(05 Aug 2013, 1:02 pm)Michael wrote(05 Aug 2013, 12:56 pm)AdamY wrote(05 Aug 2013, 12:28 pm)Andreos1 wrote Yeah, the stops on Harlow Green Lane were once served by *drum roll, cos it hasn't been mentioned for a while*..... the mighty 638!
Apart from scholars/works services - not sure if anything else has served it more recently.
If I recall correctly, it used to struggle to get up that hill.
The 638 really deserves a thread to itself. I don't think there was any other service quite like it and I doubt we will ever see anything of its kind again.
It was one of their longest routes and we defiantly won't see a route like it again.
Does anyone remember when it was diverted down Grindon Lane and along Summerset road - Springwell Road when it joined its route at the Broadway- only on Sundays - it was ran by a Solo on a Sunday to.
Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to travel on the Sunderland/Southern part of its Sunday route. In Gateshead, it ran between Blaydon Rugby Club and Ryton on a Sunday. Apparently, you could board the bus at the stop outside the Highlander at Swalwell (where it turned around), however, there was no information indicating that you could do this. After Derwent introduced its Cross Country service, I think the Sunday service was withdrawn between Swalwell and Ryton.