Grove, the home of minibus operator Lancaster (Smiths of Sedgefield). Unfortunately no vehicles were present and the operator’s house was up for sale. I then walked to the community college. Here I found a single Peugot Boxer parked near the entrance. The minibus operates on a Section 19 Permit.

My next target was the village of Fishburn. I had 20 minutes to wait for the 21, so I decided to take a slow walk there instead. The morning was pleasant; on the way I passed the graveyard for former inmates of Winterton Hospital and had a quick look round. It did not take me long to reach Fishburn, passing remains of the hospital on the way. A Scarlet Band Optare was working a local service but I had an Arriva day ticket so I could not use it.

I’d never visited Fishburn before; it’s a former colliery village with a modern housing development on the edge. My goal was Griersons Travel, and I found their garage just off the main road straight away. I entered the yard but there was no-one around. I did not wish to hang around uninvited so did not take any photos. Luckily a footpath runs around a large section of the yard perimeter. I was therefore able to spot most of the vehicles present. This yard was amazing, most operators get rid of their withdrawn stock but here old vehicles are just parked up in rows. It reminded me of Cochrane’s old White House Farm yard in the 1980s.

My favourite here was LHG447T a 1979 Bristol VRT parked right in the far corner. It used to be used as a school bus but has been extensively cannibalised. Also parked up were two Alexander bodied Atlanteans dating from around 1980 and a Plaxton bodied Volvo B58 dating from 1974. Most of the vehicles still in use were Volvo coaches but there were also some deckers which looked like Leyland Olympians. I counted over 20 withdrawn vehicles of various types parked up. I’m going to try and visit this garage again on a weekday in the hope of getting some photos.

Next a short walk guided by my A to Z brought me to Wayne Taxis Limited. This operator had Ford Transit and Mercedes minibuses parked up near it’s licensed address. Waynes is owned by a branch of the Crake family. Next I visited Tarn Taxis who have a restricted o-licence, there were a number of non-psv Ducatos and Vivaros parked up. Two members of the Tarn Family hold o-licences but both use the fleetname Tarn Taxis.

I made my way back to the main street at Fishburn and did not have to wait long for the 10.32 21A. This was operated by Wright bodied VDL 1422 which was about a quarter full. I took a short journey on this to Trimdon which passed without incident. I alighted and set off in search of Maurice Minibuses. This firm is owned by another member of the Crake family. Unfortunately there were no vehicles at the address I had for them. Faced with waiting half an hour for my next bus, I decided to walk down the bank to Trimdon Grange. Here I passed the former premises of Trimdon Motor Services (TMS), a major local player in late 1980s post-deregulation era. I remember spotting their blue and white vehicles (mainly Bristol LHs) on Tyneside, Teesside and also in Durham. My favourite memory of TMS was being allowed to wander around their old Saltmeadows depot whilst photographing dozens of LHs in various states of repair. The Trimdon yard is now a small industrial estate.

I located the registered operating centre of Tarns Taxis at Trimdon Grange, but this was locked up. So I took a walk along the adjacent old railway line to Trimdon Colliery. The pit here closed a long time ago and the site is now a recreation ground. I walked over this and visited the premises of Elliotts. This minibus operator had 5 vehicles present, 3 of which were PSVs. I had not spotted any of their vehicles before, so this was a good find. Most of the fleet was Mercedes but a Transit was also present. I walked back to the main road at Trimdon Colliery where a few people were waiting at the bus stop. The 57A was due shortly and I resolved to take this service back into Durham.

This bus arrived slightly late at 11.30 being due at 11.23. It was operated by Optare 2838. The bus picked up passengers throughout the journey and was standing room only by the time we reached Bowburn. The trip into Durham was brisk and I had some huge guy sitting next to me. Luckily I had a window seat near the back. The views between Trimdon and Coxhoe were good. The playing fields at Shincliff looked really busy with students playing football when we passed. At Durham I alighted near the library on the bridge over the Wear. I decided to get some lunch and checked my emails in the reference library. I then caught Dart 1321 on the 64 to Gilesgate at the stop close to the library.

