29/08/04
Stagecoach on Teesside now have Volvo Olympian / Alexander 16731 (N731LTN) back again after it's previous visit, and it has now joined the general line up of service buses. It is suspeced that South Shields' 16731-40 (N731-40LTN) may be coming to Stockton to displace 16831-40 (R831-40OVN) to Walkergate - it'll be interesting to see how this pans out.
28/08/04
The six MANs expected for Stagecoach on Teesside have now been moved from Sunderland to Stockton. They are 22061-6 (NK54BFE/F/J/L/M/N), of which 22063-6 at least are branded for service 37. It should also be noted that Volvo B10M 20268 (M708KRH) remains in use at Hartlepool and is still in the old livery.
The six VDL SB120 / Wright (supplied by Volvo as Merits) that Go North East have acquired from stock are now under preparation, including repaint into livery, as shown by Richard Kennedy's fine pictures above. Also shown is Richard's excellent shot Scania 4975 in it's new livery for the new guided bus service due to hit North Tyneside in September. The Go North East website shows the following movements occurred last weekend (or thereabouts):
Volvo B10BLE / Wright 4840 (340GUP) Stanley - Gateshead
Dennis / Plaxton SPD 8214/5 (V214/5ERG) Chester-le-Sreet - Gateshead
Dennis / Plaxton SPD 8233 (X233FBB) Percy Main - Gateshead
Volvo B6 / Plaxton 8406-9 (L406-8GDC, L409GPY) and Volvo B6 / Alexander 8413/23 (L413KEF, M423PVN) Gateshead - Winlaton
Optare Delta 4759/803/4 (K759RBB, J203/4VHN) Winlaton - Washington
Volvo B6 / Alexander 8418 (M418PVN) Deptford - Winlaton
Dennis / Plaxton SPD 8223-32 (X223/4/822/226-9/823/231/2FBB) Chester-le-Street - Winlaton
Dennis Trident / ELCB 3868 (W178SCU) Winlaton - Percy Main
Dennis Trident / ELCB 3869-80 (W179/4/81-9/76SCU) Winlaton - Chester-le-Street
Optare Metrorider 409 (N409NTN) Winlaton - Bishop Auckland
Optare Metrorider 398/404/5/7 (M938FTN, M504/5/7HNL) Winlaton - Withdrawn
Dennis / Plaxton MPD 504-8 (X504WRG, X595FBB, X506-8WRG) Deptford - Winlaton
Dennis Dart / Marshall 580/1 (T110KGP, T272RMY) New - Chester-le-Street
Dennis Dart / Marshall 587/92 (T409/23AGP) Chester-le-Street - Stanley
Dennis Dart / Marshall 583-5 (T113-5AGP) New - Stanley
Optare Metrorider 397/9 (M937/9FTN) Stanley - Withdrawn
Optare Metrorider 414/5 (P414/5VRG), Dennis Dart / Marshall 8093 (M803GFT) Stanley - Deptford
Dennis Dart / Plaxton 8090/1 (M890/1GBB) Washington - Deptford
Transbus MPD 554 (NK53TKO) South Shields - Deptford
Dennis Dart / Marshall 597 (T428AGP) New - Deptford.
In addition to all this, Richard Kennedy alerts me to the withdrawal of MCW Metrobus 3502 (UTN502Y) and Leyland Olympian / ECW 3649/57/734/7/46-8 (C649/57LJR, B734/7/46-8GCN). It is understood that South Shields may lose eight of it's Volvo Olympians to (directly or indirectly) fill the void at Bishop left by these Olympian withdrawals.
Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian / Northern Counties 7284 (G761UYT) is again operating at Blyth, while ECW bodied 7409 (C262UAJ) is parked up at Ashington..
A smart addition at Metro Coaches, Middlesbrough is Scania / Van Hool W18RED.
I am informed that The Eden have added a further vehicle to stock. It is Fiat Ducatto Maxi / Rohill Harrier RH1 (T248FLJ) ex Hackney Community Transport. It is unlikely to see use until repainted.
Petr Tuck tells me that Henry Cooper has repainted Volvo B6BLE / Plaxton 2000 HC04BBB into fleet livery.
