30/12/03
Stagecoach Transit again came up trumps today (much to the delight of the 500 Group members taking part in the annual bashers' day!), with Leyland Atlanteans 15810/1 (EJR110/1W) again in service. 15810 spent most of the day working a full 37 diagram, while 15811 was used on service 58 again for most of the day. Notably both have tax discs which expire tomorrow.
Reported on the Go North East website and kindly forwarded by Richard Kennedy is the arrival of further Transbus MPDs. They are 558-65 (NK53TKX/Y/Z, TLF/J/N/O/U). Leyland Nationals 4686/97/709/12/4 (BGR686W, FTN697/709/12/4W,
29/12/03
In order to aid the movement of shoppers today out of a rather congested Middlesbrough Town Centre Stagecoach Transit had Leyland Atlanteans 15810/1 (EJR110/1W) on standby in the bus station. 15811 was used to fill in on the 37 as far as stockton at approximately 15.30 before returning to the depot, while 15810 did the 16.30 round trip on service 12 to Coulby Newham. I enjoyed rides on both - for once I am grateful for traffic congestion (whatever next!).
Richard Kennedy informs me that former Go North East Leyland National 2 4663 (UPT663V) is now with an operator by the name of Trustline..
28/12/03
Dogcatcherssc, in response to yesterday's sighting, confirms that Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian / ECW 7408 (C261UAJ) is now a Blyth bus.
Stagecoach in Hartlepool's withdrawn Leyland Atlantean / Alexander 15808/24/7/8 (EJR108W, SCN249S, AVK147/8V) have been removed from the depot. Withdrawn Lynxes 29112/542/4/602-5 (F112HVK, F252JRM, C544RAO, F602-5UVN), however, remain.
27/12/03
The latest Notices and Proceedings for the North East traffic area show that Northumbria Coaches will operate an improved half-hourly X23 between Newcastle and Newcastle business park from 09/02/04, the route currently being operated by Stagecoach in Newcastle
Gardner power was alive and well with Arriva Northumbria at Blyth today. Not only were native Olympians 7292 (CUB66Y) and 7407 (C260UAJ) in service on the 308 and 364 respectively, but Jesmond's 7408 (C261UAJ) was also in use!!
Neil Wise kindly iforms me that Green Bus, Darlington have a fourth MPD in the shape of V256BNV. The Mercedes Varios all appear to have been returned to their owners.
24/12/03
May I take this opportunity to wish all visitors to this site a very Merry Christmas, and a happy new year. A big thanks also to all who have contributed information over the last year - I look forward to hearing from you all again soon!
Forgot to mention this on Saturday, Arriva Durham County MCW Metrobus 619 (A930SUL) is currently at Jesmond, looking to have been towed in after engine failure.
Newcastle was the place to be for unusual workings today, with Arriva Northumbria using MCW Metrobus 622 on the M55, Olympian 7293 (CUB68Y) and Metrorider 901 (P61XTN) on the 306, and Olympian 7286 (UWW13X) on the X26, and Go North East using National 4661 (UPT661V) on the 308.
23/12/03
The Go North East website gives the following details of Transbus Mini Pointer Darts that have arrived so far 549-57 (NK53TKD/E/F/J/N/O/T/U/V). 549-53 are in service at Deptford (one more than anticipated) and the remainder stored as noted by Richard yesterday. It is also stated that Volvo B10M / Plaxton 7060/1 (CU7660/1) have become driver trainers (and somewhat modern ones at that!).
22/12/03
Richard Kennedy kindly informs me that further Go North East Transbus Mini Pointer Darts delivered are NK53TKO/T/U/V, all stored at Saltmeadows and all but TKU with Go Coastline fleetnames.
20/12/03
Delivery has commenced of the Transbus Mini Pointer Darts for Go North East, starting with Deptfords four. Noted thus far are 551/2 (NK53TKF/J).
Green Bus, Darlington have a third Mini Pointer Dart in the shape of KV51KZL.
Gary Mitchelhill has kindly told me that Leyland Lynx 29541 (F251JRM) is now a driver trainer at Stagecoach in South Shields ex Hartlepool.
Richard Smiles and Marty B both tell me that Stagecoach in Darlington have reinstated Lynx 29611 (G611CEF). Indeed I noted this in service today along with Titan 11022 (A622THV) which has spent most of this year dumped in the corner of Darlington's depot.
13/12/03
Arriva Northumbria have again been swapping buses about between Alnwick and Ashington. Olympians 7373/413 (M373FTY, P413CCU) and Scania N113 7258 (N183OYH) were noted working for Ashington having recently been with Alnwick, and making the opposite move are Olympian 7375 (M375FTY) and Scania L113s 274/82 (P274VRG, N282NCN).
It would seem that Stockton was the place to be today, thanks to Stagecoach on Teesside. Virtually every Olympian (including 13026!) was out in service and several Lynx IIs and Scanias lay idle in the depot. This was presumably due to additional christmas shoppers.
Neil Wise repots that Green Bus, Darlington have obtained a second MPD in the shape of W769YRP.
12/12/03
Go North East have announced their latest vehicle orders on their website. Members of the goaheadbusfans yahoo group have known for some time what these will be, and there has been much discussion (entertainingly bitchy in places!) of which routes they will be used on. In summarry the vehicles are as follows:
10 Scania L94UB / Wright Solar (5 South Shields, 5 Gateshead)
26 Transbus Mini Pointer Darts (19 South Shields, 4 Deptford, 2 Chester-le-Street, 1 Washington)
8 VDL SB120 / Wright Cadet (3 South Shields, 5 Deptford)
Deluivery of the MPDs is due to commence later this month - watch this space for pictures! Additionally, the twenty easy access buses for various routes noted on the press release are anticipated to be Dennis Dart SLF / Marshall from London, but the exact identities of these seem to be in dispute at the minute! Analysis of Go North East's latest fleetlist shows that Leyland National 4685 (UPT685V) and Volvo B10M / Plaxton 7060/1 (CU7660/1)have been removed from service, and that Leyland National 4708 (FTN708W) has been sold.
The latest Notices and Proceedings show that Arriva Northumbria are to again revise their Ashington area services from 25th January 2004 and that Scarlet Band are to deregister their X25 service, which partly replaced Stagecoach Darlington's X90, from 23rd January 2003.
07/12/03
Stagecoach on Teesside now have Mercedes 709 / Alexander 40791 (N341KKH) ex Darlington. This appears to have replaced 40093 (K493FFS) which Martin Brigham has noted heading North on the A19. Present in the depot is Dennis Dart ;/ Alexander 32717 (K717PCN), reason unknown. It was also noted that Lynx 29611 (G611CEF) is again fitted with destination blinds - could a return be on the cards?
Town & Country, Darlington now have Mercedes 709 / Alexander M62WKA in use on the Richmond town dervice. This is ex Arriva North West.
05/12/03
Interesting Arriva Durham County news courtesy of Stuart Gray is that Leyland National 9999 (GSU347) is now stored at Bishop Auckland with the majority of it's fittings removed, along with the remains of ex Rush Travel Dennis Dominator C111CAT which donated it's roof to Olympian 7425 (M689HPF).
A new vehicle operating with Central Coaches (presumably the Newton Aycliffe based one) is Renault Mascot / RoHill RX53RZF, used on Barnard castle rural services.