I found the rally to be a bit drab, if I'm honest. I'm normally out from early doors till right to the end, but I was home with my feet up for the F1, by quarter past 1.

To start with the positives... I thought that the layout was better, splitting the static displays from those going out on shuttle service, seemed to work really well. The buses were all parked on an angle where you could get a photo of them. There was again a number of fantastic preserved buses on show, all which are a credit to their respective owners. Also credit should go to Arriva and Go North East, who again brought a selection of vehicles, with the latter allowing some to operate shuttle services.

Beyond that, there wasn't much to shout about. The list on the NEBPT website of what was attending proved to not be a lot of use, and of course there was no programme available either (someone must see this is a good way of raising funds!). It had been said that shuttles were going out at a 10 min frequency, then a 30 min frequency, and it proved to be a 15 min frequency in reality. Again, no information available, so people were standing around at both ends aimlessly. 

The buses involved in shuttle runs were parked at the top end of the car park, and it became unorganised chaos at the start of the day. Nobody seemed to be taking charge and instructing as to what should be parked where. Although it was later sorted out to an extent, it was still impossible for photos. Buses were parked facing into bushes, which seems to be a bit bizarre for a bus rally.



I'll not go over what's already been said (and I'm sure will continue) here, but it's still screaming out to me that these rallies are dying for an injection of fresh ideas to make these events bigger, and ultimately raise more funds for preservationists and all their hard work. Although I fear that until the closed circles are opened up, it won't happen.