(25 Nov 2014, 9:43 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Should hopefully be Olympian 16833 on the 12:10 board, seeing as it has been on the 13:40 and 15:10 for the past while (that's assuming it's still holding out!)

mrnut85 had pointed out last Saturday that it's a spare, so could theoretically be dropped in anywhere I suppose. You're probably best off looking for it around that time, and praying for a bit traffic congestion! 

I wonder if it'll be required for the SAFC Park & Ride though?

I was thinking of doing a trip to work around the MAX launch in Morpeth on Friday, but I can't be bothered and also I am really wanting to get some more Christmas presents for myself and others and Friday is likely to be a good day for that as it is Black Friday this Friday so I'm hoping some shops will have some sales on.

I may plan a quick trip to Stockton and Middlesbrough on Saturday.

(25 Nov 2014, 9:43 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Got this ready for Saturday....

#X25 - Chester to Gateshead
(11:10 --- 11:40)
#21 - Gateshead to Newcastle
(11:46 --- 11:56)
#X34 - Newcastle to Gateshead
(12:10 --- 12:19)
#X34 - Gateshead to Newcastle
(12:28 --- 12:35)
#10A - Newcastle to MetroCentre
(12:45 --- 13:03)
#X66 - MetroCentre to Gateshead
(13:10 --- 13:20)
#21 - Gateshead to Home
(13:24 --- 14:04)

Should hopefully be Olympian 16833 on the 12:10 board, seeing as it has been on the 13:40 and 15:10 for the past while (that's assuming it's still holding out!)

Haha Metrocentre AGAIN!!! - Don't you get board of the same thing every week

(25 Nov 2014, 9:43 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Got this ready for Saturday....

#X25 - Chester to Gateshead
(11:10 --- 11:40)
#21 - Gateshead to Newcastle
(11:46 --- 11:56)
#X34 - Newcastle to Gateshead
(12:10 --- 12:19)
#X34 - Gateshead to Newcastle
(12:28 --- 12:35)
#10A - Newcastle to MetroCentre
(12:45 --- 13:03)
#X66 - MetroCentre to Gateshead
(13:10 --- 13:20)
#21 - Gateshead to Home
(13:24 --- 14:04)

Should hopefully be Olympian 16833 on the 12:10 board, seeing as it has been on the 13:40 and 15:10 for the past while (that's assuming it's still holding out!)

Do you have a POP card? If so, get a single to the Barley Mow border, and a CAT from there? Give you as much scope as the Day Rover, and also acts as a pass to the platform at Central.

(26 Nov 2014, 7:56 am)aureolin wrote Do you have a POP card? If so, get a single to the Barley Mow border, and a CAT from there? Give you as much scope as the Day Rover, and also acts as a pass to the platform at Central.

No, I'm a Key Card holder!

I've decided to make a few changes to the previous plan! - just one trip on the X34, I will be satisfied whether it's an Enviro400 or 16833, either way.

#X25 - Chester to Gateshead
(11:10 --- 11:40)
#21 - Gateshead to Newcastle
(11:46 --- 11:56)
#X34 - Newcastle to Gateshead
(12:10 --- 12:19)
#X30 - Gateshead to Stanley
(12:25 --- 13:00)
#8 - Stanley to Pelton
(13:15 --- 13:32)
#34 - Pelton to Chester
(13:42 --- 13:49)

(26 Nov 2014, 8:00 am)MarcTheA4 wrote No, I'm a Key Card holder!

I've decided to make a few changes to the previous plan! - just one trip on the X34, I will be satisfied whether it's an Enviro400 or 16833, either way.

#X25 - Chester to Gateshead
(11:10 --- 11:40)
#21 - Gateshead to Newcastle
(11:46 --- 11:56)
#X34 - Newcastle to Gateshead
(12:10 --- 12:19)
#X30 - Gateshead to Stanley
(12:25 --- 13:00)
#8 - Stanley to Pelton
(13:15 --- 13:32)
#34 - Pelton to Chester
(13:42 --- 13:49)

That sounds better - maybe you should attempt to get on the X43 as the X30 has been a President everytime I've seen it. 

(26 Nov 2014, 8:04 am)Tom wrote That sounds better - maybe you should attempt to get on the X43 as the X30 has been a President everytime I've seen it. 

