0910 Bishop Auckland (Northern 156479)
1004 X21 Chester-le-Street (GNE 6050)
1109 21 Birtley, Windsor Road (GNE 6316)
1149 X12 Eldon Square, Newcastle (ANE 7493)
1330(ish) 53 Newcastle (GNE 9070)
1453 X16 Morpeth Bus Station (ANE 1411)
1535ish X14 Haymarket, Newcastle (ANE 4653)
1630 X24 Fawcett Street, Sunderland (SNE 28012)
1756 61 Murton, Dalton Park Outlet (GNE 5485)
1852 X6 Peterlee Bus Station (GNE 5209)
1938 X21 Newton Aycliffe (ANE 5209)
Started the day with a quick bash to Bishop on the train as I had some photo targets there and the train is more than three times faster than the painful slog that is the 5A, this was my first rail journey since March although occasionally swung by the rail station for pics during lockdown (social distancing adhered to).
Took 6050 across to Chester which although more comfortable than the allocated StreetDecks IMO, the Red Arrows batch of B9s are showing their age a bit now, performance wise. I has a short bash to Birtley on 6316 to snap Cathedral Bus Solo SRs on service 23 before Belmont allocation roulette chucked up 7493 on the X12 to Newcastle which was not the finest example but much more fun than the modern kit around now.
Quick snapping session and my first trip to Five Guys since about Christmas I then sampled the MetroCity demonstrator, I always like checking out these alternative energy buses although this wasn't the greatest it has to be said, felt a bit down on power at times supposed something to do with issues with the batteries, think I preferred the Yutong although others weren't fond of it for some reason.
More pics and a quick trip across to Morpeth to see what Rural Link (PCL) had out which was an MPD and aimed VW Bluebird type thing, I've noticed on 1411 a few times it has a route map suggesting that the service runs via Stannington and other places it doesn't observe but also has a map without Stannington on as well, perhaps an idea that never came to fruition? Omnicity 4653 took be back to Newcastle which was making some unhealthy sounding noises.
Had a quick trip across to Sunderland on the X24 which was rather busy, the driver took the service towards Washington to reach the A19 presumably to dodge the works at Testos.
After some pics in Sunderland I started to slowly head home taking in Dalton Park on 5485 with a case of mix and match seating moquette. Resisted the temptation of Lowlander 7456 on the 23 to Sunderland to catch 5209 on the X6 to Peterlee which became my last ride on a Solar with GNE, this one felt a bit flat on the A19 but otherwise a nice ride. After a bit of a wait at Peterlee I boarded the deserted X21 home.
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