29/02/04
Mark Westgarth, D Taylor and Richard Kennedy have kindly provided details of further movements at Go North East resulting from the arrival of the new Scanias and movements of work between depots. Volvo Olympian / Northern Counties 3826/7 (S826/7OFT) move from South Shields to Gateshead, displacing 3904/40 (R262/399LGH) to Winlaton. These have in turn displaced Leyland Olympian / Alexander 3677/8 (G677/8TCN) to Gateshead replacing MCW Metrobuses 3635/46 (A635/46BCN). Also, Optare Deltas 4803/4 (J203/4VHN) have moved from Bishop Auckland to Winlaton, due to two service 638 diagrams moving to winlaton from Washington, and it would seem that Volvo B10B / Alexander 4808/9 (L208/9KEF) have moved to Bishop Auckland as a result of all this - to be confirmed. Optare Sigmas 4786-8 (L476-8CFT) are now parked up at Gateshead ex Percy Main, and are to work a number of diagrams transferred the same way, including early 319s, a 302 trip, 307s after 4pm and a range of miscellaneous and school workings. Nationals 4674/700/4 (UPT674V, FTN700/4W) are parked up at Gateshead with ticket machines removed.
Neil Wise kindly informs me that from Tommorrow Arriva North East's service X1 (Middlesbrough - Newcastle) will be entierly operated by Durham depot in a further move to ease staff shortages at Stockton. It is anticipated that DAF SB220GS / Plaxton 4060/1 (S702/3KFT) will move to Durham as a result. From the same date, Durham's car on the 13 (Durham - Darlington) will be transferred to Darlington, with MPD 1703 (V703DNL) moving to Darlington as a result.
Stagecoach in South Shields withdawn Mercedes 709 / Alexander 40491/3/7/8 (N491/3/7/8RVK) are now stored at Stagecoach in Hartlepool's depot. Another of the Lynxes stored at Hartlepool has been removed, this time 29112 (F112HVK), leaving just 29544/5/602 (C544RAO, E709MFV, F602UVN) stored there, while sister 29604 (F604UVN) is another to be sold to Redby, Sunderland.
28/02/04
The majority of Go North East's new Scania L94UB / Wright Solar are now in service. The full batch is 4967-76 (NK53UNT-Z, UOA-C), with 4967-71 at South Shields for the 527 and the remainder at Gateshead added to the general melee in turn convering the 1 and 27 to low floor. Volvo Olympian 3819 (S819OFT) is now at Washington, while Richard Kennedy noted that Scania L94UB / Wright 4940/1 are now at Washington (along with some 56A diagrams) and Volvo B10BLE / Wright 4922 (X922WGR) and Leyland Olympian 3678 (G678TCN) are now at Gateshead. I noted Volvo B10B / Alexander 4808 (L208KEF) in Bishop Auckland depot this morning, though it's not clear whether this was just visiting.
In spite of the snowy weather things seemed to be more normal today than yesterday. However, Arriva Northumbria's Ashington depot were not working service A2, which led to the MPDs from this being largely employed on the 35 - where they seemed quite at home!
27/02/04
Delivered today to Cooper, Annitsford (not sure which!) is a plain white unregistered BMC 850 (iveco based) midi coach.
Bizarre goings on with Arriva Northumbria today! Tigers 215/6 (the former on trade plates) and Olympians 7375/7 all suddenly decended on Ashington at around 2pm for no obvious reason with fitters driving and one X18 diagram was being covered by James Cooper of Annitsford (seen on 1405 ex Newcastle)!
A couple of movents at Arriva Durham County. Stuart Gray tells me that Optare Vecta 1547 (L547GHN) now has it's Cummins engine and is back in use, while Ian S tells me that Leyland Olympian / ECW 7219 (D216FYM) is now at Peterlee and will enter service soon.
26/02/04
Gary Mitchellhill kindly advises that Arriva Tees & District DAF SB3000 / Plaxton 1206 (V206DJR) has joined 1207/8 in the revised express livery..
It has been noted on busesnortheast that a number of Volvo B10M / Alexander are moving to Stagecoach in South Shields from Stagecoach North West. I understand that four of these will be 20722/3/9/30.
25/02/04
DTaylor kindly advises that Go Gateshead have received another Scania L94UB / Wright, this time 4972 (NK53UNY).
