(10 Jul 2013, 12:23 pm)Andreos1 wrote It also seems to go against the grain regarding theories about 'brand loyalty', rather than loyalty (or familiarity/affinity) towards a number or particular route.

It would also extend that to the type of bus operated on each route. I'm not familiar with what buses operated on the 194, so I'm unable to comment whether that type of bus was staple on that route. However, in Blaydon/Winlaton, the 631/632/633 was almost always an Altantean; the 648/649 a MCW Metrobus; and the 638/641 a single deckered National. United buses operating through Blaydon were usually either Bristols or ECW Leylands (or something - I'm not really that familiar with the names of specific models). Passengers could probably identify their bus by the uniqueness of its shape or sound.

Today, in my opinion, buses look and sound more or less the same. I doubt the vast amount of passengers would be able to tell the difference between models.