Adding a reminder about this event, coming up this Sunday.

Sunday 4th September 2016

Vehicles: Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown R855 PRG; Leyland National Mk2/Leyland FTN 710W; Leyland National Mk1/Leyland YFY 4M. 

Pick-Up Times*: Consett Bus Station 12:15; Stanley Bus Station 12:50; Chester-le-Street 13:20; Durham Millburngate 13:50.

Departing from Consett Bus Station just after midday, we head to Chester-le-Street, replicating the 775 route (nowadays 78), with the opportunity to change vehicles at Stanley. A photostop will be undertaken in the coach park of Beamish Museum, and then again at Chester-le-Street town centre. The convoy will head onwards to Durham Millburngate, via the A167, Pity Me and Framwellgate Moor, covering the 21 route. Following a stop at Millburngate and the opportunity to change vehicles, the 765 route will then be replicated back to Consett, with another photostop at Lanchester Village Green. The expected time of return to Consett should be no later than 15:00*. 

After a successful running day last year, which covered Bishop Auckland to Barnard Castle and just about everywhere in between, the Northern National Restoration Group have decided to allow enthusiasts the opportunity to travel on their vehicles once more before the end of the 2016 season. I can definitely vouch that the road run last year was spectacular, just about everyone seemed to have a brilliant time, myself included. One of the key morals at the Northern National Restoration Group is to make all feel welcome on board.

Drivers for the day are scheduled to be: Craig Smith, Ian Robinson, Stephen Foster and Daniel Duffy

Now for the technical stuff...

R855 PRG was new to Chester-le-Street in May 1998 and served with Go North East for 17 years before being withdrawn and sold for preservation. Over the winter, it was restored to it's brand new condition in the iconic Red/Blue/Yellow livery with Easy Access vinyls, before making it's debut on the rally scene at the NEBPT Metrocentre Rally back in May. It's been well received on the whole. Powered by a very prominent ZF 5-speed HP500 gearbox, the engine is mechanically sound and structurally, the body is too. 

FTN 710W is seventeen years older than R855 PRG, and came to the Northern National Restoration Group from the NEBPT in 2013. Since then, it has become a recognisable face at the rallies, and at the age of 35, can still pull like a train. New to Philadelphia depot in 1981, under National Bus Company ownership, the vehicle was withdrawn from the fleet in 2006 after spending it's last few years in the Driver Training fleet. In 1991, it's Leyland 680 engine was altered to a repowered Volvo, and it runs with a Voith gearbox. 

YFY 4M is a Liverpudlian by origin, and is owned by Stephen Foster. A Mk1 Leyland National still running on the original 510 engine it had when new, Steve and YFY 4M have had a journey and a half together to say the least. This is one of two Nationals that Steve owns, and I understand his other one, a Mk2, should be on the rally scene next year, all being well.

* While the times are listed and expected time of return are fairly accurate, given the nature of the routes transversed, no promises can be made with regards to the actual times on the day. It must also be made clear that the route is strictly Consett-Stanley-Chester-le-Street-Durham-Consett, and none of the pick-up points aside from Consett will be returned to. Due to an incident last year, nobody under the age of 16 will be permitted travel unless they're in the company of a responsible adult. 
 
R852 PRG