(23 Nov 2017, 5:07 pm)mb134 wrote I think the thread has slightly lost its way, in the sense that any working that isn't 100% "correct" is now R&O. For instance, I wouldn't class a generic MAX vehicle allocated to any MAX route as rare, odd, or anything else.

And this is why I've asked the question. The thread has lost its way and, to me anyway, is probably one of the most annoying things about this forum. Fair enough, people can post what they want and I don't have to browse this particular thread (and for the most part I don't!), however I would love to know what constitutes a rare or odd working these days - especially since we've seen just about every conceivable combination of rare and odd allocation of vehicles to routes by Darlington reported in this very thread.  

(23 Nov 2017, 5:10 pm)BusLoverMum wrote And 7474 was sitting in dbs, this afternoon, so I wasn't seeing things, the other day. Anyone know why this has come down from Jesmond?

A valid observation. 7474, in my opinion, is a legitimate 'rare and odd' sighting. Not only is the bus is on-loan from Jesmond, it also contains branding for a set of services outside of the immediate locale as well as being an odd vehicle type for the depot in question.