Ive just deleted my outing by accident but here it is again
My original plan was to get the 8:35 74 from Eldon Square to Hexham and meet Davie and DanPicken there, Though my bad idea of staying up till 2:00 AM didn't work for getting up at 7:00AM
I revised my plans and decided to wake up at 9:00 AM and get the 11:35 74 to Hexham, Although this resulted in me missing Davie and DanP ( There plan involved leaving Hexham before I got there )
So apologies to Davie and DanP for being late ( Again Tongue )
I left the house extremely late at 11:00 AM and dashed to the Metro in my Hoodie and Thermal Coat which was the worst choice of coat to bring on a humid day!
I made it to Brockly Whins Metro for 11:08 and bought my Explorer, I seen a mate from Primary days on the platform days but he didn't see me.
I took my place at the top of the Platform and took my thermal coat off and placed it in my backpack, When I tried to zip the backpack back up the zip snapped!
This involved me having to carry my backpack like a shopping bag for the rest of the day.
And so my journey begins :
J1 Brockely Whins Metro - Haymarket Metro Metrocar 4033
The same metrocar I got on a mere 2 days before on Thursday, The brakes were in need of oiling when the 36 Year old Metrocar pulled in front of me.
I took my place at the front seat facing towards the line, And started trying to fix the zip on my bag...
That's all I done that journey and after long, I arrived at Haymarket having given up trying to fix it and dashed towards Eldon Square with 3 Mins till departure of the 74.
J2 Eldon Square - Hexham Bus Station GNE 667
The official " Enthusiasts Bus " for this week, With me and 5 other Enthusiast's boarding this smart Solo, I took my place at the back on the Mercedes Engine, Accompinied by 2 other Enthusiast's.
We began chatting about transport related things, Involving talking about what type of seats the Solo has to the Enthusiast's past job at Train Operator Grand Central.
We chatted until Stamfordham, Where I moved to the empty row in front because of the ever increasing uncomfort of GNE's E-Leather over the Boiling Engine.
The Solo coped well with the route, Though the " Eco " Configuration of the Allison Gearbox didn't help when tackling the Inclines on this route, Which MPDs would tackle with ease back in the day.
The journey somewhat flew over and I arrived at Hexham Bus Station with Bazza and another Enthusiast snapping my Solo, I gave them the thumbs up and he came and greeted me after I disembarked.
Hexham
I had a quick chat with Bazza and the other Enthusiast before heading to Greggs for my Dinner, I returned after 15 Mins and me and Bazza got some photos of Various Hexham Solos and Solars.
Bazza and the other enthusiast were off back to Newcastle on the X85 having caught all bar one Solo in the Hexham Fleet from 9 in the Morning.
Just as Bazza and the other Enthuiast were boarding, A cuaght sight of Jimmi In the crowd, I said my goodbyes to Bazza and the other Enthusiast and I went and joined Jimmi for a good half hour.
We photographed 6084 making a rare appearance on the 10 and that was it, No More Buses appeared in Hexham for a good half hour!
Me and Jimmi got chatting and I thought about abandoning my plan of Haltwhistle and Alston and decided to Join Jimmi for a run to Corbridge.
J3 Hexham Bus Station - Corbridge Town Centre GNE 6073
I jumped on quickly and grabbed the front top deck seats, Jimmi was less fortunate, Being one of the last to get on but still joined me on the top deck, Sitting in the row behind me.
We chatted for most of the short journey and alighted in the centre of a busy Corbridge.
Corbridge
We tried getting a shot of two TEN B9TLs, Unfortunatly both of our shots failed and Jimmi decided to head near the bridge over the Tyne to get some photos -
Which turned out good and the photos are now on mine and jimmis Flickr Accounts now, Its a good spot for photos.
We soon started heading back to head back to Hexham on the 687 556 turned up blinded Not-In-Service and we boarded and took our places at the back of this grubby MPD.
J3 Corbridge - Hexham Bus Station GNE 687
We departed Corbridge and chatted for most of this journey again, Jimmis plan was to alight at the Train Station and catch PCLs Dart to Wall Village.
He did so and me and Jimmi said our goodbyes and Jimmi alighted at the Train Station and I carried on to the Bus Station.
A Quick wait for the X85 was needed, and to my delight 5230 turned up.
J4 Hexham Bus Station - Eldon Square GNE 5230
5230 is a lovely Scania, Its ZF Gearbox also slipped a few times but was also smooth on the long stretch of A69 all the way to Denton Burn.
Was on my phone for quite a bit of the journey and didn't really take much in and before I knew it, I was at Eldon Square.
A Quick dash to Haymarket to get the 308 to get picked up from Silverlink by my Mam and Dad, Who returning from shopping at Highley Gate Garden Centre!
I was rushing that much I didn't notice Davie standing at Cling on Corner getting photos, He did get a photo of me on 7604 though I believe.
J5 Haymarket Bus Station - Silverlink ANE 7604
A limp DB300 waited for me in Haymarket and the driver put his foot to the floor to get nothing back from the Engine, Absolutely knackered but then are there any DB300s that arnt?
A quick walk from the Silverlink slip road Bus Stop to the MCDonalds car park with a Diet Coke waiting for me ( Specially ordered from the back of 5230 Big Grin ) in my Familys car.
Then it was just a 10 Min drive back to Brockely Whins through the Tyne Tunnel and home.
I really enjoyed todays trip and hope to do my original plan of Haltwhistle and Alston sometime this year.
Thanks to Bazza and the other Enthusiast for accompanying me for a bit at Hexham Smile
and Thanks to Jimmi for his company for a few hours on this dreary day Smile
I'm not heading to Kirkby Stephen tomorrow but I hope everyone enjoys it and enjoy your Easter holidays!
Thanks for Reading.
RE: Bus Related Outings and Reviews
My New Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/140662069@N02/ - Posts every Weekend at the minimum 