That was the one I read, Adam, yes.
Agree completely with the comments made by Duncan.

Think some of the comments about bus operators 'hijacking' rallies was a bit unfair. I know my main interest lies within buses which you see out on the road at present day. I like to see the older ones and have a ride on them, but I'd certainly miss seeing a presence from the modern day buses, if they weren't there. The main reason I want to go to Showbus is for the new buses that you can see there.

I'd argue that without the support of the big three, these rallies would have been going down the pan a lot sooner...

11:18 #X25 Eighton Banks - Chester-le-Street (4931)
11:25 #78 Chester-le-Street - Stanley (5375, running about 20 mins late)
12:29 #X30 Stanley - Gateshead (4845)
13:05 #56 Gateshead - Wrekenton (6094)

Anyone attending?

(05 Sep 2014, 6:06 pm)aureolin wrote Anyone attending?

All being well I should be, as I already have money set aside for Fifa 15, I get paid off the Job Centre again Tuesday, then again 2 Days after the Open Day, and my Dad said he going give some Money, so I should be okay Money wise.

I am curious to what Vehicles will be attending the event, and will it be similar to the one in Carlisle where Vehicles came from other Depots further afield.

Next year I don't think we are going abroad, however we were thinking of Cornwall. Does anyone know of any good places in Cornwall?

Torquay is really nice.

(14 Sep 2014, 3:17 pm)Marcus wrote Torquay is really nice.

Might consider that then.  

Following my Interview at Doxford Park, I decided to take some Photos in Houghton/Hetton/Easington Lane and Low Moorsley rather than go into Sunderland as I was planning on doing, Some really nice spots between Hetton and Low Moorsley which I plan on taking some more Photos at when the Weather is a bit nicer. 

(15 Sep 2014, 5:42 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Following my Interview at Doxford Park, I decided to take some Photos in Houghton/Hetton/Easington Lane and Low Moorsley rather than go into Sunderland as I was planning on doing, Some really nice spots between Hetton and Low Moorsley which I plan on taking some more Photos at when the Weather is a bit nicer. 

Aye it's a lot easier than Sunderland City Centre for taking pics too!  

(15 Sep 2014, 5:42 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Following my Interview at Doxford Park, I decided to take some Photos in Houghton/Hetton/Easington Lane and Low Moorsley rather than go into Sunderland as I was planning on doing, Some really nice spots between Hetton and Low Moorsley which I plan on taking some more Photos at when the Weather is a bit nicer. 

Been telling whoever would listen to get out of the bus stations - did you get down behind the football stadium, where it is old fashioned?

There are some interesting spots as you go up out of Low Moorsley towards Pittington too - the 35 laying over and 265 bombing about. It isn't that far of a walk down to Pittington (if you didnt want to get the bus down) and there are some good spots there too

(15 Sep 2014, 6:37 pm)Andreos1 wrote Been telling whoever would listen to get out of the bus stations - did you get down behind the football stadium, where it is old fashioned?

There are some interesting spots as you go up out of Low Moorsley towards Pittington too - the 35 laying over and 265 bombing about. It isn't that far of a walk down to Pittington (if you didnt want to get the bus down) and there are some good spots there too

I basically went from Hetton to the stop before the Terminus where the 35 has a Layover Period, Took a Photo and then wenr back to Hetton as time was getting on, I did like the view out of the window of 35 as it turned at the Terminus though, despite it being a Very Tight U-Turn for a Citaro, As said in my Previous Post I shall make a Return along that way, don't Recall seeing a Football Ground at all, but then again I was having a bit natter with the Driver as I was sitting at the Front and I was the only Passenger.

Been to a few other spots over past few weeks to take Photos including what is listed below, Did the ones around Washington on my Bike, still wouldn't mind a some more Photos around the Washington Area though, And I'm over South Shields on Wednesday for an Interview, so hopefully I will find a few different spots there also before and after that.

Doxford Park
Tunstall Bank
Usworth College/Stephenson Road
Coach Road Estate
Washington Village
Brady Square
Biddick

Anyone doing Showbus? Noticed a few buses from the North East going down...

(15 Sep 2014, 8:42 pm)Dan wrote Anyone doing Showbus? Noticed a few buses from the North East going down...

I'm not, but I will be at Stockton a week on Sunday.

