Today on the 317 on the same journey from Whitley Bay to Wallsend - 8342 broke down at Rake Lane, which was then replaced by 6112, which then broke down at Howdon, and was replaced by 6101, and then passengers transferred onto 8344 on the bus behind so the return journey on 6101 could start on time.
I doubt anyone would make that journey, but if you travelled on the full route from Whitley Bay to Wallsend you would have ended up on 4 different buses...
RE: Go North East - State of the Fleet