It's been quite a while since I last posted on the forum, so I may as well give a review of my outing today on a North East Explorer.

07:54 X21 6306 Chester-le-Street Black Horse to Newcastle Eldon Square
I decided I was going to try and hunt down one of the recently refurbished 09-plate Pulsars at Jesmond, as part of my list of aims, and so this meant heading north to Newcastle. 6306 was operating this journey, the first X21 of the day from Bishop Auckland to Newcastle. This was the only one of the seven Streetdecks that I still needed for haulage, so I was quite pleased that I got this and not a dud. Was one of the younger drivers at Crook behind the wheel, a nice enough guy. Headed upstairs and saw that the front seats on the offside were available, it was quite quiet which seemed unusual as this journey is usually fairly busy from my experience. I utilised the free WiFi and ensured my phone stayed on 100% battery through the charging socket. A nice way to start the day, I'm personally not too bothered by the Streetdecks on the X21, they do their job and have extra incentives such as plug sockets and WiFi. They've seemingly settled into their route quite well, after two months of service. 

08:49 X16 1408 Newcastle Haymarket to Morpeth Bus Station
The driver dropped us off in the taxi rank thing on the descent into Prudhoe Place (Eldon Square). I had a brief look at what was in the bus station, to find nothing of any real interest, before I chose to have a seat in Haymarket in hopes that something would come in and catch my attention. Luckily I didn't have to wait long, as VDL SB200 1408 came in with the X16 to Morpeth. This was one of the two recently refurbished Pulsars at Jesmond, so I happily boarded, thus ticking that aim off of my list. I noted that while it had been refurbished to MAX specification internally, it still carried a few reminders of it's past, with the original green backs to the seating that it carried when bought new in 2009. Took my seat on the offside, one row before the very back, and enjoyed listening to the musical turbo coming in every now and then as the driver absolutely thrashed it up the Great North Road. Don't think I've heard such a loud turbo and travelled at such a speed in one of these before; this is easily now my favourite Pulsar. Just a shame it is no longer in it's original livery or with it's original interior.

09:27 43 7471 Morpeth Bus Station to Cramlington Manor Walk
I alighted in Morpeth Bus Station and targeted the next hourly 43 to Newcastle as my next bus. I made an educated guess and assumed that the ALX400 in the layover bays, 7471, was the vehicle operating this run. I headed across and engaged in conversation with the driver; an incredibly friendly chap who was nice with everyone who boarded from what I observed. We talked about the recent weather for a minute or so before I went and took my seat at the back of the downstairs saloon. One other passenger, an elderly woman, boarded, before we pulled away on-time. I'll definitely be writing in to Arriva about the driver, as he was arguably one of the friendliest Arriva drivers I've come across. The grand total of passenger numbers for the journey between Morpeth and Cramlington stood at: five. The other three all boarded in Bedlington, at different stops. I enjoyed listening to the roar of the DAF engine in 7471, before I had to alight at Cramlington.

10:17 17 4912 Cramlington Manor Walk to Killingworth Bus Station
I received word from citaro5284 that 4912 was to be the 10:16 17 from Cramlington to Whitley Bay, and, having thoroughly enjoyed travelling to the rally last Sunday in the Northern National Restoration Group's 4855 (the return journey to Chester-le-Street for a photoshoot was made in Jonothan Ruddick's 4708, another fine machine), I decided I would stick around and have a go on one of the native B10BLEs that remains in service. One of the B10BLEs that migrated to Percy Main a few months ago; 4912 was new to Sunderland Road, and it even still carried internal advertisements for the Highwayman services. Firstly, the Highwayman brand has been extinct for a good few months now, and secondly, it has been years since the B10s were on there... Unfortunately, as is the case with the vast majority of the B10s in Go North East's fleet these days, it had seen better days. It's a shame the condition of many has deteriorated over the last year or so. 

10:40 62 19680 Killingworth Bus Station to Four Lane Ends Interchange
After alighting 4912 at Killingworth, I decided I'd catch one of the Stagecoach 62/63 services to Four Lane Ends, then something else onwards through to Newcastle. The first thing to arrive, following 4912's departure, was 19680, a 60-plate Enviro400, which came straight into the stand with the blind set for the return journey. I joined a small queue to board, sitting above the driver upstairs on the offside. I quite liked this route, it didn't go through any particularly bad places, I quite enjoyed going through Quorum Business Park. The Enviro400s are quite speedy machines as well, I enjoy the occasional ride on one. It was only a twenty minute journey to Four Lane Ends, where I chose to alight in favour of something else. 

11:04 52 1499 Four Lane Ends Interchange to Newcastle Haymarket
An Arriva 52 for Newcastle quickly followed up behind 19680, arriving pretty much as 19680 left. Pulsar 1499 was operating this run, I considered letting it go in favour of something else for variety, but I boarded when I realised that I really wasn't interested in spending any more time at Four Lane Ends, there is literally nothing there aside from the flow of buses. While this wasn't as speedy nor interesting as 1408 was earlier this morning (more than likely down to the route - 1408 had plenty of opportunity to stretch it's legs, while 1499 was stuck on a fairly boring route with no real demand for high speeds), although I understand the 09-plate Pulsars are generally regarded as superior to the younger examples in terms of speed. A good journey overall, I was back in Newcastle for just before 11:25.

