I've finally been arsed to drag my notebook out of my bag from yesterday's trip:

27141 685 0643 Greenhead to Newcastle Eldon Square Bus Station

Driving it was one of the rather 'rougher' drivers, and one of the weirdest parts of the trip was being launched up onto a pavement at Haltwhistle on a relatively easy corner! (I was sat above the rear wheels)... I was tempted to jump off at Hexham and have something a bit better to ride on (and miss out Throckley) which would've been the 0746 X85 from Hexham but it was too cold and I was relatively warm on the ADL so decided to stay put. Levels of passengers was low (expected on the first of the day) until around Throckley where a few boarded on several stops. At Eldon Square there was around 15 on. What was also rather strange that at Horsley, the driver knocked the engine off - as well as all of the electrics! For about 5 minutes, which isn't an uncommon place to stand for a while especially if you've had a good run from Corbridge along the A69.
Got into Newcastle for around 0815 as we had a relatively good run along West Road in.

4016* 4017 0826 TWM Haymarket to Northumberland Park

After watching 27141 reverse back into one of the layover bays at Eldon Square, I walked up to Haymarket. I had a couple of Pop Tarts for breakfast and by 0820 I was starving so it was pretty tough to walk past a Greggs! However this was all for good reason as I was planning to have a Toby Carvery Breakfast at Shiremoor. I got to the Metro and went down the escalator - nearly at the bottom I heard the door opening sound and ran to platform 1 where a train was standing. My common sense told me to check the screen before boarding (thankfully) as this was an Airport service and I didn't fancy a 6min wait at South Gosforth in the cold. I took a seat and waited in the warmth for 6 minutes for a Coast service to arrive which was 4016 and 4017. Front seats were free too so I grabbed these and relaxed for a while. These Metrocars also had new announcements too which were miles better than that woman's!

I alighted at Northumberland Park after a very good trip up and walked along to the lift (after mentally noting the rear Metrocar number) where I thought I might as well take the lift up to save my legs. Kind of wishing I didn't as it stank of urine and was generally untidy. Got to the top and I knew the Toby wasn't far at all from the Metro station next to a roundabout, but I couldn't see one so started walking. The pavements were lethal; I nearly slipped a few times even walking on the road as it was slush but ice on the bottom! I walked to the bottom of the road and noticed a lovely large and new building with 'Toby' signs on - bingo! I got in, paid at the bar (£5.98 I think plus coffee) and took a seat. Decent songs on in the background and I walked up to the serving tables and got a mountain of grub - bacon, sausages, beans, toast, scrambled eggs and hash browns plus an absolutely gorgeous coffee. It honestly filled me right up!

4046* 4036 0927 TWM Northumberland Park to South Gosforth

After walking back from Toby down to Sainsbury's to pick up some small chocolate brownies for the day, I went back to Northumberland Park (after watching a GNE Omnicity on the 19 for Ashington pass through and stop) and the next Metro came along in 3 minutes. By this time it was absolutely freezing so after the two cars came (around half-full I'd say) I took a seat and opened up my Railway Magazine. This was the time I'd go and get the X40s, hopefully the Scanias on the Great Parks! As I came into South Gosforth, I checked the time of the next Metro for Regent Centre and it was only 3 mins away - you could see it from the platform itself as it stood at Ilford Road. I hopped off (watching a man run down for the Metro as the door alarm sounded but missed it, I sympathised with him as he went for a door which was closed and locked from opening) and went to Platform 1 where the next Metro came along,

4090* 4004 0941 TWM South Gosforth to Regent Centre

This one came along and I took a seat for the one-stop trip to Regent Centre. Journey was uneventful really.

5390 0948? X40 Regent Centre to Great Park to Newcastle John Dobson Street

This Versa turned up next on the X40 as soon as I emerged from another lift bash at Regent Centre (this time it was much nicer and didn't smell of piss!) so I boarded (it was carrying fresh air) up to Great Park to see if any Scanias would pass en-route. The bus was nice and warm as I was sat right in front of the lovely warm air dispenser from the engine. I passed a Volvo B10BLE at the raising bollards before the A1 overbridge near Wideopen and went through to the car parking bus stop before going into Brunton Village where we picked 3 people plus a pram up. What a weird and slightly horrible route going round and round to the car parking bit etc twice! Passed a Purple Versa at the raised bollards again before realising that would be the lot and my hopes of getting a Scania were nearly nil. I stayed on until John Dobson Street where the driver got out and stretched his legs before saying his relief driver should've been there by now. I jumped off, gave my regards to the driver and walked over to Eldon Square, through the shopping centre (it was much warmer in there).

6066 1035? 21 Newcastle Eldon Square to Chester-le-Street Market (Red Lion?)

I was hoping to get a President on the X21 to Chester but the next one was in about 30 minutes. I gave up and went to Stand E where I caught 6066 on the 21 for Chester. This was where I was nearly refused travel with my Explorer! Pretty good ride down even though the batteries weren't working sadly but even so I got to Chester in a decent time. Sorry to Marcus etc but Chester just looks like a right tip now with the utility work they're doing, absolutely vile! I got off and had a walk around (good job I did alight as I hadn't a clue my 21 terminated there anyway!) and went to B&M Bargains to get a couple of bottles of water for my brownies (one of them still lies in my bag unopened!). I took a few photos before deciding where to go next, I was wanting to go on a Lambton Worm as I've still not been on the route or on any of those Versas but 4896 turned up on the 78 so I went on that instead.

