(07 Feb 2016, 3:02 pm)Charles41 wrote Just a quick update about my outing yesterday. I travelled on GNE, GCT, Stagecoach and the Metro to Jarrow and South Shields visit small independent and non-psv operators. I visited the following despite the increasingly bad weather:Great review, Charles. ;-)
Gateshead Council – Shearlegs Road, Gateshead – spotted what I could in the yard including a new transit for Gateshead College. Unable to get the reg of this vehicle though. Also present Whickham School and Age UK vehicles.
Gateshead Central Taxis – had a good look around the yard, 6 deckers present. Plenty of interesting withdrawn stock.
Carruthers - Wardley Coaches – Proprietor’s son let me look round – got some good photos.
Age UK – Star Centre, Hebburn – Single Renault Traffic present, one of a pair of identical vehicles.
St Josephs School – 16 seat Maxus present. They also have 2 Transits, not present during this visit.
Spayne – MS Travel – Operator appears to have ceased.
Hebburn Comprehensive – Iveco Daily present, Variety Club.
HCI Care Home - Witty Avenue, Hebburn – Renault Master present.
Keelmans Way School – Peugeot Boxer and Iveco Daily (Variety Club) present.
Laws – Lotus Travel – Oxford Crescent, Hebburn – restricted licence recently revoked, operator has just applied for standard national o-licence – Ford Transit present.
Convery – Harron Minibuses – Howe Street, Jarrow – Ford Transit operated – no vehicles present during this visit.
Gateshead Central Taxis – Albert Street, Jarrow – former operating centre, withdrawn vehicles still present are 2 Renault Traffics and a VW Transporter with I believe Bluebird bodywork
Withers – Traveline – Oak Street, Jarrow – operator appears to have ceased.
Nicholas/Bell –Viking Travel – Maple Street, Jarrow – operator appears to have ceased, now seems to be working for Dial A Cab.
Thoburn – Dels – Beech Street, Jarrow – operator has just applied for a 4 vehicle international o-licence, no vehicles present at residence
Jarrow Bus Station – got some OK photos here, preferred it in the 1980s when GNE had a garage with an allocation of dual door Atlanteans.
Wilkinson – Tyne Dock – full fleet appeared to be present.
A & J Coaches – Tyne Dock – owner operator, sole vehicle is a Volvo B10, present. Security at Tyne Dock is strict and I could only spot from a distance.
Pippet – Budget Buses – Taylor Street, Shields – operator appears to have ceased and seems to be working as a taxi driver.
Milldam Portland – Shrewsbury Terrace, Shields – not the main operating centre but a Ford Transit present.
Mortimer Community College – Reading Road, Shields – Peugeot Boxer present.
Ashleigh Primary – Temple Park Road, Shields – Ford Transit present also Citroen Relay belonging to Laygate School
Busways – Chichester – not much stock in the garage unsurprising given time of day. Preserved decker present though.
Dial A Cab/Tate – Laygate, Shields – number of Transits and non-psvs present including withdrawn stock. Plenty of this operator’s taxis observed during the day. Recently granted a standard national o-licence.
Harkers – Tudor Road, Shields – cracking location, increasingly rare withdrawn stock. Main garage was open, was OK to get some photos. Rain quite heavy though so did not come out well.
Sports Recycle, Henry Robson Way, Shields – Section 19 Operator – secure industrial estate with electric gate. Did not want to try and enter after my experience at Sleekburn.
Mission To Seafarers – Harton Quay, Shields – Ford Transit present which looked like it had seen better days.
Shields Bus Station – got some OK photos here mainly of newish Stagecoach Stock but also of GNE Wrightbus stock working the 20/20A and Citaros on the 27.
City Richmond/Dels – Victoria Road, Shields – two transits present here one of which was brand new.
Tiffin – A2B Travel – Westhoe Road, Shields – no vehicles present, operator appears to have ceased.
Westhoe Crown Primary, Shields – two deckers present both used as classrooms/libraries for the children. One of them is ex-Stagecoach.
Bamburgh School, Shields – 14 year old LDV present, last stop of the day rain was too heavy and I was getting soaked so decided to call it a day.
I managed to visit over 25 operators (non psv included) and got some good photos. You may wish to ask how much this trip cost, well it was £2.00. The cost of a Tandori Chicken Baguette from Greggs. I also got a nice lamp fitting at Wilkos. I used my travel pass for all my journeys. I could have used a Tyne and Wear day ticket for around £7.00. Last weekend I forked out £15 to visit two locations at Annitsford and Acomb. Perhaps I should start organising trips…now all I need is the reg of Gateshead College’s new transit.
Hope everyone had a good weekend.
Charles
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