Don't know if anyone has seen the comments on this page about the recent photos posted of the Northumbria Palatines   !

https://www.facebook.com/groups/16831595...?ref=share

Anyone got any "whacky races" / fast ride stories from any NE operator about Leyland / Volvo Olympians, MCW Metrobuses, Deltas, B10BLE's, Cityzens? Anyone been lucky enough to be riding (or driving) a fast dead run with the saloon lights dimmed and the blinds blanked?

(03 Jan 2025, 8:58 am)L469 YVK wrote Don't know if anyone has seen the comments on this page about the recent photos posted of the Northumbria Palatines   !

https://www.facebook.com/groups/16831595...?ref=share

Anyone got any "whacky races" / fast ride stories from any NE operator about Leyland / Volvo Olympians, MCW Metrobuses, Deltas, B10BLE's, Cityzens? Anyone been lucky enough to be riding (or driving) a fast dead run with the saloon lights dimmed and the blinds blanked?

Early/mid 90s:
Leyland Lynx on the 194 or 294 between Usworth School and Follingsby Roundabout were always special when it was running late or the driver fancied a longer break at Heworth.

Think I've previously mentioned the 194 and Redby 13 being in competition and those two having races/overtaking each other on the road approaching the tunnel on Station Road at Penshaw.

Late 90s/early 00s
Can remember the last X94 picking up a pickled me from the Burn Inn, Houghton and it following the 194 route from Shiney Row back towards the Galleries because the driver felt sorry for me. 

There was the time a 777 ran dead with me and mate on to Chester in the snow once. 
It was the last one and terminated in Birtley. The evening section was contracted to Stanley Travel, but they were snowed in. So lights off, blinds blanked and dropped off outside the Civic Centre in Chester.

The last two were on Nationals.

In not an expert on what buses are what but when I used to get the 44 back from Whitley sitting on the plastic seat at the back of the bus they used to hammer them down the coast road ( was a 70 MPH at the time). Also heard that one of the 251-254 northumbria buses which worked the 44 was a lot quicker then the other 3. Not sure which one though

(03 Jan 2025, 12:01 pm)Andreos1 wrote Early/mid 90s:
Leyland Lynx on the 194 or 294 between Usworth School and Follingsby Roundabout were always special when it was running late or the driver fancied a longer break at Heworth.

Think I've previously mentioned the 194 and Redby 13 being in competition and those two having races/overtaking each other on the road approaching the tunnel on Station Road at Penshaw.

Late 90s/early 00s
Can remember the last X94 picking up a pickled me from the Burn Inn, Houghton and it following the 194 route from Shiney Row back towards the Galleries because the driver felt sorry for me. 

There was the time a 777 ran dead with me and mate on to Chester in the snow once. 
It was the last one and terminated in Birtley. The evening section was contracted to Stanley Travel, but they were snowed in. So lights off, blinds blanked and dropped off outside the Civic Centre in Chester.

The last two were on Nationals.

Even that stretch along New Road/Lingey Lane for the 194/294. It was impressive how quickly they could do Usworth to Heworth, depending on whether they were running late or fancied that longer sit at Heworth Metro.

I do miss the 90s for stuff like that. Whilst I get that the abundance of CCTV, tracking, etc, has made passengers safer, it's also brought micro-management beyond belief for drivers. I don't think we'll ever see the likes of a driver nipping into a shop for some tinnies again!

That 777 example is a really good deed, and in fact something that is often missing nowadays. I've had it plenty of times in the past where an ad-hoc call has been made and it's got people to where they want to be.

(03 Jan 2025, 3:11 pm)Adrian wrote Even that stretch along New Road/Lingey Lane for the 194/294. It was impressive how quickly they could do Usworth to Heworth, depending on whether they were running late or fancied that longer sit at Heworth Metro.

I do miss the 90s for stuff like that. Whilst I get that the abundance of CCTV, tracking, etc, has made passengers safer, it's also brought micro-management beyond belief for drivers. I don't think we'll ever see the likes of a driver nipping into a shop for some tinnies again!

That 777 example is a really good deed, and in fact something that is often missing nowadays. I've had it plenty of times in the past where an ad-hoc call has been made and it's got people to where they want to be. 

This was clearly something the driver felt was the right thing to do. 
But the fact he dropped us off before he could be spotted on Front Street, probably says more about the organisation or certain people within it.

Very early 90s i worked in Sunderland and lived in Shields.  Last E1 only went as far as Gypsies Green but id ask driver if i could stay on until Chichester depot as i had a connection (hopefully) to home.  Was only refused once and my connection back then was on a contracted OK Travel 518 to Jarrow and any variety of bus, coach. Minibus would turn up