Happy New Year!

I don't ever remember the M1 going to Newcastle?


https://www.flickr.com/photos/55509539@N05/24056232476/ - this is from 2009

(01 Jan 2016, 4:43 pm)Michael wrote I don't ever remember the M1 going to Newcastle?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/55509539@N05/24056232476/ - this is from 2009

I think it was for Boxing Day only?

(01 Jan 2016, 5:19 pm)BJ10VUS wrote I think it was for Boxing Day only?

Possibly to try and maintain a link between Washington and Newcastle, if the X1 wasn't in operation?

(01 Jan 2016, 5:19 pm)BJ10VUS wrote I think it was for Boxing Day only?

Not sure, the photo says it was took on January 1, 2009 - although the date could be wrong.

(01 Jan 2016, 4:43 pm)Michael wrote I don't ever remember the M1 going to Newcastle?


https://www.flickr.com/photos/55509539@N05/24056232476/ - this is from 2009

(01 Jan 2016, 5:19 pm)BJ10VUS wrote I think it was for Boxing Day only?

Boxing Day service iirc. It was before the M1 route was changed to what the 4 is now. 

I don't think 4937 has ever been a Washington bus either.

(01 Jan 2016, 5:36 pm)Adrian wrote Boxing Day service iirc. It was before the M1 route was changed to what the 4 is now. 

I don't think 4937 has ever been a Washington bus either.

Here is a photograph of the M1 (heading to Easington Lane) on Boxing Day 2008, again in the hands of 4937: https://www.flickr.com/photos/emdjt42/43...7ap-nc97kA

Is it possible it was operated by Deptford, given that it later spent a number of years there, branded as ''Fab56''?

(01 Jan 2016, 5:36 pm)Adrian wrote Boxing Day service iirc. It was before the M1 route was changed to what the 4 is now. 

I don't think 4937 has ever been a Washington bus either.

Seems a long time since it was changed to the 4...... its flew over.

(01 Jan 2016, 5:36 pm)Adrian wrote I don't think 4937 has ever been a Washington bus either.

Wasn't last boxing day the first ever time Washington (And Stanley) had operated their services? I'm pretty sure Depford used to operate all of Washington's service on boxing day. I know for sure the X1 used to be allocated Prince Bishops Solars, then in 2014 it was allocated Fab 57 B9 (as well as 6099 & 6100) so maybe that might be why?

(01 Jan 2016, 5:41 pm)Davie wrote Wasn't last boxing day the first ever time Washington (And Stanley) had operated their services? I'm pretty sure Depford used to operate all of Washington's service on boxing day. I know for sure the X1 used to be allocated Prince Bishops Solars, then in 2014 it was allocated Fab 57 B9 (as well as 6099 & 6100) so maybe that might be why?

In 2014, the X1 was operated with Deptford-based B9TLs but driven by Washington drivers I believe.

(01 Jan 2016, 5:44 pm)R852 PRG wrote In 2014, the X1 was operated with Deptford-based B9TLs but driven by Washington drivers I believe.

Washington drivers may have volunteered to work out of Deptford Depot that day - certainly wasn't just Washington drivers though.

(01 Jan 2016, 5:55 pm)Dan wrote Washington drivers may have volunteered to work out of Deptford Depot that day - certainly wasn't just Washington drivers though.

Guessing something similar has happened in the past when Chester-le-Street has operated Stanley's services, with Stanley drivers offering to work out of Chester-le-Street depot?

Out of interest, is anybody aware of whether or not some special services operated today? I remember the Jewish scholars services that Riverside do operated on New Year's Day last year, using Riverside's Olympians, and then I seem to recall the X40 was in operation with a reduced PVR, and using some ''TEN'' B9TLs. Does anybody know if anything similar has happened today?

(01 Jan 2016, 6:17 pm)R852 PRG wrote Out of interest, is anybody aware of whether or not some special services operated today? I remember the Jewish scholars services that Riverside do operated on New Year's Day last year, using Riverside's Olympians, and then I seem to recall the X40 was in operation with a reduced PVR, and using some ''TEN'' B9TLs. Does anybody know if anything similar has happened today?