(15 Sep 2014, 8:36 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote I basically went from Hetton to the stop before the Terminus where the 35 has a Layover Period, Took a Photo and then wenr back to Hetton as time was getting on, I did like the view out of the window of 35 as it turned at the Terminus though, despite it being a Very Tight U-Turn for a Citaro, As said in my Previous Post I shall make a Return along that way, don't Recall seeing a Football Ground at all, but then again I was having a bit natter with the Driver as I was sitting at the Front and I was the only Passenger.

Been to a few other spots over past few weeks to take Photos including what is listed below, Did the ones around Washington on my Bike, still wouldn't mind a some more Photos around the Washington Area though, And I'm over South Shields on Wednesday for an Interview, so hopefully I will find a few different spots there also before and after that.

Doxford Park
Tunstall Bank
Usworth College/Stephenson Road
Coach Road Estate
Washington Village
Brady Square
Biddick

As you come out of the bus station and turn right, the football ground is on your right hand side, as you go down the dip/s-bend.

There are some interesting angles and as it is 'olde worlde' for that small stretch (up to the junction with the pub/Hetton School), some interesting shots are possible.

(16 Sep 2014, 2:05 pm)Andreos1 wrote As you come out of the bus station and turn right, the football ground is on your right hand side, as you go down the dip/s-bend.

There are some interesting angles and as it is 'olde worlde' for that small stretch (up to the junction with the pub/Hetton School), some interesting shots are possible.

It was a Nightmare going down that Dip bit onto Bog Row after you come out of Hetton Bus Station, almost crashed 3 Times due to Badly Parked Cars and oncoming Traffic, and the Corner is a Blind one as well which leads onto Bog Row due whatever the Last Building is on the Left Hand Side, on the flip side it was just after 3pm when I was in the Area, so the School would of been coming out.

Today's bus outing went like this:

0856 5A Darlington Tubwell Row (ANE 1510)
0940 X66 Middlesbrough Bus Station (ANE 4657)
1050 5 Skelton Market Place (ANE 1552) - Running 13 minutes late.
1200 5A Guisborough Market Place (ANE 1449)
1226 5 North Ormesby Market Place (ANE 1555)
1247 36 Stockton High Street (SNE 16834)
1342 X66 Darlington Tubwell Row (ANE 4656)
1445 8 Newton Aycliffe Town Centre (ANE 1637)

Decided to use public transport today, on one of my regular jaunts to Lincs.

Will go into some detail here, but will build on certain points in the relevant threads.

Got a branded Solar to Durham from Houghton. Paid my £4 and I am convinced a fitter from Deptford has been inspired by Blue Peter, creating a papier mache Solar, using an MPD as the base.
It shook like mad - both internally and externally.
Was glad to get off after 25mins or however long it took.

Jumped on a class 91 to Newark, before hanging around and jumping on a 153 to Lincoln.

Had half an hour or so spare in Lincoln Bus Station and was entertained by some of the goings on with Stagecoach and their staff.
Strange allocations galore, but it killed some time.

My Brylaine Ikarus Polaris turned up I5/C17 (seems to show both numbers). Still showing the Arriva plate under the cab door, it was either MK52 XNN or XXR
Can't remember which, but it was clean, tidy and in excellent knick, internally and externally. Paid my £3.95 for a 60+min journey, waited for it to pull away and realised it was a DAF!
Davey Bowyer and gtom would be having kittens riding it!
It was so underpowered, it was ridiculous. We left on time, had decent loads throughout, went for miles without stopping, didn't get stuck in traffic - but by the time I got off, we were 10mins late.
However - it didn't rattle! There wasn't so much of a squeak, internally nor externally!

Coming back to the digs tonight, a packed Solo (didn't note which one), was my ride - diverting into a school car park, to pick a handful of kids up.

A few more days of Brylaine, before heading home on Friday!

They were the two that Stephensons of Easingwold bought and binned pretty quickly when the realised how useless they were!

Uurgh - forgot about not being able to reply.

Didn't realise they were both there. Makes sense I suppose.

No issues with the ride quality, comfort etc.
It just had no power at all.

edit: today, I used the Brylaine 6 - which was operated using a Solo (didn't get id again).

The trip was quite popular, with passengers being picked up at various points along the way.