27/08/04
Richard Smiles kindly advises that the destination depots for the latest delivery of MAN 18.220 / Alexander for Stagecoach North East has changed slightly. Six will blvo e for Stockton as expected to cover the five workiA smartngs on service 37 (North Tees Hospital - James Cook Hospital), five will go to Slatford for service 100 (Newcastle - Metrocentre/ Marshall ) and the remaining 11 to Sunderland to work services 15/16. The entry of the into service, together with some service changes (not least the replacement of services 91/92 group with new service 34 between Billingham and Middlesbrough) is expected to bring about some further fleet re-arrangement. A report on UK-Bus-Fleetnews shows that Titans 10634/43/8/66/73/1022 (NUW634/43/8/66/73Y, A622THV), Lynxes 29106/9/18/20/6 (F106/9/18/10HVK, H126ACU) and Mercedes 709 / Alexander 40828 (K828UFR) have passed to Houston Ramm (dealer).
Gavin Miller reports that Abbey Coaches, South Bank have repainted Dennis Javelin / Duple J384KVH , with Metrorider J211BWU to follow. The aforementioned report on UK-bus-fleetnews from Houston Ramm, also listed Mercedes 811D M983CYS as being there.
I have rather a lot of Go North East news to bring you, but I am holding this over until tomorow as it is now bed time!.
21/08/04
A further pair of MAN 18.220 / Alexander delivered for Stagecoach North East are NK54BFM/N. Sister NK54BFF was in the paintshop today recieving fleetnames etc.
As expected the major changes to Go North East services in Western Gateshead and Stanley/Consett have resulted in some vehicle movements. Those I noted today were of Mini Pointer Dart 504/5/7 (X504/5/7WRG) from Deptford to Winlaton, Tridents 3877-80 (W187-9/6SCU) from Winlaton to Chester-le-Street, Super Pointer Darts 8224/7/9/31/2 (X224/7/9/31/2FBB) from Chester-le-Street to Winlaton. In all of these cases, there are probably more members of each batch making the same move, but these were my only observations. Notably, while Winlatons output is now almost entirely single deck (and rather mixed in type!) Chester's services 551 and 726 have reverted to double deck operation. Supplementing my observations, Richard Kennedy noted Trident 3876 (W186SCU) working from Chester-le-Street, Super Pointer Dart 8215 (V215ERG) working from Winlaton, Metrorider 414 (P414VRG) arriving at Chester-le-Street depot devoid of blinds etc, and Dennis Dart / Marshall 581/4 exiting Chester-le-Street depot.
Pete Greensmith kindly informs me that Arriva Tees & District Optare Vecta 1515 (K515BHN) has returned to service at Loftus with an MAN engine, while sister 1536 (L536FHN) is now Cummins powered and will return to service after body modifications.
Ian S kindly advises that Arriva Durham County's Peterlee depot will be bringing Volvo B10M / East Lancs 2871 (H922XYT) into use for the next fortnight. It is intended that it will work the big-bus diagram on service 212 (just after the odd hour from Deaf Hill, and just after the even hour from Sunderland).
Craig Bell tells me that Arriva Northumbria have Leyland Olympian 7264 and Optare Metroriders 2738/9 stored at Blyth.
20/08/04
Gary Mitchelhill provides this fine photo of Stagecoach in Sunderland Dennis Dart / AlexanderL735VNL) repainted in Sunderland Corporation livery to celebrate 125 years of the undertaking.
Gary also reports that Low Fell Travel have Leyland Titand A945SYE and NUW668Y in stock.
Richard Kennedy brings the highly interesting news that Go North East have acquired six VDL SB120 / Wright Cadet 8161-6 ex stock. These are for Gateshead and will displace Scanias 4955/72-6 to Percy Main for new "Guided bus" service 19. He also reports that Dart SLF 597 is in use at Deptford and that Trident 3880 has moved from Winlaton to Chester-le-Sreet. More moves are expected this weekend as a result of major service changes in Western Gateshead.
Richard Smiles has kindly provided details of the latest deliveries for Stagecoach North East. Twenty-two MAN 18.220 / Alexander are in the course of delivery, with 22061-6 destined for Stockton, 22067-73 for Walkergate and 22074-82 for Sunderland. Delivered so far are NK54BFE/F/J/L - no fleetnumbers applied as yet.
Gavin Miller brings that latest from Abbey Coaches. Optare Metrorider M936FTN is repainted into livery and has been fitted with coach seats. Bedford / Plaxton TJI4268 is under repaint, while the Volvo / Plaxton referred to earlier is confirmed as XJI8354.
