I had decided last night that I would go out for a short trip somewhere today, rather than do nothing in the house. My alarm was set for 09:00, but as most teenagers do, I managed to sleep through it. I eventually came to open my eyes just after eleven, which I was disappointed about. However, adamant to make a day of the hours I had left, I decided to get the 11:50 #36 to Houghton-le-Spring and go from there. I was out of the house by 11:35, fully prepared for a brief day out with my camera charged.
#36 - Chester-le-Street Durham County Cricket Ground to Houghton-le-Spring Church - (11:51 --- 12:13) - Go North East 5303 - Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro
Ahh.... A Mercedes Citaro! I've never really seen their appeal. Dark inside, awkward seating, the only thing I really like is the noise of the Mercedes engine, and the noise the bell makes when it's pressed haha. Back on a serious note, I just don't like Citaros... I'd rather have one of the regular Solars that Deptford allocate on a daily basis due to shortages of the Mercs (I imagine VORs, etc.) over one of these! The only ones I can stand, I've said this many times before, are the ones Washington have for the 4; still in fine condition, for what is a popular route.
Not many people on; around 10 when I boarded. Took my seat towards the rear, next to the emergency exit thingy. We passed through Great Lumley, Fencehouses, etc. and got to Houghton-le-Spring on time. Growing less keen on this route each time I use it...think I'll stick to the magnificent B10s all the way through to Sunderland in the future. I just can't stand the Mercs, it's a great start to the day when another vehicle type turns up! Anyway, moving out of the negativity ring, when I got to Houghton-le-Spring, I was pleased when just minutes after my 36 moved on for Town End Farm, a Prince Bishops Solar came into view.
#20A - Houghton-le-Spring Church to Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange - (12:16 --- 12:39) - Go North East 4971 - Scania L94UB/Wright Solar
Looked like a half load was on board, so I joined the queue to board. When we left, we were quite full as around a dozen people had hopped on in Houghton-le-Spring. I've always loved the engine noise of these Solar, they sound somewhat like a DAF. Don't know if it's just me, but the examples on the Loop seem to have a much more DAF-sounding engine that the others. I'm just waffling on for the sake of it now...haha. People hopped on and off throughout the ride to Sunderland, and 4971 had me relatively hate-free.
For some reason, I was after a ride on the Drifter to Seaham, seeing as Streetlites are entering service imminently on my local route. As I was walking across, I just happened to look back and notice a Fab56-branded decker arriving on the X35, heading to Hartlepool.
#X35 - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange to Houghton-le-Spring Church - (12:46 --- 13:10) - Go North East 6090 - Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2
I had never used the X35 before, despite using the X36. Unsure if it was stopping at Houghton-le-Spring (having read something along those lines before, and never spending enough time in Houghton-le-Spring to see an X35 pass through), I asked the driver and he confirmed. Luckily the seats upstairs on the left-hand side were still available, which I was most satisfied about. A very pleasant journey back to Houghton-le-Spring, accompanied with the free WiFi. It must be said, that the B9TL engine is a great sounding machine. You would think with this B9 doing Newcastle-Sunderland day-in, day-out, they could possibly be destroyed by now; but my ride on this proved otherwise!
There was a pretty big queue waiting to board in Houghton-le-Spring, but across the road there were very few people waiting, so I took the opportunity to take a photograph. Knowing my 36 back home was due any minute, I was relieved to see a red Solar appear, and not a gold Citaro!
#36 - Houghton-le-Spring Church to Chester-le-Street Durham County Cricket Ground - (13:13 --- 13:33) - Go North East 4937 - Scania L94UB/Wright Solar
No more than half a dozen folk on when I joined this journey, and a man who had sat near me upstairs on 6090 was also on. I've seen him a few times on the 36, I'm guessing he's a regular. A pleasant journey behind this Scania, with a nice engine sound too. Much better than the Mercedes I had earlier today!!
An elderly woman with two grandchildren (I'm guessing, haha) boarded in Great Lumley, heading for Chester-le-Street Park (aka - my local stop). They pressed the bell a stop too soon, and the driver pulled into the stop just before it, on that awkward bend. Can't blame her, but the driver was very nice about it and explained it had happened a few times before. As I walked down the aisle, I told her I'd made that mistaken before, to which she laughed and said she wasn't a regular bus user. Good day out, dropped in at my grandma's briefly before walking back to my house. Didn't use the Get Around to it's full potential, in terms of the amount of journeys I made; but like with Saturday's Explorer, I certainly got what I needed out of it.
Marcus