Tuesday 20th December 2016

Yesterday, I embarked on a North East Explorer without any real aims, just to give me the freedom to roam wherever. 

08:26 X25 6140 Chester-le-Street Corals to Newcastle Eldon Square
The day started with an alarm at 07:00, not too painful as it's routine for me to be getting up at that hour during term time. I had decided the previous night to try and catch the 0830 X25 from Chester-le-Street through to Newcastle, then head north from there. Having been out for some night shots the evening before, I observed all of Chester-le-Street's OmniDekkas were out in service, and as the board that the 0830 is attached to is more often than not a double decker, I was hoping for one of the aforementioned buses on it. I was quite happy to see 6140 was my chariot, with one of the drivers I know at the wheel. Nice ride through to Newcastle, although the suspension was shot (which I notice is a persistent issue on Scania N94UDs) and a guy got on at Portobello that absolutely reeked to high heaven of stale urine. As I was getting off, I had a brief conversation with the driver as he was curious about the orders list. 

09:32 X21 7528 Newcastle Haymarket to Regent Centre Metro
I got some photographs at the bottom of Prudhoe Place for about five minutes (reminder: I do not care if it is a bus station shot or not. I think if the quality is good, the photo is good), before heading across to Haymarket. The time by this point was 0925, and I noticed that an X16 was due to depart at 0948. I had enough time to catch something else up to Regent Centre and go from there, so opted for a Sapphire X21. The driver pulled into the stand, turned the bus off and got off to have a cigarette, chatting to another Arriva driver on the X14. Now, it might just be me, but if there is a queue waiting to board, maybe let them get on first before you have a cigarette and make us stand in the cold? Just a suggestion. In true fashion, the plug sockets and WiFi did not work. Aside from that, it wasn't that bad a journey, the Enviro400s are quite entertaining at higher speeds.

09:59 X16 1408 Regent Centre Metro to Morpeth Bus Station
During my ride up to Regent Centre, the sun seemed to emerge from behind the clouds and cast its rays upon Gosforth. My intention had been to utilise my fifteen minutes or so here for photos, but the poor sun pretty much prevented this. While the sun may shine with a harsh glare during the winter months, it doesn't eliminate the harsh cold. Following a near hypothermia-inducing wait at Regent Centre, 1408 finally arrived with the X16 for Morpeth. This was probably one of the better rides of the day; I am a fan, like many others for that matter, of the 09-plate VDL Pulsars. They have an abundance of power and are very responsive vehicles when compared to Pulsars that have been plagued with 'EcoNoSpeed', which, from what I have heard, has more negative impacts than positive in the long run. After a spirited run up to Morpeth, I disembarked into the cold bus station.

10:41 43 2870 Morpeth Bus Station to Cramlington Manor Walks
This one came as quite a surprise. I was expecting an ALX300 or ALX400, or perhaps a B7TL Gemini, but a Nexus Solo was the last thing I expected! The driver was an unbelievably miserable man; failed to make any exchange with passengers, not even a thank you, and challenged a woman at Bedlington over something so ridiculous I can't remember what it was. 2870 wasn't a bad little machine, quite quick off the mark and the seating was comfortable enough. The best thing about this journey, in my opinion, was the nice views between Morpeth and Bedlington. Some of the country lane running was quite scenic, with passenger numbers remaining low until Bedlington, where most of those who had just boarded alighted only a few stops later. My makeshift plan was to alight at Cramlington and then connect onto a Go North East 42 towards Killingworth, then carry on from there.

11:29 42 625 Cramlington Manor Walks to Killingworth Bus Station
After a longer wait than anticipated at Cramlington, I finally saw an indiGo Solo approaching. It had an orange LED destination, which indicated it was one of the older examples that joined the Percy Main fleet a few months ago during service changes. As it soared past me, with the driver clearly eager to make up for lost time (by now, running well over five minutes late), I identified it as 625, which previously saw use on the low-cost unit local services in Whitley Bay that have since been tendered to Phoenix Coaches, and was new to Saltmeadows Road in the summer of 2011. This one was a winner for haulage, and was certainly quite agile, which is something I find present in a lot of the Solo SRs. Passenger numbers were quite decent, with about half of the seats occupied by the time we reached Killingworth, where I chose to alight in favour of something else.