4896 1135? 78 Chester-le-Street Market to Sunderland Park Lane Interchange

Good old ride along in a B10BLE (including a couple of chavs who boarded and were just loud and irritating - the type that their presence is enough to annoy you) and I eventually got to Park Lane. I needed the toilet and, remembering Park Lane's were free of charge, I went in. What a dark and miserable place, it was pretty much all dark with a flickering blue light. I was glad to get out and I was going to go to South Shields so I waited for a 20 to turn up. A rather unhealthy sounding Volvo B10BLE showed up so I decided against this and boarded...

27730 1230 E1 Sunderland Park Lane Interchange to South Shields

All was very good for several minutes until we stopped at a bus stop, boarding about 20 people, left and then 20 seconds later stopped for another 20 or so. The bus was now pretty packed and I noticed a Volvo B9TL passing, the top deck was completely empty, on a 20 for Shields. I loved the scenery around Seaburn area though, although this was the best part of the journey!

4023* 4042 1331 TWM South Shields to Haymarket

I walked along the high street at Shields and caught a Metro with a couple of minutes to spare. I took this as far as Haymarket. Pretty uneventful journey apart from the front doors on both sides being isolated so it was pretty funny to watch people go to open them without reading the notice on them and nearly missing the train! I took over front seats from Tyne Dock all the way to Newcastle again. I alighted at Haymarket, headed back up the escalator and my plan was to wait for something decent to show up. Ex-London Volvo B7TL 7490 was stood in the layover stand at the north end of the bus station so it was either waiting for that to be taken into service or waiting for something else coming in. Something else did come in though...

7479 1418 X14 Haymarket to Morpeth Bus Station

...Yes! A DAF DB250RS/Alexander ALX400. I sat right at the back and the kickdowns were pretty impressive as was the general high-speed running to Morpeth. Even better was my next service back to Newcastle sitting at Morpeth as I got in! (I had passed other ALX400s on the 44 and X14 just a few minutes beforehand as well as a Pointer on the 2 also) so I went over to the stand where I noticed the driver just leaving the bus and going elsewhere! He came back eventually, fired up the bus and I boarded.

7530 1453 X15 Morpeth Bus Station to Regent Centre

Another decent run apart from the crap rear wheel arch seats (as previously discussed) took me to Regent Centre where I decided I'd have a trip on the X47 to Newcastle. The bus was relatively quiet so thankfully no plebs about.

4043 4075* 1517 TWM Regent Centre to Kingston Park

Only a couple of stops so I stood most of the way. Again the Metro was rather quiet. I took the lift yet again from concourse to platform level!

22412 1530 X47 Kingston Park to Newcastle New Bridge Street

After jumping off the Metro I saw an X47 going off into the distance. Thankfully I was pleasantly surprised to notice it runs on a 10min frequency. I waited at the bus stop, seeing a pair of Metros pass as well as a Solo SR on the hourly 353 for Four Lane Ends. A man in his 20s with who I assume to be his mam joined the wait and she asked me 'Does this bus go into town' to which I replied 'aye, straight there'. The 353 turned around and went past and she went 'oh shit!' and flagged it down as it passed the stop with a queue of traffic behind. Her son then shouted 'Mam! That's not it!' so she flagged the bus on. Was quite embarrassing to be fair! I got on the bus and sat right at the back. Decent journey with only a handful on at any one time.

27510 1553? 100 Newcastle Pilgrim Street to Metrocentre Interchange

I was walking up New Bridge Street when I noticed a 100 pulling in so I ran around the corner to Pilgrim Street and boarded this, quite a few onboard. Very good trip down to Metrocentre with the falling sun! I noticed a Citaro on the 49 right in front on the stand. Without thinking I boarded this in the hope I'd get a Toonlink back to Newcastle for the 1745 home!

5331 1610? 49 Metrocentre Interchange to Winlaton Bus Station

Good little trip up, albeit slightly tedious going up the banks of Blaydon/Winlaton. As soon as I got to Winlaton I jumped off and was immediately greeted with the freezing wind! I also noticed some yobbos across the road with a football and didn't want to wait for an extra 10 minutes for a 31 back so I got the same Citaro back on the 49B.
5331 1635? 49B Winlaton Bus Station to Metrocentre Interchange

5298 1700? 44 Metrocentre Interchange to Newcastle Eldon Square Bus Station

I noticed a Lolyne on the 46 into Newcastle but as I ran for this I saw the doors close and it pulled away. I walked back for a Citaro on the X66 but that did the same, closed its doors and left. I decided to wait for the next bus in which was Diamond 5298 on a 44 straight into Newcastle. I was getting slightly worried with regards to time now as the roads were pretty busy and emergency vehicles and roadworks on Clayton Street didn't exactly help. Luckily I got back to Eldon Square with a fair bit of time to spare and met up with one of my mates. The inbound 85 was 20 minutes late but got in time for a 5min turnaround before heading back out.

1497 1745 85/685 Newcastle Eldon Square Bus Station to Greenhead

Thankfully this completed my Omnicity-free day! Although now limited to 50mph, this Pulsar was rather gutless but provided a couple of good kickdowns (including a couple as if it was revving straight in Neutral!) and a generally nice journey (barring legroom) back home.


Would do the same again, was a brilliant day out.