Stuart Gray tells me that Arriva Durham County Optare Vectas 1517/45 (K517BHN, L545GHN) have returned to service at Bishop Auckland with MAN and Cummins engines respectively, while 1547 (L547GHN) is not on the premises, suggesting that it has gone away for a Cummins engine too.
23/02/04
Neil Wise tells me that Arriva Durham County Optare Metroriders 2601/2/5 (L601/2/5FHN) have been sold.
Martin Brigham kindly brings news that ArrivaTeesside now have Mercedes O405 / Wright 3026 (L100SBS) ex Redcar. It is not clear what, if anything has gone in exchange.
Martin also tells me that Continental Coaches, Stockton now have a second ex EYMS Bristol VR, this time PAG514W.
21/02/04
John Atkin has passed on info that Scarlet Band now have Leyland Tiger / Plaxton B891OEC ex Bibbys of Ingleton.
20/02/04
DTaylor kindly reports the arrival at Go Gateshead of Scania L94UB / Wright 4974/6 (NK53UOA/C).
From the latest N&Ps, a useful, but underused service to be withdrawn from 01/04/04 is Go Coastline's service X22 South Shields - Metrocentre. This will further lessen the use of double deck vehicles at South Shileds - though when I noted it before christmas a Ford Fiesta would have been sufficiently large!.
Peter Nardone kindly tells me that Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian / ECW A567NWX has had fleetnumber 7267 applied to it in paint be the fuel filler.
The N&Ps also show that James Cooper, Annitsford is to undergo a public Inquiry.
19/02/04
Further to my report yesterday that former Cleveland Transit Leyland Fleetline / Northern Counties 144 (JAJ144W) is for sale on ebay, John Gelson tells me that the seller is to be interviewed on Radio Cleveland (95FM) tommorrow at approximately 8.40am. Should prove interesting!
18/02/04
There are currently a couple of interesting buses for sale on Ebay. Most significant of these is former Cleveland Transit Leyland Fleetline / Northern Counties 144 (JAJ144W) - click here. Also for Sale is Northumbria Coaches National Greenway SIB1283 which served Arriva North East for a time - click here.
Richard Kennedy tells me that Go North East have received another Scania L94UB / Wright at South Shields. This one is 4970 (NK53UNW).
17/02/04
The Go North East Website shows that Leyland Olympian / ECW 3658/64 (C658/64LJR) and Leyland Nationals 4667/71/97/706/13 (UPT667/71V, FTN697/706/13W) have left the fleet. Richard Kennedy reports that Optare Metroriders 340/58/62/94, MCW Metrorider 447, Natioanls 4685/99/720 and Lynxes 4818/9 are all now stored at Saltmeadows works.
Dogcatcherssc informs me that Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian / ECW 7218 (D189FYM) has now been converted to single door form and is at Blyth, where it will soon enter service. No word as yet on where it will enter service. Also, and notably, it has been reported on the Arriva Northumbria Yahoo Group that Leyland Olympian / ECW A567NWX has arrived at Ashington ex Arriva Scotland West. It would seem highly probable that this will either replace or be used to repair deroofed Olympian 7316.
15/02/04
New at Atkinsons of Ingleby Arncliffe is the above Setra S315. It has yet to be registered.
Added to stock at John Smiths, Thirsk are Mercedes Vario / UVG R211/2MGT.
In something of an unusual move, Continental Coaches Bristol VR / ECW VVV950W has been fitted with CCTV! There can be very few VRs with this feature.
Abbey Coaches have moved a few of their better off-the-road vehicles from Margrove park to join the service fleet at South Bank. Notably this includes Bristol RE / ECW GHB146N - perhaps one day we will see this on the road again treating the people of Teesside to it's incredible sound effects!
Arriva Teesside Optare Vecta 1530 (L530FHN) is now in the process of receiving a replacement MAN engine. Optare Delta 4083 (F792DWT) has started to be cannibalised at Stockton.
14/02/04
Further new Scania L94UB / Wright delivered Go North East are 4968/9 (NK53UNU/V) at South Shields. 4967-9 have yet to enter service.
