(02 Apr 2018, 10:18 am)MurdnunoC wrote Rather ironically, this route more or less existed back in 1986/87.
After de-reg, the 51/52 were merged into the new 67/68 which also absorbed the 'Dunston Circular' section of the 58/59 (in the later years, the 64/65), and extended to Metrocentre. After a few years, the 67/68 was split back into the 51/52 and the 64/65.
Didn't the 648/649 do a similar route? Same sort of period too.
Off memory, the Eastern Gateshead section saw it come off Old Fold and down Old Durham Road to Gateshead and then pretty much the same route as the 49 towards the western side.
Quite a few cross Gateshead routes. 638/639, the ones you mentioned above, 527 to an extent. Sure there will be a couple more too.