1472 on 23: https://www.flickr.com/photos/16042610@N...ateposted/

Sapphire 7518 on 35A.

(06 Jun 2015, 2:08 pm)Jimmi wrote Sapphire 7518 on 35A.

MAX 7511 on 35.

While 7515/7 were on the X15, and 7521 was on the X18, either 7511 or 7512 was sitting in Rothbury Motors depot, at roughly 10 this morning 

308 branded Gemini on service X10.

Arriva North East: 7518 / NK09 FNE by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 7511 / NK57 GXD by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr

theres a captains tale branded pulsar on service 24, terminating at Peterlee bus station at 9pm, must be doing the 21:29 service 22 from Peterlee to Sunderland.

21/X21 branded EcoCity 4814 on 1B.

2853 on 26A/X66.

About to leave Darlington on 26A now.

7523 on a "Bingo Bus", I saw it in Amble at around 17.45

(07 Jun 2015, 5:12 pm)mb134 wrote 7523 on a "Bingo Bus", I saw it in Amble at around 17.45

It isn't rare - it doesn't have a set working. AN20 is allocated whatever is on standby, as the services start to reduce there's no need for standbys to be in the bus station.

(07 Jun 2015, 2:12 pm)Jimmi wrote 21/X21 branded EcoCity 4814 on 1B.

I think since theyve had the Hanover screens fitted, 12,13 & 14 are used just as normal EcoCitys.

(07 Jun 2015, 6:53 pm)MrPottski wrote I think since theyve had the Hanover screens fitted, 12,13 & 14 are used just as normal EcoCitys.

Seems like it, whilst 4814 was on the 1B the 21 had 4811 which is fine as this should be on the 21 as it has WiFi for this service and another 13 reg example was on too (4809 I think) which doesn't have WiFi.

They really should be keeping the same 4 examples on the 21 everyday of the week as 4811-4814 have WiFi (unsure if 4813 has gained it since I last rode it) and 4812-4814 are branded so putting them on a different route is silly.

Also seem to struggle with 26A/X66 allocations on Sundays, spare 1416 was on along with 2853.

(06 Jun 2015, 8:01 pm)Jimmi wrote Arriva North East: 7511 / NK57 GXD by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr

Looks like the driver is also a rare working, if that's a Sapphire uniform I spot!

(07 Jun 2015, 7:03 pm)aureolin wrote Looks like the driver is also a rare working, if that's a Sapphire uniform I spot!

Sapphire drivers do also appear on other services... especially at Ashington as all of their drivers work on Sapphire as the X21/X22 makes up a huge proportion of their main rota (or at least did when X15/X18 were split off). I know my rota does work on 9/27/27A, 17/17A/17B, 28 and 29 etc

(07 Jun 2015, 7:03 pm)aureolin wrote Looks like the driver is also a rare working, if that's a Sapphire uniform I spot!

The X12 that pulled into Chester-le-Street for Newcastle at 16:09 yesterday also had a ''Sapphire'' driver at the wheel. Struck me as quite odd, I assume he was picking up overtime? I wouldn't have given it a second thought had I not spotted the ''Sapphire'' writing on the upper part of his shirt.

(07 Jun 2015, 7:03 pm)aureolin wrote Looks like the driver is also a rare working, if that's a Sapphire uniform I spot!

Not sure about up in Ashington but most Sapphire drivers at other depots do other services as well as Sapphire services, for example Darlington drivers can pop up on the likes of the 4 and sometimes the X66. Saw a Sapphire driver on the 64 (the one I complained about last weekend) and have seen them on other services in Durham as well. Presume it's the same down on Teesside and up in Ashington.

(07 Jun 2015, 7:08 pm)Jimmi wrote Not sure about up in Ashington but most Sapphire drivers at other depots do other services as well as Sapphire services, for example Darlington drivers can pop up on the likes of the 4 and sometimes the X66. Saw a Sapphire driver on the 64 (the one I complained about last weekend) and have seen them on other services in Durham as well. Presume it's the same down on Teesside and up in Ashington.