At one point, the driver got in touch with the depot, asking if he could be met at the nearest stop (on route) or call into the Coningsby yard - to get his screenwash topped up.
Once he got the answer, he let us all know what was happening.

We ended up taking a diversion into the yard!

Got a lift back to the digs - so nowt to report back on that score.

Sunday 16 November - I have organised an enthusiasts visit to Stagecarriage of Middlesbrough, which will also feature rides on various members of their interesting fleet. We shall depart Darlington Railway Station (Parkgate) at 0930, and Feethams at 0935, then Middlesbrough BBC building at 1000 using their fine Leyland Leopard VJI8684. Please contact me for further information, or to reserve a seat.
The Stagecarriage fleet comprises examples of Leyland and Volvo Olympian, Volvo B10M, Volvo B10BLE and a Scania N113.

(18 Sep 2014, 6:22 pm)RGR756V wrote Sunday 16 November - I have organised an enthusiasts visit to Stagecarriage of Middlesbrough, which will also feature rides on various members of their interesting fleet. We shall depart Darlington Railway Station (Parkgate) at 0930, and Feethams at 0935, then Middlesbrough BBC building at 1000 using their fine Leyland Leopard VJI8684. Please contact me for further information, or to reserve a seat.
The Stagecarriage fleet comprises examples of Leyland and Volvo Olympian, Volvo B10M, Volvo B10BLE and a Scania N113.

For those interested in attending this from further North, there's a 0840 East Coast service from Newcastle, which will get you into Darlington Railway Station at 0927. That may be cutting it a bit fine though, so there's also a 0740 service which will get in for 0830.

It sounds like a good day out though, so I'll try and get along myself depending on other commitments. 

(18 Sep 2014, 6:39 pm)aureolin wrote For those interested in attending this from further North, there's a 0840 East Coast service from Newcastle, which will get you into Darlington Railway Station at 0927. That may be cutting it a bit fine though, so there's also a 0740 service which will get in for 0830.

It sounds like a good day out though, so I'll try and get along myself depending on other commitments. 

I'll hold the coach for that 0927 arrival

Sunday 16 November - I have organised an enthusiasts visit to Stagecarriage of Middlesbrough, which will also feature rides on various members of their interesting fleet. We shall depart Darlington Railway Station (Parkgate) at 0930, and Feethams at 0935, then Middlesbrough BBC building at 1000 using their fine Leyland Leopard VJI8684. Please contact me for further information, or to reserve a seat.

The Stagecarriage fleet comprises examples of Leyland and Volvo Olympian, Volvo B10M, Volvo B10BLE and a Scania N113.

Sounds good, unfortunately as there is no bus or train to Darlington early enough on a Sunday it means I probably can't go to this.

Getting the train isn't that much of an issue.
The lack of a bus at that time, to anywhere near a railway station is though

(18 Sep 2014, 7:04 pm)Andreos1 wrote Getting the train isn't that much of an issue.
The lack of a bus at that time, to anywhere near a railway station is though

From your way, the 4 + Metro will do the trick. That's probably what I'll do.

Or you could get the 8am X10 out of Eldon Square, which gets into Middlesbrough for 09:33am and save yourself some money in the Process.

Sounds good, unfortunately as there is no bus or train to Darlington early enough on a Sunday it means I probably can't go to this.

First bus from Aycliffe is due in Darlington Town Centre at 0952
Which means I can't do this, I can't do Dalesbus and I can't do Moorsbus and a taxi would cost too much for me, it annoys me how people can get there from Newcastle on public transport and I can't and I live not far away

Is there a 4 at that time of the morning which would work?

(18 Sep 2014, 8:06 pm)Andreos1 wrote Is there a 4 at that time of the morning which would work?

One departs HLS at 0631, but not another until 0801.

(18 Sep 2014, 7:32 pm)Jimmi wrote First bus from Aycliffe is due in Darlington Town Centre at 0952
Which means I can't do this, I can't do Dalesbus and I can't do Moorsbus and a taxi would cost too much for me, it annoys me how people can get there from Newcastle on public transport and I can't and I live not far away

Jimmi - if you wish to go, I will probably be taking my car to Darlo and I live near Aycliffe. If you are willing to make a very small contribution to fuel I don't mind taking you. Were you the lad who went to Seaburn on Steve Foster's National and got on at Rushyford?