This was a busy bus which got busier at Gilesgate. Everyone getting on seemed to have a baby or small children. Luckily the journey did not last long. On the way I spotted Durham Shopmobility’s sole vehicle, an Iveco parked up near the old comprehensive school. At Gilesgate I visited the premises of Nicholson (North East Coachways). I was able to get some decent photos outside the depot. The garage door was open so I was also able to spot most of the vehicles inside. A recent acquisition is S602ACT a Mercedes minibus named Lucy. After this depot visit I walked back to the nearby Tesco and waited for my next bus.

This was another Dart, 1324 working the 13.19 64 to Arnison Centre. I took this back into Durham and alighted opposite the bus station. Entering the bus station I spied East Lancs bodied VDL 7455 about to depart to New Brancpeth on the 48. After forcing my way through the usual throng of people, I just made it as the doors were about to close. I took this beast for the steep climb to Bearpark. I had the seat above the rather miserable driver so was able to get a good view of the lovely scenery. I spotted what I could in the bus station on the way out. Next it was a good bit of rural thrash up to Bearpark and then down the gradient to Ushaw Moor. We passed the premises of restricted o-licence holder Durham Careline Limited at Bearpark but no vehicles were present. I got off this bus near the cross-roads at Ushaw Moor. Here I paid a quick visit to Murray (A Murray Travel) who operates two 16 seat Ford Transits. These were parked up by the operator’s residence. I had not visited this operator before so this was another good find.

A brisk walk brought me back to the cross-roads, where I could see the 43 approaching in the distance. I ran to the nearest stop only to be confronted with an out of use sign. B*ll*cks I thought as the bus turned the corner and started to ascend the bank up to Bearpark. Luckily it stopped to let an old guy off who took his time. I belted round the corner caught it within a whisker. The bus was East Lances bodied DAF 7444 working the 14.23 service. I went upstairs and was able to get the front seat. Opposite me was probably the most miserable looking Gothette I had ever seen. She would have caused a saucer of milk to curdle at twenty paces. I just looked out the window and watched the scenery all the way back into Durham.

On returning to Durham, I was confronted by a crowd of over twenty miserable looking Gothettes. It must have been some form of convention! Groaning at the prospect of being stuck in the bus station with them, I decided to take a trip upto Framwellgate. I wanted to visit the premises of Durham Agency Against Crime Limited. This Section 19 Permit holder operates two minibuses using the fleetname EDDY Youth Bus. I had not visited their premises before. My ride was busy Dart 1321 again working 14.57 64 services, she was full of people returning home after an afternoon’s shopping. I was not on the bus for long and we soon arrived at Framwellgate. I found the EDDY garage with little difficulty and both vehicles were parked up in the yard. This was a new operator for me and I was pleased to spot their vehicles. I did not have to wait long for a bus back into Durham, Dart 1327 working the 15.12 64 which was also rather busy. We had a nice slow decent into Durham and I admired the Cathedral and railway viaduct.

At Durham I decided to walk up to the railway station to photograph rail replacements. I was greeted with vehicles from Jim Hughes, Glen Valley, Enterprise and Garnetts which I got some cracking photos of. Also present were minibuses from Talbots and Holmes (D & S Minibuses) dropping off groups heading to Newcastle for a night’s drinking. I was pleased to spot Holmes’ Sprinter as I’d not seen this owner-operator before. I then spent a bit of time at Durham roundabout spotting and getting photos. Luckily the Gothettes had dispersed and it was just the usual semi-drunk chavs with Staffies sitting at the tables. Some random kid offered to sell me a bike but I declined. Spotted was GNE Dart 571 working the X21 to Bishop, it was crammed.

At 15.50 I caught my last bus of the day which was Wrightbus 7627 (for the second time) working the X12. I took this for a thrash all the way back to Low Fell and alighted at the Cannon. This bus was also quite busy with shoppers returning home. The journey passed rather quickly and I watched the sunset. It had been a good day, the only operator I had visited previously was Nicholson, and this was my second visit to his premises. I’m definitely going to try and get to Fishburn again soon. The only change I would have made to the day was to take the bus from Fishburn straight to Trimdon Colliery. Saturday coming I’m hoping to go on the bus tour from Newcastle which is visiting Tyne Valley Coaches and Tourmaster garages amongst others. Hope to see you there.

Thanks for reading.

Charles