I'll see how I feel on the day. If I see an Olympian on Service X43, I'll get on, but that would mean going to the Metro, wouldn't it?

(26 Nov 2014, 4:05 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote I'll see how I feel on the day. If I see an Olympian on Service X43, I'll get on, but that would mean going to the Metro, wouldn't it?

Haha - aye, but I mean you always do the same thing. i.e Chester, Metro and Ghead. 

My plans have unfortunately changed, so I won't be doing a north east explorer on Saturday. I'm off to Glasgow instead and getting a Strathclyde Daytripper so I'll get bus, subway and train travel in the area (£12). I'll definitely try to have another day on a north east explorer, 20th I'm not doing anything so far...

I'm quite looking forward to some First and McGills action to be honest!

Have a good time, Sean!

I've decided to have a bit of a Lime day on Friday, maybe something like this;

#78 - Home to Sunderland
(10:40 --- 11:16)
#78 - Sunderland to Chester
(11:37 --- 12:25)
#8 - Chester to South Pelaw
(12:45 --- 12:49)
#78 - South Pelaw to Chester
(12:55 --- 12:59)
#8 - Chester to Washington
(13:12 --- 13:31)
#50 - Washington to Chester
(13:38 --- 13:54)
#71 - Chester to Home
(14:15 --- 14:21)

(26 Nov 2014, 7:56 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Have a good time, Sean!

I've decided to have a bit of a Lime day on Friday, maybe something like this;

#78 - Home to Sunderland
(10:40 --- 11:16)
#78 - Sunderland to Chester
(11:37 --- 12:25)
#8 - Chester to South Pelaw
(12:45 --- 12:49)
#78 - South Pelaw to Chester
(12:55 --- 12:59)
#8 - Chester to Washington
(13:12 --- 13:31)
#50 - Washington to Chester
(13:38 --- 13:54)
#71 - Chester to Home
(14:15 --- 14:21)

As much as I like the B10s, that's an awful long time to spend on them!

If you're getting a Get Around day ticket for those, have a float around Sunderland for a bit? May be worth trying the new 8 route out too, as it's a lot quicker to get to the Galleries now.

(26 Nov 2014, 8:03 pm)aureolin wrote As much as I like the B10s, that's an awful long time to spend on them!

If you're getting a Get Around day ticket for those, have a float around Sunderland for a bit? May be worth trying the new 8 route out too, as it's a lot quicker to get to the Galleries now.

I've always got Monday! - and I've already decided what I'm doing for Saturday.

Well, looks like I'm starting my day here....

#78 - Home to Sunderland
(10:40 --- 11:16) GNE 4896
#78 - Sunderland to Chester
(11:39 --- 12:25) GNE 4898
#71 - Chester to Home
(12:48 --- 12:54) GNE 8272

Well, at least I completed my mission of getting on one or two B10BLEs! - I'll try again on Monday!

I did take a few photos while I was out, and I'm in the process of uploading the best 4 ones to Flickr.

My day out on Arriva.
#X2 Chester le Street to Newcastle 07:59 ANE 1455.
#X21 Newcastle to Ashington 08:54 ANE 7506.
#35A Ashington to Morpeth 10:55 ANE 7507.
#2 Morpeth to Blyth 12:05 ANE 1773.
#308 Blyth to Whitley Bay 13:13 ANE 7809.
#308 Whitley Bay to Newcastle 14:37 ANE 7801.
#X2 Newcastle to Chester le Street 15:25 ANE 1463.

(28 Nov 2014, 10:03 am)MarcTheA4 wrote Well, looks like I'm starting my day here....

#78 - Home to Sunderland
(10:40 --- 11:16) GNE 4896
#78 - Sunderland to Chester
(11:39 --- 12:25) GNE 4898
#71 - Chester to Home
(12:48 --- 12:54) GNE 8272

Well, at least I completed my mission of getting on one or two B10BLEs! - I'll try again on Monday!

I did take a few photos while I was out, and I'm in the process of uploading the best 4 ones to Flickr.

