(28 May 2016, 10:40 pm)Jimmi wrote Had a fairly long day out today, here's what I got up to...
0745 X66 Harrowgate Hill W.M.C. - Stockton High Street North (ANE 4656)
I was given a lift to Harrowgate Hill by my sister this morning, meaning I got to avoid the annoying changing of buses which is now a real pain since the timetable changes the other week where all my services got put back 5 minutes and I now seemingly have difficulties connecting with just about everything. Anyway, 4656 was my first bus this morning, the driver greeted me by saying "Hello Matthew" as the driver for this journey was NEB's own MrPottiski, after the greetings I sat in my usual seat by the emergency exit door and made my way towards Stockton. This one felt slightly rough this morning, possibly why 2849 replaced it for one trip after this?
0824 84 Stockton High Street North - University Hospital of North Tees (Stagecarriage: YJ07 VRK)
As nothing seemed to be going on in Stockton, I got bored and decided I'd have a quick ride on this to fill some time in, not a bad little Solo really although it was a pretty smooth short journey really. I alighted at North Tees Hospital then waited for another bus back to Stockton.
0846 37 University Hospital of North Tees - Stockton High Street North (Stagecoach on Teesside: 27166)
Had a choice between this and a Dots branded example on the 59, but as this left one minute earlier, so I opted for the 37. Pretty comfortable journey towards Stockton, a old bloke was chatting to the young female driver when he boarded at his stop. After this journey I went to buy some refreshments for the day.
0932 S1 Stockton High Street South - Teesside Park Morrisons - 1017 S1 Teesside Park Toys R Us - Stockton High Street North (ANE 1415)
Waited for this at the southern end of the high street, unfortunately someone was sleeping rough in the bus shelter, so we had to stand outside the shelter. On-board 1415 it was reasonably busy on the journey to Teesside Park which is good to see, nowt much to say about the journey with it being reasonably short, jumped off at Morrisons and got some photos then had a quick wander round the shops where I bought some stuff in USC and then jumped on the S1 back to Stockton 30 minutes later, irritatingly I just missed the X12 to Middlesbrough at the Uni, so I stayed on the S1 until Stockton High Street.
1028 17A Stockton High Street North - Middlesbrough Bus Station (ANE 1914)
After alighting the S1, I photographed 2849 on the X67 then I decided to catch 1914 on the 17A. Not sure how much longer the Cadet's have at Stockton but I can't imagine it's much longer, so better take up the opportunities whilst I can. This one rattled at the back a bit but other than that it wasn't too bad. This route is slightly longer than I remember it being and I'm sure I think this every time I do it. I did eventually arrive in Middlesbrough though.
1215 64 Middlesbrough Bus Station - Eston Square (ANE 4700)
After some more shopping plus chippy for lunch, I returned to my bus outing with 4700 being my next journey. 4700 had a previous life at Redcar before the other examples arrived but later went to sale with Arriva Bus and Coach although it was never sold, so it became part of the Arriva North East fleet at Redcar once again. I fancied getting one of these examples to see if the e-leather is anymore comfortable than the fabric, not sure but my seat wasn't too uncomfortable. Apart from the strange seating layout (and the fires) I actually don't think these are bad buses, they seem to have a bit of power under the bonnet. This bus was quite warm though which was a little un-pleasant.
1255 63 Eston Square - Redcar Morrisons (ANE 1432)
Typical 63, wait for one and two come along at once! Sadly 1432 was at the front, so I had to get that one instead of the Temsa behind, I like the Pulsar's but I get them all the time on the 5/5A and 7, so It's nice to get something different. 1432 wasn't too bad though, think the last time I rode this one was when it was on loan to Darlington depot a few years back (was on-loan for a day fairly recently as well). Annoyingly we got stuck at the level crossing in Redcar which meant we were sat for a while, little wonder this service struggles to keep to time!
1408 22 Redcar High Street - Middlesbrough Bus Station (ANE 4512)
Decided I wanted a ride on this today, so I just had to find it, fortunately shortly after arriving in Redcar I found it on the 22 to Ings Farm, so I waited for it to come back. Would have preferred it to be on the 81 to Stokesley as I quite like that route, oh well! Back to the 22, some of the passengers actually thought this 16 year old Renown was a modern bus! Must say, I did quite like this bus and I enjoyed riding it very much... Until of course some people had to spoil my fun by being annoying as owt, large family (of course it was!) with them being scattered around the bus with some right behind me who insisted at shouting to each of them, so just imagine how loud someone sat at the back just behind me is shouting to someone sat in the wheelchair bay, they were irritating the hell out of me and I was so pleased when they got off.