11:49 54 7474 Killingworth Bus Station to North Shields, Nile Street
Absent from its 'branded' route of the 43/44/45, I was surprised to see DAF DB250RS/Alexander ALX400 coming into the bus station with the 53 I was intending to catch to North Shields. The driver was quite a happy chap; a far cry from the misery in the cab of 2870. Rather than sit downstairs, as usual, I decided to head upstairs and claim the front seats above the driver. Another passenger occupied the upper deck, bearing an Asda uniform, presumably on his way to work or having finished his shift. I couldn't believe just how powerful 7474 was, I have always been of the opinion that the DAF ALX400s are animals of machines, but this one really did affirm that judgement. The tremendous roar of the DAF engine whenever the driver placed the slightest bit of pressure on the accelerator was hard to believe. It was quite a shame to get off, I could have happily done the return journey, but I had other plans...

12:36 1 5270 North Shields, West Percy Street to Wallsend The Forum
As a rare user of the Coaster service, I decided that, as it was a convenient connection time, I'd catch the 1239 service from North Shields, towards Wrekenton, and jump ship at some point along the route. Luckily, it was waiting time, so I crossed the road and boarded, taking a seat at the rear next to the emergency exit door. Heating was on so the bus was nice and warm, which was welcomed following just a few minutes in the freezing North Shields. Out of habit, I inspected one of the tickets and noticed that, through the duty number, the driver was on an early shift (104), and hypothesised to myself that he would be relieved at Percy Main by another driver, which was correct, he was replaced by a much older guy. I decided that I would bail at Wallsend and make my way down to the bus station, before catching an 18 to Walker and a 39 to Newcastle from there. 

13:33 18 22343 Wallsend Metro Interchange to Walker Bus Terminus
Made my way to the bus station from the High Street, noticing how quiet the activity was. A few indiGo Solos passed through and I managed to get some photos, as well as 4899 on the Q3, although the low winter sun was a bit of a pain. With Santa Claus at the helm, I saw a 55-reg ALX300 coming in on the 18, so I headed to stand C to board it. I am a fan of the Stagecoach ALX300s; the half-German (MAN) and half-Scottish (Alexander) collaboration ensuring hundreds of them taking places in the uniformed Stagecoach fleet all over the country, although their time is slowly coming to an end. While I think some of the older examples in the region, the 03/53-plates, are the better ones, at least the stylish bodywork will live on for a few more years, courtesy of the younger examples, such as 22341-22348 and 22408-22413. I alighted at Walker and put £1 in the charity donation bucket on the dashboard.

13:55 39 12069 Walker Bus Terminus to Newcastle Blackett Street
From my ten minutes at Walker, I was able to establish that this desolate dump is not a place I intend to return to for some time. Perhaps I was just in the wrong part of it, and the rest of Walker doesn't look like the target of carpet bombing, but the impression I obtained of the place was one of a post-apocalyptic world, covered by a thick fog that conceals the residents from view in the darker hours and allows them to go about their business undetected. I was more than happy to see two Enviro400 Hybrids turn up together, with 12069 being the one to take me back to the city centre while the other made use of the layover bay. One of the aspects of the E400Hs that I really do admire is how quickly they get up to speed. I believe they top out at around 40mph (free to correct if mistaken), but it doesn't take them long at all to get there. Alighted on Blackett Street and made my way towards Market Street.

14:45 1 5267 Newcastle Pilgrim Street to Low Fell Ale Taster
Following some calculations in my head, I realised that if I caught the 1430 service 1 from Pilgrim Street towards Wrekenton, and alighted at Low Fell, I could then connect onto the 69 service, in hopes of a Volvo B10BLE. It was quite apparent that there was some traffic congestion in the city centre, and after waiting for a considerable time, I was most pleased to see a Coaster Omnicity eventually round the corner onto Pilgrim Street. 5267 was my steed for this journey; quite quiet in passenger numbers, with about ten other people boarding on Pilgrim Street. With the 69 due at Low Fell at 1513, I was a bit unsure if I would make the connection, as 5267 was fifteen minutes down. However, after leaving Gateshead, the driver thrashed it along Durham Road and managed to make up enough time to reach Low Fell at 1505, having made up five minutes since leaving Newcastle.

