#50 - Chester-le-Street Front Street to Washington, The Galleries - (10:49 --- 11:06) - 4926 - Scania L94UA/Wright Solar
--- Very smooth, with a nice friendly driver. I hadn't been on any of the 4926-31 batch in a while, so it made a nice change. Would have preferred 4934 or 4935 though, as I've yet to ride either. ---
Hovered around the bus station for a short while, and noticed 6055 pull in on the X1 (Newcastle-bound), absolutely packed. I was contemplating waiting for another X1 to come, and I was lucky as 6050 appeared behind, with about half a dozen people on. The huge queue abandoned 6055 for 6050 - me being one of them.
#X1 - Washington, The Galleries to Gateshead Transport Interchange - (11:13 --- 11:38) - 6050
- Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2
--- Nice and quiet when we left, about twelve seats free downstairs and around the same upstairs. However, when we got to Wrekenton, I'd say at least twenty people got on. When we got to Gateshead, I hopped off. Overall I was pleased, as I rarely use the X1, and may start doing so ---
#49 - Gateshead Transport Interchange to intu MetroCentre Interchange - (11:46 --- 12:10) - 5282 - Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro
--- Only about ten people on, so nice and peaceful in contrast to my ride on 6050. Enjoyed it. ---
Went up to the WHSmiths located just outside the bus station at the MetroCentre, and got my mam a copy of Women's Own, and my dad the first football mag I saw.
#X43 - intu MetroCentre Interchange to Stanley Bus Station - (12:35 --- 13:01) - 4904 - Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown
--- I absolutely love the route of the X43 - dare I say one of the most beautiful routes GNE operate? Slightly irritated that it wasn't an Olympian, as when we got to Stanley I saw all but one of their Olys parked up doing nothing. Nonetheless, it was a nice journey, and another B10BLE ticked off my list. ---
#8 - Stanley Bus Station to Chester-le-Street South Burns - (13:11 --- 13:36) - 4855 - Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown
--- I was absolutely thrilled to see a green vehicle coming into the bus station at 13:09. When I realised it was on a Sunderland-bound #8, I felt my legs go. Loved every second of the quiet ride. Only about 7 or 8 people throughout the whole of the journey. ---
#21 - Chester-le-Street South Burns to Chester-le-Street Clifford Terrace - (13:54 --- 13:57) - 6065 - Volvo B5HL/Wright Gemini 2
--- So relieved when this showed up - I had a t-shirt, a hoody and a superdry coat on yet I was still freezing. Made a decent journey. Not much you can say about it. ---
Overall, I'd give the day 7/10. I copped 2 B10BLEs, rare workings on the 50 and X43, and managed another journey on the X1. No Olympian on the X43 and Tom not showing up lost it 3 points.
Marcus