26/02/05
Today saw the end of joint through running by Arriva North East and Go North East.
A couple of interesting arrivals at Arriva Northumbria from Arriva the Shires are Leyland Tiger / Plaxton BAZ7384 and DAF SB220 / Ikarus 4083 (J926CYL), both at Ashington. The DAF is in service, presumably replacing Scania 286, while the Tiger looks to be a source of spares. Also now stored at Ashington is Leyland Olympian / ECW 7214 (WDC214Y), which has had its engine and gearbox removed. It is poosible that this may be present to donate its high-speed diff to one of the ex London Olympians.
Mark Gibbon tells me that Arriva Teeside Optare Vecta 1521 (L521FHN) and DAF SB220 / Plaxton 4040 (R440RPY) are both off to Gardiners of Spennymoor for accident repairs to be effected. CCTV and radio fitment to the Stockton fleet continues apace, and it has been noted that Peterlee Dart 1640 also now has the radio binnacle.
Go North East currently have articulated Mercedes Citaro demonstrator BX54EBC on loan at Gateshead and in use on the X66.
23/02/05
Firstly, I must appologise for the lack of updates over the last week - this was due to computer problems, which are now sorted!.
Mark Gibbon
Mark Gibbon kindly informs me that Arriva Teesside have been given the go-ahead to fit the entire Stockton fleet with CCTV. One vehicle which may miss out is Optare Vecta 1521 (L521FHN) which has suffered significant accident damage. The fitment of two-way radios is also now underway. Eliott Stuffins tells me that former Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympians F306/9/10/1JTY and former Stagecoach on Teesside Leyland Lynx IIs K623/4/5/8YVN are in use with South Gloucestershire. Richard Smiles provides some useful information on Stagecoach North East. Leyland olympian / Northern Counties 14667 (H667BNL), a victim of Albert Bridge, is understood to be under conversion to open top, but for use elsewhere. Lynxes 29611/20/4/8 (G611/20CEF, K624/8YVN) were sold to Ensign, though as noted above 29624/8 moved on afterwards. Richard also notes that the official fleet cards show Volvo B10M / Alexander 20838 (P838GND) and Scania N113 / Alexander 28915/32/3/7 (F915JRG, H432/3/7EFT) as being SOLD to Stagecoach in Carlisle, rather than merely being on loan. Gary Mitchelhill records that Designline Olymbus 80009 has returned to Walkergate from it's tour of other Stagecoach companies. Richard Kennedy reports that stored at Go North East's Saltmeadows facility (correct to 17/02/05) are Optare Metroriders 401/4/5/7/9/12/4, Leyland Olympian / ECW 3737, Leyland National 4707, Optare Deltas 4735/7/45, Optare Excel 8144, Volvo B6 / Plaxton 8405/6/8/9, Volvo B6 / Alexander 8415/23/5 and the remains of Optare Spectra 3846. Baz reports that Optare Excels 8155/6/7 (S35NRG, S156/7OCU) are in use as driver trainers with fellow Go-Ahead company Wilts and Dorset. 16/02/05 Peter Tuck has repoted a pair of ex Arriva London AEC Routemasters parked up at Gardiners of Spennymoor. These are RML2341/598 (CUV341C, JJD598D). However, since then Dogcatcherssc has repoted a pair parked up at Coopers, Annitsford on trade plates. What is not clear is whether they are the same two, and what their purpose in the region is too be. 12/02/05 Go North East have reinstated Volvo B6 / Alexander 8416 (L416KEF) at Bishop Auckland. Green Bus, Darlington have The Eden Mercedes 709 / Reeve Burgess F444GAT on loan. Billy United tells me that sister L634VCV has also been on loan recently. 