Another broken down vehicle. 
Southbound on the A1 between Lobley Hill and Coalhouse Roundabout. 
Didn't get to see it, as I was heading north. 

Bustimes has it as 3942.

6228 rather toasty at the back.

(05 Mar 2025, 10:52 am)BusLoverMum wrote 6228 rather toasty at the back.

This bus was very full when we caught it in Fram. Turns out that the previous service on 6362 looks to have conked out in Spenny.

Anyhow, after bombing up the A1(M) at about 40mph, all the passengers from the back ran forward as here was smoke coming out of the back seat. It subsided and the driver moved us all forward while he drove slowly to the angel so he could pull over safely and check. No sign. He finished the journey, set down only. I can only suspect that, after picking up passengers from another broken down bus, he would have faced a bollocking for kicking them off again.

I had just spotted this in my inbox at the moment all hell broke loose.

6362 expired and causing chaos in Eldon square. It’s expired under the walkway bridge leaving a tight squeeze and several stands out of action

(05 Mar 2025, 5:02 pm)Ambassador wrote 6362 expired and causing chaos in Eldon square. It’s expired under the walkway bridge leaving a tight squeeze and several stands out of action

Second time today, then.

6228 has been back out, this afternoon, too, but looks to have done 2 school runs without a repeat of this morning's smoke.

(05 Mar 2025, 5:02 pm)Ambassador wrote 6362 expired and causing chaos in Eldon square. It’s expired under the walkway bridge leaving a tight squeeze and several stands out of action

Shouldn't be anywhere near the X21 or dare I say it given GNE's track record, X10!

How much dead mileage GNE must shell out down in Teesside & the Wear Valley due to unsuitable workings / poor fleet rotation.

If GAG spend any money in the North East, those 2 decker routes need prioritised!

Short term depending on the Angel StreetDeck cascade chain, the 56 / Cobalt B9s would probably do a better job on the X21 than 6356-63!

(05 Mar 2025, 7:56 pm)L469 YVK wrote Shouldn't be anywhere near the X21 or dare I say it given GNE's track record, X10!

How much dead mileage GNE must shell out down in Teesside & the Wear Valley due to unsuitable workings / poor fleet rotation.

If GAG spend any money in the North East, those 2 decker routes need prioritised!

Short term depending on the Angel StreetDeck cascade chain, the 56 / Cobalt B9s would probably do a better job on the X21 than 6356-63!

They need them on the X20. 
Constantly being allocated to there. No idea what is going on the 56 mind.

6321 went into limp mode and took 48 minutes to get between Gateshead and Birtley

(05 Mar 2025, 10:39 pm)Ambassador wrote 6321 went into limp mode and took 48 minutes to get between Gateshead and Birtley

Then it resumed the return journey from the same spot! 

Poor bus has had a long day. Probably needed a cuppa!

(05 Mar 2025, 10:39 pm)Ambassador wrote 6321 went into limp mode and took 48 minutes to get between Gateshead and Birtley

Worse than what it was before it had a new engine fitted.

If it went into limp mode leaving Gateshead then it should of been stood at the next safe location, no way in hell would i of took it to Birtley at 11mph.

(05 Mar 2025, 8:26 pm)Andreos1 wrote They need them on the X20. 
Constantly being allocated to there. No idea what is going on the 56 mind.

Agreed, but lets see what happens!

Couldn't tell exactly which one it was but there was an X20 gemini 3 smoking quite bad by Plawsworth Gate

(08 Mar 2025, 4:26 pm)alexanderdennis0312933 wrote Couldn't tell exactly which one it was but there was an X20 gemini 3 smoking quite bad by Plawsworth Gate

Complete basketcase purchase by GNE, especially for the X9/X10 at the time! Should've been ZF Enviro 400 MMC's or Scania N250UD Enviro 400 MMC's purchased at the time. GNE were "too stubborn" to deviate from Volvo / WrightBus at the time! Who the hell thought it would be a good idea buying a 4-pot heap of s***e for tearing up and down the A19 at 60MPH!

Quite ironic that the vehicles they replaced.....some of them are still hanging on being ragged up and down around Derwentside! Even some of Arriva Northumbria's 12-15 year old VDL Gemini 2's are in better shape than GNE's B5TL's and majority of StreetWrecks!

(08 Mar 2025, 4:26 pm)alexanderdennis0312933 wrote Couldn't tell exactly which one it was but there was an X20 gemini 3 smoking quite bad by Plawsworth Gate

6311. Went bang in quite a big way.

Spotted an OPTARE SOLO on a peak 10B out of Newcastle. I actually laughed out loud

Wonder if any of the Streetdeck's at GoNorthEast might go in for this treatment - https://www.route-one.net/news/wrightbus...nd-orders/

You could definitely make an argument for the Angel ones to go in when their new electrics turn up. They're in a shocking state currently but are quite old now.