1515 1 Middlesbrough Bus Station - Hartlepool Victoria Road (Stagecoach in Hartlepool: 35162)
Looked round the bus station to look for something interesting to ride, in the end I went with this Dart on service 1 to Hartlepool. I sat at the back on this journey and soaked in the views out of the window, I quite like the 1 route, I like the industrial scenery as you leave Middlesbrough then Seaton Carew seafront, it's a cracking route, do it if you get the chance. Dart was pretty standard really but with the scenery it made for a good journey to Hartlepool which I haven't been to for ages, so I had a bit of a wander round after this journey, was especially nice as the sun came out and it was lovely out.
1702 X35 Hartlepool, Marina Way - Peterlee Bus Station (GNE 5204)
Ended up down at the Marina. Decided I'd get this to Peterlee, seem as the 23 doesn't run down here. Pretty quiet journey really, not much really occurred on this journey, so I just took in the views until I reached Peterlee Bus Station.
1750 21 Peterlee Bus Station - Sedgefield Barclay's Bank (ANE 4813)
Just missed getting a photo of Sapphire 22 branded Streetlite 1599 on the 23, oh well! I then waited for my 21, annoyingly someone was stood smoking next to me, yeah that no smoking in Durham County Council Bus Station's campaign certainly seemed to be worth while then! Anyway I was greeted by 4813 on this journey which pleased me as I'm sick to death of catching 4810/4811 every time I get the 21/X21. Pretty steady away journey really, not a great deal occurred on this journey either. I alighted at Sedgefield rather than continuing on home to Newton Aycliffe as decided to take the opportunity to photograph the Go North East evening service 239 which has been rarely photographed from what I've seen on Flickr, if you want to see this photo click this link: https://flic.kr/p/GFTwTR Photographing this was not as easy as I'd hope it would be, especially because some woman sat at the junction where the bus stop for the 239 is and waited for cars, even though there wasn't any, it was annoying me so much I actually started shouting GO!!! THERE'S NOTHING HERE!!! GO!!!
1858 X12 Sedgefield Black Lion - Stockton High Street North (ANE 1457)
As I didn't want to sit in Sedgefield until 19:37 waiting for the next and last 21 of the night, I took the long way home with the X12 providing the first part of this trek home. This example sounded pretty rough it has to be said, although it did get a bit of a thrash from the driver, he must have done some thrashing on this shift as it left Middlesbrough 10 minutes late earlier in the afternoon.
1937 X66 Stockton High Street North - Darlington Northgate (ANE 1444)
1444 was tonight's non MAX working from Stockton. There was four older passengers on-board for this journey when I boarded in Stockton and then we picked a few down North Road in Darlington, just about all of these wanting to be off at stops the X66 doesn't stop at. Annoyingly in typical fashion when we got to Harrowgate Hill Roundabout I got 'treated' to the sight of the 5A heading to Bishop Auckland but more importantly for me, home, DAMN! So I stayed on until Darlington Town Centre to catch my last bus of the day.
2015 7 Darlington Tubwell Row - Newton Aycliffe, Silkin Way (ANE 1513)
First we got to see 1514 come round with "Not In Service" on the blind with the driver dropping the passengers on-board on the next stand along, with some passengers walking down to try and get on that, shortly afterwards 1513 came round on the 7 to Durham. I sat towards the back and irritatingly the plug socket didn't work. Was a busy journey but fortunately for me the passengers weren't disruptive unlike the last time I got this 7 on a Saturday night. I then walked home and ended my outing for the day.
Thanks for reading, if you got this far. Was certainly a long day but other then the annoying passengers on the 22 it was a pretty enjoyable day out today. Tomorrow I'm heading on a Sunday outing to Richmond Market Place to photograph some Dalesbus services. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Matthew
We both seem to attract annoying fellow passengers!
We enjoyed the 1, when we took it, last week. The industrial landscape is so very different from anything else, isn't it? I do love the fact that there's a bird sanctuary in the middle of it all (mostly arctic terns, based on last time we visited)
That Indigo solo is a nice catch.