04/02/05 Go North East have updated their ever-excellent website with revised fleet information following the closure of South Shields depot. Many movements have taken place, while it is anticipated that more may occur as further dispalced vehilces are shuffled and in preparation for service changes at the end of February (i.e. the end of the 723 etc..). The South Shields fleet was spread quite widley, with Mini Pointer Darts 555-62 (NK53TKT-Z/LF/J) going to Deptford, 563-5 (NK53TLN/O/U) to Washington and 566-72 (NK53TLV/X/Y/MO/U/V/X) to Winlaton, Super Pointer Darts 8201-7 (V201-7ERG) went to Percy Main, Scania / Wright 4967-9 (NK53UNT/U/V) went to Washington, 4970/1 (NK53UNW/X) to Gateshead and 5207-17 (NK54NVB-H/J/L-N) to Deptford, DAF SB120s 8242-5/53-5 (NA52BUU/V/W/VB, NK04FOP/T/U) went to Deptford along with Leyland Olympian / Alexander 3677/8 (G677/8TCN), while Volvo Olympian / Northern Counties 3910/4 (R553/4LGH) went to Deptford and Stanley respectively. New Scania / Wright 5218-21 (NK54NVO/P/T/U) are all aloocated to Gateshead, with 5222-8 (NK54NVV-Y,?,?,?) at Chester-le-Street, while Volvo B7RLE / Wright 4978-82 (NK54NUH/J/M/O/P) are all now at Deptford. Further movements are of Optare Deltas 4735/45 (G735/45RTY) from Deptford to delicenced and 4756 from Gateshead to Washtington, Volvo B10BLE / Wright 4841/2 (R841/2PRG) from Stanley to Gateshead and 4924/5 (X924/35WRG) from Winlaton to Gateshead, Volvo B6 / Plaxton 8405/8/9 (L405/8GDC, L409GPY) Gateshead - delicenced, Volvo B6 / Alexander 8418 (M418PVN) Winlaton - Gateshead, 8413/5/6/23/5 (L413/5/6KEF, M423/5PVN) Winlaton - delicenced, Dennis Trident / ELCB 3870/1 (W174/81SCU) Chester-le-Street - Winlaton, Dennis Trident / Plaxton 3888/9 (NK51UCR/S) Chester-le-Street - Bishop Auckland, Optare Excel 8144 (R244OCU) Bishop Auckland - delicenced, 8146/76/8/82 (R246OCU, T876/8/82RBR) Percy Main - Delicenced, Dennis Dart / Marshall 8117 (N117WBR) Stanley - Chester-le-Street, 581 (T272RMY) Chester-le-Street - Stanley, Volvo Olympian / Northern Counties 3927 (R286LGH) Chester-le-Sreet - Stanley, Optare Spectra 3855 (K323FYG) Deptford - Chester-le-Street, MCW Metrobus 3628/30 (A628/30BCN) Stanley - Delicenced, Leyland Olympian / ECW 3651 (C651LJR) Stanley - Delicenced, Optare Metrorider 416/7 (P416/7VRG) Stanley - Deptford, 418 Stanley - Bishop Auckland, 412/4 (N412NTN, P414VRG) Deptford - Delicenced, 409 (N409NTN) Bishop Auckland - Delicenced and finally Optare Sigma 4785 (L485CFT) Gateshead - Percy Main.
Neil wise infroms me that Arriva Durham County have Scania Omnicity demonstrator YN54OBA on loan at Durham.
Gary Mitchelhill tells me that Henry Coooper, Annitsford now have the second Volvo B6BLE / Plaxton 2000 on the road as NK54PHV. However, it is on loan to North Tyneside Council for use as a promotional vehicle.
02/02/05
Richard Kennedy reports some movements at Go North East. Scanias 4967/8 have moved from South Shields to Washington, while sisters 4944/5/5218-21 at Gateshead are now branded for "the Loop" services 93/94. Chester-le-Street now have Scanias 5222-8 in service, while further B7RLEs are entering service at Deptford including 4981. Dennis Dart / Marshall 581 has moved from Chester-le-Street to Stanley, while MCW metrobuses 3628/30 have come off service there. Ray Barber reports Scania, Worksop as having Optare Excels 8126/7/42/5/7-50/74 many of which will be bound for Bus Eireean.
Richard Smiles reports that Stagecoach on Teesside Leyland Lynx II 29623/5 (K623/5YVN) have been sold to Ensign, though it is understood that these some of the others from the batch have been sold on further.
Peter Tuck tells me that Weardale Motor Services now have AlexanderDennis Enviro 300 demonstrator PO54NNM on loan.