14/08/04
An unusual sighting at Stagecoach on Teesside's depot today was Volvo Olympian / Alexander 16731 (N731LTN). It is not yet clear whether this is a transfer from "up north" or just a visitor. Also, the remaining stored Atlanteans are now in the yard - presumably about to meet their fate.
Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian / ECW 7264 (CWR514Y) has now vanished from Ashington. MCW Metrobus 621 is currently parked up in Blyth, reason unknown.
13/08/04
A selection of former Stagecoach North East Leyland Lynxes and Titans are currently up for sale with Houston Ramm.
Stuart Gray has updated me on events at Arriva Durham County's Bishop Auckland Depot. Optare Vecta 1549 (L549GHN) now has a Cummins engine, while Optare Metrorider 871 (M871KCU) has suffered engine failure - before it got chance to take a replacement gearbox from sister 935. Durham's Metrobus 617 (OJD858Y) and Optare Delta 4002 (G210HCP) have been on loan of late to cover for vehicle shortages.
Peter Barclay tells me that Redby, Sunderland have acquired a number of Leyland Titans ex Stagecoach Fife. Three identified are A613/50THV and A935SYE. It is not clear at this stage whether they are for service or onward sale.
07/08/04
Further Dennis Dart / Alexander at Stagecoach in Darlington are 32563/709/29 (K563NHC, K709/29PCN) All of the titans are parked in one corner of the yard with the Atlanteans in the opposite corner and the Olympians inbetween. The majority of the Olympians have yet to take over destination blinds from the outgoing Titans and Atlanteans.
Arrivals at Arriva Northumbria are MCW Metrobuses 959/63 (KVY734X, KYO610X) from Ariva Scotland West. They are listed as reserve for cannibalisation. Also for cannibalisation is Olympian 7264 (CWR514Y) which remains in store at Ashington, while sister 7265 (CWR518Y) is in service there. Optare Metrorider 2735 (M449HPF) is at Blyth, while sisters 2740/1 (N803/4BKN) and newly converted trainer 9985 (H31PAJ) has gone to Arriva Scotland West.
Peter Greensmith brings an update from Arriva Tees & District at Loftus. Optare Vecta 1536 (L536FHN) has gone away to receive a new engine, while 1515 (K515BHN) is getting one at Loftus. DAF SB220 / Ikarus 4077 (T78AUA) has gone to Gardiners of Spennymoor for repairs following an accident.
I have located formerCleveland Transit short Bedford / Duple 400 (CVN400T). It has had it's lower half repainted blue and is under conversion into a motor home in a garden in South Hetton, Co Durham.
Lees, Durham now have Volvo B10M / Van Hool GIB206 ex Weardale, Stanhope.
Classic, Annfield Plain have prepared a second Renault Traffic for use as a crew bus in Washington, this time it's M249KBB.
06/08/04
Stagecoach Darlington have indeed now got Dennis Dart / Alexander 32741 (L741VNL) and also have 32564 (K564NHC). It would appear that the majority of the Volvo B6s have now been sold on. Gary Mitchelhill has reported the sale of Plaxton bodied 3Arrivals 0101/2/4/7/8 (L101/2GHN, M104/7/8PVN) to Northern Blue's new Accrington operation, while Marty B saw Alexander bodied 30242/54 (L242/54CCK) heading south on the A1 today.
Craig Bell has reported that Arriva Tees & District Volvo B10Ms 2871/9 have been placed into store at Peterlee. Odd as thia may seem, it may explain Optare Delta 4001's reappearance at Loftus.
The Go North East website shows that Dennis Dart / Marshall 587 (T409AGP) has entered service at Chester-le-Street, replacing Optare Metrorider 386 (L386YFT). Sister 403 (M3GYP) have been withdrawn at Bishop Auckland. Dennis Dart / Plaxton 8090/1 (M890/1GBB) have moved from South Shields to Washington and 8092/210 (M892GBB, V210ERG) from South Shields to Deptford. These latter moves presumably represent a redistribution of work. A mass of Optare Metroriders sold are 360/1/6/7/72/5/83/5-7/9/91/402/3 (K360/1/6/7SCN, L972/5WTY, L383/5-7YFT, L389/91AVK, L471/2YVK). A number of former Go North East Metroriders are being sold on by Houston Ramm.
Invited to forthcoming public inquiries are G&G Tracel, Washington and Low Fell Travel, Gateshead.