A few notes from Arriva Northumbria. De-roofed Leyland Olympian 7316 remains stored at Alnwick, but looks to be in the early stages of cannibalisation, while Optare Detla 4092 (G253SRG) is on Alnwick depot forecourt with it's front wheels stood on large wooden blocks - reason unknown. Leyland Olympian 7222 (D174FYM) remains in the yard at Ashington, but appears to be receiveing a semi-fixed destination blind for Alnwick's service 402.
12/02/04
Richard Kennedy reports that another new Go North East Scania is present at South Shields. The remaining three have yet to arrive.
10/02/04
The Go North East website fleetlist has been updated. I have ascertained the following movements from this (with thanks to Richard Kennedy for correcting me!):
Dennis Darts 8093/6 (M803/6GFT) move from Chester-le-Street to Stanley
Optare Deltas 4744/6 (G744/6RTY) move from Stanley to Deptford and Washington respectively
Leyland Nationals 4699/713/20 (FTN699/713W, TJR720Y) and Optare Metrorider 394 (M934FTN) are withdrawn
MCW Metrobuses 3634/40 (A634/40BCN) and Leyland Nationals 4660/1/4/70/86/97/702/5/9/12/4 (UPT660/1/4/70V, BGR686W, FTN697/702/5/12/4W) are sold.
08/02/04
Neil Wise has reported that Arriva Northumbria now have Leyland Olympian 7222 allocated to Alnwick as a temporary replacement for deroofed 7316. From John Atkin's fotopic site this would appear to be D174FYM which is in the yard at Ashington, fully repainted and converted to single door, but still with London Blinds.
Neil Wise also tells me that Arriva Durham County should today received a further East Lancs bodied Volvo B10M, H925XYT from Arriva Yorkshire (ex Arriva Scotland West). Optare Delta 4107 (F702ECC) is sold to Redline of Penwortham (Preston).
Martin Brigham tells me that I forgot to mention that Arriva Tees & District Optare Vecta 1555 (M504AJC) now has a Cummins engine, joining 1541/4/51/6 so equipped.
Between them John Atkin and Martin Brigham report that Abbey Coaches now have an Iveco Daily minibus regsitered K712FNO. It is branded for a rural bus service in Wiltshire!
06/02/04
A further pair of Scania N113 / Alexander transferred to Stagecoach on Teesside from Newcastle are 28903/4 (F903/4JRG). It is not clear what these are replacing as at least one of the remaining Lynx mk1s is still in service. It would appear that the two Olympians recently making the same journey 14179/520 (See below for more details) have replaced Leyland Atlanteans 15810/1 (EJR110/1W) as these together with 15825/30 (AVK135/80V) are now on "death row" at Stockton.
A further pair Dennis Dart / Alexander at Stagecoach in South Shields are 32563/79 (K563/79NHC) both in the new livery and noted in service today.
Added to stock at Northumbria Coaches, Ashington is Optare Metrorider L836MWT. This is fitted with a wheelchair lift in the entrance and is used on service 564 Ashington - Alnwick, presumably replacing Mercedes 811 / Wright HDZ2606. Not mentioned previously is the Transbus Mini Pointer Bodied Bluebird that is now owned and used on service M71 in the Kingston Park area. Gary Mitchelhill has photos on his fotopic site http://gjmtransportphotos.fotopic.net
05/02/04
Freshly delivered Arriva Teesside Transbus Mini Pointer Dart 1759 (NK53VKA) is expected to work service 567 Billingham - Sedgefield. Mike Mann noted it on delivery on Tuesday.
04/02/04
Peter Nardone, John Atkin and Martin Brigham between them advise that Continental Coaches, Stockton have a former EYMS Bristol VR / ECW, still in EYMS livery. The EYMS website shows this to be PAG513W. The website also shows that EYMS have three former Cleveland Transit Leyland Atlantean PDR1 / Northern Counties (rebody) for sale. Surely a tempting puchase?
Stuart Gray tells me that a further pair of Arriva Durham County Optare Vectas have suffered engine failure. This time it's 1517/47 (K517BHN, L547GHN).
02/02/04
Some impressive news from Neil Wise is the arrival at Arriva North East of Volvo B10M / East Lancs (rebody) H917/22/3XYT from Arriva Scotland West. The are currently stored, and are expected to be followed by a couple more. They are expected to be temporary fleet members - more details on this when I can give them.