The X40 service only operated last year because NUFC were playing at home.

I don't think the 850/851 scholars services operated today, but at least three National Express coaches were travelling up and down the country today.

Something that has always seemed to puzzle me is that some of the ''Tyne Tees Express'' B9TLs have red leather headrests on the seating, and some don't. Anybody know why this is?

(01 Jan 2016, 7:26 pm)R852 PRG wrote Something that has always seemed to puzzle me is that some of the ''Tyne Tees Express'' B9TLs have red leather headrests on the seating, and some don't. Anybody know why this is?

6056 - 6083 also have them.

(01 Jan 2016, 7:51 pm)Davie wrote 6056 - 6083 also have them.

That's common knowledge. I'm asking as to why some of the batch that are allocated to the X9/X10 (6043-6048) have the red leather headrests, and some don't. I think the first three (6043-6045) do and the last three (6046-6048) don't, based on my observations, and I'm curious as to why there is an inconsistency.

(01 Jan 2016, 8:12 pm)R852 PRG wrote That's common knowledge. I'm asking as to why some of the batch that are allocated to the X9/X10 (6043-6048) have the red leather headrests, and some don't. I think the first three (6043-6045) do and the last three (6046-6048) don't, based on my observations, and I'm curious as to why there is an inconsistency.

Maybe they did but then got removed?

(01 Jan 2016, 8:14 pm)Davie wrote Maybe they did but then got removed?

The original question still remains why though.

(01 Jan 2016, 8:14 pm)Davie wrote Maybe they did but then got removed?

A photograph of 6048 (which does not currently have red leather headrests) taken when it was new in 2012 shows that it didn't have them then, either: https://www.flickr.com/photos/emdjt42/78...HjG-rMumJ7

Same case with 6046 and 6047. Personally, I couldn't see the sense in removing the headrests... Another thing of note, is that the website states that the ''Tyne Tees Xpress'' has ''luxury seating''. I'm guessing that these headrests are what defines the seating as luxurious? If so, how can the service provide luxury seating when only half of the vehicles branded for the service have them, and the other half are absent of them?

I seem to remember some mention being made of them being removed as people preferred cloth headrests on long distance services? Obviously they did half and then got bored?

It was the other way round.

6043-6048 were all new with normal Cloth Headrests. 6043-5 later gained the red headrests.

(01 Jan 2016, 8:25 pm)Kuyoyo wrote It was the other way round.

6043-6048 were all new with normal Cloth Headrests. 6043-5 later gained the red headrests.

Where is the sense in only equipping half of the vehicles with them? There isn't much consistency.

(01 Jan 2016, 8:26 pm)R852 PRG wrote Where is the sense in only equipping half of the vehicles with them? There isn't much consistency.

I think my point still stands 

(01 Jan 2016, 5:20 pm)R852 PRG wrote Possibly to try and maintain a link between Washington and Newcastle, if the X1 wasn't in operation?

Deptford did help out Washington they sometimes do or the other way round

(01 Jan 2016, 6:23 pm)Dan wrote The X40 service only operated last year because NUFC were playing at home.

I don't think the 850/851 scholars services operated today, but at least three National Express coaches were travelling up and down the country today.

they use anything on there on matchdays to provide extra capacity

Really think service 39 needs new buses now instead of all the Gateshead cast offs

(03 Jan 2016, 12:37 am)Acky81 wrote Really think service 39 needs new buses now instead of all the Gateshead cast offs

Don't really think the 39 will be viewed as a top priority for future investment. Could possibly get some ex-''Prince Bishops'' Solars maybe? But does the service carry enough passengers to be able to justify full-size single deckers as opposed to minibuses?

(03 Jan 2016, 12:37 am)Acky81 wrote Really think service 39 needs new buses now instead of all the Gateshead cast offs

It depends on passanger numbers, if services 33/33A/39 make enough profit to show that they deserve invest in new buses then maybe, but if they did it would only be StreetLites, however, whenever I see them they usually carry fresh air.

I'd be happy with Solars much better than cadets. I'd kept like to snap those mercs off the 61

33/33a should be scrapped pointless services