15:19 69 4900 Low Fell Ale Taster to Blaydon Bus Station
Woop! Although running over five minutes late, I was greeted with the sight of a Volvo B10BLE. Easily, this journey was the highlight of the day. 4900 was for many years a ''Lime'' vehicle, operated by Stanley depot for most of its life, on the Consett/Stanley to Sunderland services, which have been in several guises since its introduction to the fleet but are now numbered 8/8A/78/78A. Having heard reports that, these days, it produces a strange noise when accelerating, I was intrigued to find out what it was like for myself. It's very much a whining noise not too dissimilar to that of a Voith gearbox during take-off. After consulting an engineering friend of mine who is an expert in the Volvo B10BLE, he determined it was a result of the turbo ring blowing on the joint to the intercooler, likely the result of the turbo turning slightly. Aside from that, it was generally as sweet as a nut as far as older buses go these days.

16:00 49 4933 Blaydon Bus Station to Metrocentre Interchange
Once 4900 reached Blaydon, I decided to disembark here and work my way back to Newcastle via the Metrocentre, catching a 49 there and then a Stagecoach 100 to Blackett Street. While I was hoping for a Mercedes Citaro on the 49, as I have very few of them ticked off in the book (self-confessed saddo over here), I was instead faced with the sight of Y-reg Scania L94UB 4933. As I have a fondness for some of the Solars, and 4933 is a 'winner', I decided to go with it. Fantastic machine. The heating modifications proved themselves to be beneficial, as I was warmed up more or less instantly upon boarding, having effectively frozen to death outside. Mechanically, the bus was sound. Very responsive whenever the driver touched on the accelerator, and it got up to speed comparatively quickly to the Stagecoach Enviro400H earlier in the day on the 39. Alongside 4929, 4935 and 5217, this is now one of my favourites. 

16:14 100 27508 Metrocentre Interchange to Newcastle Blackett Street
I alighted at the Metrocentre and made my way down to the departure stand for 100. One of the Scottish Enviro300s was waiting to depart, but it was packed like a tin of sardines. Decided to let it go and wait for the next one. I noticed 27508 and two ALX300s, both 54-plates, were sat over in the layovers with what looked like a supervisor present. Seems like the heavy passenger traffic on the 100 had warranted some management at the Metrocentre. I was quite pleased to have 27508 as my vehicle to Newcastle, as it could likely be the last time I have one of the 05-plates on the 100. During the journey, I was reminded of just how powerful they are when not carrying a full load, as it was thrashed down the motorway with about one-third of the bus full. 

16:45 X21 6019 Newcastle Eldon Square to Chester-le-Street Front Street
Waited on Blackett Street until about 1635, after giving it five minutes and seeing no activity at all, which was surprising given the time of day, I decided to just head into Eldon Square for the bus home. It was pitch black by now, and I must admit I love the atmosphere of the dark. As the 1650 X21 off Eldon Square isn't Crook-operated, but a miscellaneous car working operated by Chester-le-Street, I looked for one of our own. Volvo B7TL 6019 was sat in the layover bays, so astutely assumed this was to be my final vehicle of the day. As it turned out, I was correct. Had one of the 4-day rota drivers that used to regularly take me to school on the 21 driving; he seemed to recognise me but we didn't exchange more than friendly smiles. Following a spirited journey along Durham Road, I alighted at the Red Lion and got a quick night shot, getting a nod from the driver as he pulled away. To be honest, I was surprised he was smiling at all customers. The poor guy has been at Chester since 1997. 

Overall, an enjoyable outing that didn't piece together too badly in the end. Will be doing another one next week. I got a quick video of 4900 storming up Lobley Hill Bank, a link is attached below. If anybody wonders who disliked it, I'd hazard a guess at it being a former forum troll.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beDPh7M28e8

As I doubt I will be out again between now and Christmas, I would like to wish all who read my reviews a happy Christmas.

R852 PRG