Can GNE sort out Washington depot buses please??? Im sick of hearing of how the 29 hasn't turned up AGAIN!!! first two of the day canceled, well the first one seems to have avoided kibblesworth and started the journey on whitehall road???!

I'm having to do more work when staff are late!!

GNE pull your finger out your ASS!!

White 25 reg E200MMC on the 50, this morning. Looks like Washington are leasing some vehicles, now.

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-yy25d...2025-03-13

(13 Mar 2025, 8:24 am)BusLoverMum wrote White 25 reg E200MMC on the 50, this morning. Looks like Washington are leasing some vehicles, now.

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-yy25d...2025-03-13

I saw one on the A690 last night at the Prospect, assumed it was a GCT bus but it could be that. Couldn't make out the destination it was too far away.

(13 Mar 2025, 8:33 am)F114TML wrote I saw one on the A690 last night at the Prospect, assumed it was a GCT bus but it could be that. Couldn't make out the destination it was too far away.

Looks like they have two single deck and a double deck. It might make a tiny dent in the problem.

If bustimes is to be believed, over half of the buses on the 21 are actually angel streetdecks today!

(13 Mar 2025, 9:42 am)Iamtheone8483748 wrote If bustimes is to be believed, over half of the buses on the 21 are actually angel streetdecks today!

I noticed that - they had a few running on local services yesterday so must have passed the test!

Those might be the long Enviro 200 MMC's as well, the better version with the 6 cylinder 6.7l engine. I have observed that ADL tend to register the 6 cylinder ones with the YY reg and the smaller ones with YX.

Go North East needs to invest in something like these permanently though. There is always Solos on full size routes at Washington like the 8 or 50

(13 Mar 2025, 8:24 am)BusLoverMum wrote White 25 reg E200MMC on the 50, this morning. Looks like Washington are leasing some vehicles, now.

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-yy25d...2025-03-13

(13 Mar 2025, 8:33 am)F114TML wrote I saw one on the A690 last night at the Prospect, assumed it was a GCT bus but it could be that. Couldn't make out the destination it was too far away.

They are being kept at Sunderland Depot, a total of 10 , apparently

(13 Mar 2025, 10:46 am)Arriva7446 wrote Those might be the long Enviro 200 MMC's as well, the better version with the 6 cylinder 6.7l engine. I have observed that ADL tend to register the 6 cylinder ones with the YY reg and the smaller ones with YX.

Go North East needs to invest in something like these permanently though. There is always Solos on full size routes at Washington like the 8 or 50

If saying that, I wonder why GNE's 69 plate examples are having issues yet GNE's & Arriva's older 4.5l Cummins StreetLites between 2013-16 have largely been okay although some starting to perhaps show their age.

(13 Mar 2025, 2:20 pm)L469 YVK wrote If saying that, I wonder why GNE's 69 plate examples are having issues yet GNE's & Arriva's older 4.5l Cummins StreetLites between 2013-16 have largely been okay although some starting to perhaps show their age.

Clearly the problem isn't the buses themselves.

(13 Mar 2025, 8:24 am)BusLoverMum wrote White 25 reg E200MMC on the 50, this morning. Looks like Washington are leasing some vehicles, now.

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-yy25d...2025-03-13

Three vehicles today, another 7 to come. Running out of Deptford for the next couple of months.

Well I hope they come on the 342 then, rather than going from full Enviro 200 to full streetlite when Go North East take over, they could ease us in with a couple of these brand new buses. I'm just not looking forward to the daily streetlite ride again!

Don't know if the 342 is actually being operated by Deptford though, as that seems odd, but sure I read that was the case. If it's being operated by Percy Main their Daimler Streetlites are even worse, although they break down so often you might get a nice Cobalt decker substitute. If not it's going to be painful engine vibrations stuck in traffic at Benton ASDA traffic lights. Cummins streetlites are ok ish I suppose, but not as good as an Enviro 200.

(13 Mar 2025, 4:08 pm)Arriva7446 wrote Well I hope they come on the 342 then, rather than going from full Enviro 200 to full streetlite when Go North East take over, they could ease us in with a couple of these brand new buses. I'm just not looking forward to the daily streetlite ride again!

Don't know if the 342 is actually being operated by Deptford though, as that seems odd, but sure I read that was the case. If it's being operated by Percy Main their Daimler Streetlites are even worse, although they break down so often you might get a nice Cobalt decker substitute. If not it's going to be painful engine vibrations stuck in traffic at Benton ASDA traffic lights. Cummins streetlites are ok ish I suppose, but not as good as an Enviro 200.

Im surprised its not the Solos like they used before on the little coasters

Are they all going to Washy or will they be spread among more depots when the other 7 arrive?