11:32 6 3887 Newcastle Eldon Square to Metrocentre Interchange
I headed across to Eldon Square with the aim of catching something to Durham, in hopes of one of the Y-reg Lowlanders. I was happy to see one of the Plaxton President-bodied Tridents coming into the bus station with an outbound 6 for Stanley. It's always something of a treat for me when I have the opportunity to ride one of 3885-3889. For many years, they were stalwarts at Chester-le-Street depot. When the X22 went around the world prior to October 2013, when it was changed to the same route between Durham and Chester-le-Street that is shared with the 21, and others. There was a small rota of about seven or eight drivers that were rostered for the X22, which, at the time, generally utilised any red deckers in the depot, meaning these Tridents were frequently allocated. Two of my friends at Chester-le-Street depot, Eddie Spence and Pat Armstrong (the latter of which is well known in the community), were on this X22 rota, and it was how I first met them really. I quite enjoyed the route that the X22 had between Durham and Chester-le-Street, when it took about forty minutes. I recall having my first trip to Durham on the route, with Pat driving 3888. Anyway, history lesson over. 3887 performed well on the short route between Newcastle and Metrocentre, stirring up old memories of the X22.

12:00 X24 7609 Metrocentre Interchange to Chester-le-Street Red Lion
I decided to connect with the two-hourly X24 at the Metrocentre, catch that to Chester-le-Street, and then something else to Durham. 7609 is a regular allocation from Belmont to the X24, when not required on the X12 to cover for a designated DB300, and it kind of bugs me because I used to like one of the Lowlanders on this. It's effectively like throwing a coin with the X24; you have an equal chance of 7609 or one of the 57-registered Lowlanders. The DB300s bore me, so I was quite pleased to be off in Chester-le-Street. Not the best ride of the day, although mainly because I'm not a huge fan of the vehicle type rather than a specific problem with this example.

12:38 21 3962 Chester-le-Street Red Lion to Durham Bus Station
I observed OK Way MPD 572 on the local Lambton Worm 34 service, and considered hanging around for it to return from Waldridge Park, but I eventually got tired of waiting and instead decided to carry on with my original plan of Durham. Fortunately for me, 3962 was operating the next 21 to Durham. One of two Gemini-bodied B7TLs branded for the Angel service, 3962 is superior to 3965 in my opinion. It generally just seems to be faster at getting up to speed and pulling away. I'd much rather take one of this pair over any Hybrid B5LH or one of the ex-London Presidents. 

13:30 X22 3983 Durham Bus Station to Metrocentre Interchange
After arriving in Durham on 3962, I disembarked and headed up to the top of the bus station for a few photos. Spent about twenty minutes or so there before I noticed the only East Lancs Vyking at Chester-le-Street depot, 3983, was due to be the 13:34 X22 to the Metrocentre. I couldn't turn this down, and even carried on all the way to the Metrocentre rather than jump ship at Chester-le-Street. Like most Vykings, 3983 seemed to lack power, hitting no higher than 38mph on the A167. Was a shame that the driver was a bit of a miserable sod, but I always enjoy a ride on 3983, not quite sure what it is, more than likely it's merit of being the only vehicle of it's type at Chester-le-Street depot. Great ride overall.

14:28 10 6077 Metrocentre Interchange to Newcastle Eldon Square
Not much to say about this, just a standard B9TL journey. Comfortable enough with a fair amount of power, I took the opportunity to charge my phone and use the free WiFi. I don't mind the TEN B9TLs for short hops such as this, but I can recall doing Hexham-Metrocentre on the 10 once, and I was bored to death by Prudhoe. I do quite like the B9TLs, I can see them one day being viewed in the same positive light as the Olympians or Metrobuses. I walked out of Eldon Square and across to Haymarket Metro, passing through the bus station. I didn't see any cling-ons at 'the corner'..........LOL.

15:01 T&W Metro 4032 + 4019 Haymarket to Heworth 
Much like the above, not a journey I can say much about, just an average Metro journey. I spent about five(ish) minutes getting photos at Heworth, before I saw a 57 for Newcastle coming in, and decided to go with it. 

15:22 57 5295 Heworth Interchange to Newcastle New Bridge Street
I'd not yet used the 57 since it's upgrade to Mercedes Citaro from the Fab57 B10BLEs, so thought I may as well take the opportunity rather than make a tedious journey on the Metro again. I quite liked 5293-5297 when they were at Stanley for the Diamond services, and 5295 was one that would crop up fairly frequently whenever I used the services, so was pleased to see it was my ride back to Newcastle. The suspension was absolutely shot on this, with every bump in the road being felt, along with a strange wheezing sound every five seconds or so. Following a quick driver changeover at Gateshead Interchange, I carried on to Newcastle and alighted on New Bridge Street.

16:06 X21 6305 Newcastle Eldon Square to Chester-le-Street Red Lion
I walked along to Eldon Square and made my way to the bus station. 6305 was my ride back to Chester-le-Street, operating the 16:09 X21 to Bishop Auckland. The driver was one of the old timers, he is always pleasant with me when he sees me. Departed Eldon Square with a rather small load, but a couple boarded at the High Level Bridge and then half a dozen at Gateshead, with a good few later alighting at Low Fell. Following arrival in Chester-le-Street at 16:40ish, I walked home from the Red Lion rather than continue onto my local stop on 6305, getting home for about 17:20. 

A great day out overall. Hope you enjoyed reading.