Yes for example my first shift back next Tuesday (still got another week off  ) is 0515-1200 where I work on service 5 from 0515 (0610 ex Easington, 0715 ex Mbro, 0844 ex Easington) til 0958 then go onto a 28 at 1045 and finish when I get back at 1155. Quality shift

(07 Jun 2015, 7:15 pm)tyresmoke wrote Yes for example my first shift back next Tuesday (still got another week off  ) is 0515-1200 where I work on service 5 from 0515 (0610 ex Easington, 0715 ex Mbro, 0844 ex Easington) til 0958 then go onto a 28 at 1045 and finish when I get back at 1155. Quality shift

Much better when that shift didn't finish until 1455 with a 4 hour stint on 17s  (1100 to Kingsmead, 1330 to Ingleby Barwick) in my opinion  (not bitter - I'm working that day, finish at 1300 but doesn't start til 0800).

(07 Jun 2015, 6:39 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote It isn't rare - it doesn't have a set working. AN20 is allocated whatever is on standby, as the services start to reduce there's no need for standbys to be in the bus station.

Would still class it as rare though surely, an X21/22 branded Enviro on a contract (?), surely a standard Arriva vehicle should be operating it. 

(07 Jun 2015, 7:20 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Much better when that shift didn't finish until 1455 with a 4 hour stint on 17s  (1100 to Kingsmead, 1330 to Ingleby Barwick) in my opinion  (not bitter - I'm working that day, finish at 1300 but doesn't start til 0800).

A decent rota steward who knows what he's doing

(07 Jun 2015, 7:27 pm)mb134 wrote Would still class it as rare though surely, an X21/22 branded Enviro on a contract (?), surely a standard Arriva vehicle should be operating it. 

This is Ashington we're talking about...

(07 Jun 2015, 7:31 pm)tyresmoke wrote A decent rota steward who knows what he's doing  


This is Ashington we're talking about...

True  

I was quite disappointed 7518 didn't turn up on my X18, as I needed to charge my phone, unbelievably 7533 turned up, an X18 E400, on the X18!! Absolute beast like  

(07 Jun 2015, 7:00 pm)Jimmi wrote Seems like it, whilst 4814 was on the 1B the 21 had 4811 which is fine as this should be on the 21 as it has WiFi for this service and another 13 reg example was on too (4809 I think) which doesn't have WiFi.

They really should be keeping the same 4 examples on the 21 everyday of the week as 4811-4814 have WiFi (unsure if 4813 has gained it since I last rode it) and 4812-4814 are branded so putting them on a different route is silly.

Also seem to struggle with 26A/X66 allocations on Sundays, spare 1416 was on along with 2853.

4809 seems to haunt me, every time I have a 2, I get it. The doors are a pain, they take ages to shut since it was repaired, plus you can spot it a mile off since the light green on the livery is a completely different shade to the rest. 4814 would be brilliant on the 1B, best EcoCity in the fleet. 1416 does normally get a run out on a Sunday, plus it beats driving a Scania around!

1420/21 on the 56/57/57A

1905 on 7

Sapphire 1517 on 23.

Nexus branded 2802 on 43's

(08 Jun 2015, 8:36 am)Jimmi wrote Sapphire 1517 on 23.

Arriva North East: 1517 / NL63 VRN by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr

1415 joins 1420/21 as the 3rd Pulsar on the 56/57/57A today.

Without trying to recycle an old argument, it's perhaps a lot more confusing when a MAX X12 branded Pulsar, is working another route, that runs parallel with the X12 for 6 miles...

(08 Jun 2015, 4:53 pm)aureolin wrote 1415 joins 1420/21 as the 3rd Pulsar on the 56/57/57A today.

Without trying to recycle an old argument, it's perhaps a lot more confusing when a MAX X12 branded Pulsar, is working another route, that runs parallel with the X12 for 6 miles...

You think that's bad, Sapphire spare 1517 has been on the 23 today which follows almost all of the 24 route between Hartlepool and Peterlee then follows much of the 22 route to Sunderland.

Spare StreetLite 1595 was on the 22.