This is the best: https://www.flickr.com/photos/127739730@...otostream/

(28 Nov 2014, 4:11 pm)Tom wrote This is the best: https://www.flickr.com/photos/127739730@...otostream/

Cheers Tom - when I looked at it once I'd taken it I knew it had come out nice and clear. Probably because - 1) it was stationary and 2) I put the camera on a piece of street furniture (not sure what they are called!)

(28 Nov 2014, 4:13 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Cheers Tom - when I looked at it once I'd taken it I knew it had come out nice and clear. Probably because - 1) it was stationary and 2) I put the camera on a piece of street furniture (not sure what they are called!)

Aye - the only tip which I would give you is to try and get the whole bus in - maybe stand in the middle of Chester in between the bus stops?

(28 Nov 2014, 4:15 pm)Tom wrote Aye - the only tip which I would give you is to try and get the whole bus in - maybe stand in the middle of Chester in between the bus stops?

I did that with a few other photos but people kept getting in the way - or another vehicle spoiled the shot by driving in front!

Looks like it's going to be dull all day again tomorrow - not sure whether I want to go out or not...

I didn't get to devote much time to Go North East last week when I went out, so maybe I'll do that tomorrow instead, if I do decide to go out.

Thinking about spending some of my time tomorrow underground!

Maybe something like;

#X25 - Chester to Gateshead
(11:10 --- 11:40)
Metro - Gateshead to Monument
(11:50 --- 11:56) - not sure on Metro times!
#X34 - Blackett Street to Gateshead
(12:10 --- 12:19)
Metro - Gateshead to Park Lane
(12:30 --- 12:50) - not sure on Metro times!
#78 - Sunderland to Home
(13:07 --- 13:43)

I reckon it's alright!

(28 Nov 2014, 5:28 pm)Dan wrote Looks like it's going to be dull all day again tomorrow - not sure whether I want to go out or not...

I didn't get to devote much time to Go North East last week when I went out, so maybe I'll do that tomorrow instead, if I do decide to go out.

At least it's dry I suppose. Won't get many days like that for the next few months. I'm still thinking of doing Shields then Newcastle.

Today's outing went a little something like this...

0915 - Newcastle Road to St Peters - Walked
0935 - St Peters to Wheatsheaf - Walked
0951 #23 - Wheatsheaf to City Centre - SNE 36962
1000 - City Centre to Chester Road - Walked
1026 #2C - Sunderland University to The Wavendon - GNE 5320
1102 #2C - The Wavendon to Washington Galleries - GNE 5325
1144 #4 - Washington Galleries to Heworth - GNE 5358
1215 Metro - Heworth to Haymarket - T&WM 4021
1233 #X15 - Haymarket to Morpeth - ANE 7454
1347 #35A - Morpeth to Ashington - ANE 1581
1421 #35 - Ashington to South Side - ANE 1579
1501 #X20 - South Side to Newcastle Haymarket - ANE 7521
1550ish #44 - Eldon Square to Metrocentre - GNE 5338
1640ish #X66 - Metrocentre to Gateshead - GNE 3966
1700ish #58 - Gateshead to Newcastle - GNE 5387
1730ish #21 - Newcastle to Gateshead - GNE 6057
1756 Metro - Gateshead to Stadium of Light - T&WM 4015

Had a thoroughly enjoyable day - lots of variety!

Plans changed slightly due to 16833 being absent, just had a local day;

#28A - Chester to Pelton Bridge
(11:32 --- 11:53)
#28A - Pelton Bridge to Chester
(12:02 --- 12:26)
#21 - Chester to Home
(13:08 --- 13:12)

Seriously contemplating a Day Trip to London in the New Year, just been on the Megabus Website and picked a Random Date, so in this example (Wednesday 21st January).


Departing Newcastle (01:40am) - Arriving London (08:00am) - Cost £6.00
Departing London (16:30pm) - Arriving Newcastle (23:05pm) - Cost £1.00

Reason for this is that I want Photograph the Borismasters and go to the London Transport Museum. even though it costs £15 to get in, which is quite off putting.

I would just miss the last X1 from Newcastle back to Washington at (23:00pm), meaning I would have to get the Metro from Monument to Heworth and get the last 4 at (23:38pm), and then walk from Washington Galleries, Anyone else fancy it as im not keen on going alone in case I get lost or something.

GNE #5 - Temple Park - South Shields
SNE #8 - South Shields - Horsley Hill
SNE #X34 - Horsley Hill - Newcastle
SNE #38 - John Dobson Street - Central Station
GNE #Q1 - Central Station - Gateshead
GNE #X66 - Gateshead - Metro Centre
GNE #10B - Metro Centre - Central Station
SNE #1 - Central Station - St Mary's Place

Had a bit of a Malarkey Marathon today...

12:43 SNE 27738 #E2 Whitburn - Chichester
13:02 GNE 8296 #88A Chichester - South Tyneside District Hospital
13:12 SNE 35194 #12 South Tyneside District Hospital - Tyne Dock
13:30 GNE 4843 #27 Tyne Dock - Hebburn Shops
13:58 GNE 563 #27X Hebburn Metro - Gateshead High Street
14:22 GNE 6096 #56 Gateshead Jackson Street - Newcastle New Bridge Street

Greggs break  

14:46 GNE 6092 #56 Newcastle New Bridge Street - Old Durham Road / Split Crow Road
15:16 GNE 5381 #58 Old Durham Road / Split Crow Road - Heworth
15:37 GCT YJ64 DYT #558 Heworth - Fellgate Durham Drive
15:55 SNE 22070 #X20 Fellgate Durham Drive - Chichester
16:16 SNE 35190 #17 Chichester - South Shields Library
16:25 SNE 27724 #E6 South Shields Library - Marsden Inn
16:55 SNE 27728 #E2 Marsden Inn - Whitburn

Next week I think that I will focus on secured services .

(29 Nov 2014, 2:26 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Seriously contemplating a Day Trip to London in the New Year, just been on the Megabus Website and picked a Random Date, so in this example (Wednesday 21st January).


Departing Newcastle (01:40am) - Arriving London (08:00am) - Cost £6.00
Departing London (16:30pm) - Arriving Newcastle (23:05pm) - Cost £1.00

Reason for this is that I want Photograph the Borismasters and go to the London Transport Museum. even though it costs £15 to get in, which is quite off putting.

I would just miss the last X1 from Newcastle back to Washington at (23:00pm), meaning I would have to get the Metro from Monument to Heworth and get the last 4 at (23:38pm), and then walk from Washington Galleries, Anyone else fancy it as im not keen on going alone in case I get lost or something.

Not bad at all price wise. I don't think I could do over 12 hours on a coach in a single day though! I'd probably need to stop over or something. I wouldn't worry about getting lost in London. You'll be fine as long as you have an Oyster card and a tube map.

I second what Adrian is saying, Adam.

I was sick to death when we spent 14 or so hours on the coach to Germany - maybe you could challenge yourself further by getting down there ALL by bus, for example, stopping off whenever you need to make another connection.

When I went to London at the end of October, we found it easy to navigate around on the underground. Just watch out if you are standing and getting off - some of them are pig ignorant! - my mam had a proper go at a student who had been shopping with her mam because the girl was yelling at us and telling us we were invading her personal space by trying to push our way out of the train.

(29 Nov 2014, 7:39 pm)aureolin wrote Not bad at all price wise. I don't think I could do over 12 hours on a coach in a single day though! I'd probably need to stop over or something. I wouldn't worry about getting lost in London. You'll be fine as long as you have an Oyster card and a tube map.

It is a lot of time to be on a Coach in a Single Day, but as id be going down in the early hours of the Morning, then id end up going to sleep anyway, so I wouldnt be that bothered, coming back would be the worst part as I know the Coach will be packed coming out of London-and will probs not be empty until Middlesbrough/Sunderland, as was the case when I went to Leeds back in July.

Ill probs end up picking up a copy of Buses Magazine to Read as I tend to do when doing Day Trips, I might even be cheeky and ask my Dad or Brother if I could borrow one of there Tablets, so I can watch something whilst on the Coach.

Planning on booking a short day out on the railways for Tuesday 23rd December....

CrossCountry - DHM to NCL
(11:17 --- 11:29)
Northern Rail - NCL to MCE
(11:44 --- 11:54)
Northern Rail - MCE to NCL
(12:02 --- 12:12)
East Coast - NCL to DHM
(12:25 --- 12:42)