The Latest News from JBL

26/01/05

Stuart Gray confirms that Arriva Durham County have a further ex Arriva Yorkshire Lynx at Bishop Auckland as 5019 (H339UWT), though this is not yet in use. This and 5020 are dispalcing Optare Deltas 4012/20 (K412BHN, L420FHN) to Loftus. Service changes are expected in the Bishop Auckland area on 27/02/05.

25/01/05

Elliot Stuffins brings the somewhat unusual news that Go North East Leyland Nationals 4660/1/4/83/721 (UPT660/1/4/83V, TJR721Y), after a short career with Ayrways, Ayr, have been exported to Northern Cyprus!

John Hart kindly informs me that Classic, Annfield Plain have repainted Optare Solo MX04VLS into a special blue livery for service 60.

24/01/05

Gary Mitchelhill reports that a former Arriva Yorkshire Leyland Lynx II has entered service with Arriva Durham County at Bishop Auckland. 5020 (H338UWT) was noted on service 1B today.

The Go North East website shows that new Scanias 5218/9 are now at Gateshead for the 93/94. Dennis / Plaxton SPDs 8211/2 (V211/2ERG) move from Deptford to Percy main, seeing off Optare Excels 8131/46/77 (P931ACU, R243OCU, T877RBR).

23/01/05

Arriva Durham County's Peterlee depot is currently home to a number of stored buses including Volvo B10M / East Lancs 2872 (H923XYT), Optare Metrorider 2622/738/9 (P622FHN, N801/2BKN) [2622 being partly dismantled], Leyland Lynx II H755 (H755WWW) and Leyland Olympian / ECW 7214 (WDC214Y). Lynx H339 (H339UWT) has vanished from Peterlee, destination unknown. Currrently out of use at Peterlee are Leyland Olympian / ECW 7242 (A242GHN) and Optare Delta 4005 (G214HCP).

Stagecoach on Teesside Leyland Olympian / Northern Counties 14667 (H667BNL), which suffered roof damage when attempting to pass under Albert Bridge in Middlesbrough, is currently at Gardiners in Spennymoor, presumably being repaired.

Here are a few pictures of Stagecoach North East buses in Carlisle.

Jayline, Horden Mercedes 709 / Reeve Burgess NCZ2021 is withdrawn after sustaining accident damage.

Sherburbn Coaches, Sherburn now have Optare Metrorider L380YFT ex Low Fell Travel.

J&C Coaches, Newton Ayclife have former Go North East Optare Metrorider M506HNL repainted white.

20/01/05

Marty B tells me that Arriva Tees & District again have Volvo B10M / East Lancs 2873 (H925XYT) at Loftus, now freshly repainted.

Ross Sherwood tells me that Stagecoach in Darlington Leyland Lynx II 29627 (K627YVN) has arrived back at Darlington after its repaint.

18/01/05

Gary Mitchelhill tells me that Stagecoach in Sunderland have sent Dart 32718 (K718PCN) to Carlisle in exchane for commemoratively liveried 32735 (L735VNL). Also sent to Carlisile is Leyland Olympian / Northern Counties 13022 (A22HNC) ex Stagecoach in Darlington.

Ian Kennedy advises that the fifth Volvo B7RLE / Wright for Go North East is 4980 (NK54NUM).

15/01/05

Stuart Gray has confirmed that Arriva Durham County Leyland Olympian / Northern Counties 7285 (G762UYT) is back in use at Bishop Auckland with a new engine. He also reports that the AlexanderDennis Enviro 300 demonstrator has moved on to Gardiners of Spennymoor (thanks also to Neil Wise for reporting this!), while Mark Gibbon passes on a report that Durham depot are due to receive a Scania demonstrator this week.

Mark Gibbon confirms that Arriva Teesside Optare Vecta 1518 (K518BHN) is now for disposal following its accident damage, and is donating its engine to sister 1506 (K506BHN).

Neil Wise reports that Arriva Tees & District Optare Vecta 1537 (L537FHN) is being repaired at Gardiners of Spennymoor after accident damage in last weekend's high winds. Also present are a pair of Optare Deltas, one being Arriva Durham County's 4090 (G251SRG).

The Go North East website shows the latest deliveries of Scania L94UB / Wright to comprise 5215-23 (NK54NVL/M/N/O/P/T/U/V/W), while also delivered are Volvo B7RLE / Wright 4978/9/81/2 (NK54NUH/J/O/P). Scanias 5207-17 are all listed as in service at South Shields, displacing all Optare Excels from there - these comprise 8145/7-57 (R245/7OCU, S148-54OCU, S35NRG, S156/7OCU). SPDs 8208-10 (V208-10ERG) move from Deptford to Percy Main, displacing Optare Excels 8179/83/5 (T879/83/5RBR).

Richards Smiles reports a couple more repaints for Stagecoach North East comprising Volvo Olympian / Alexander 16835 (R835OVN) and unusually Leyland Lynx II 29627 (K627YVN). Gary Mitchelhill has also spotted Leyland Olympian / Alexander 14189 (G189JHG) repainted and being fitted with bus seating. A number of buses have been sent to help out in Carlisle after the flooding there - see below.

Last weekend Stagecoach in Carlisle suffered the ruination of all of their buses after serious floods gripped the city. Buses have been drafted in from all over the country, including the North East. From various sources, the lsit of buses loaned from the North East comprises Scania N113 / Alexander 28901/15/32/3/7 (F901/15JRG, H432/3/7EFT) from Newcastle, Volvo B10M / Alexander 20726 (K726DAO) from South Shields, Dennis Dart / Alexander 32718/35 (K718PCN, L735VNL) from Sunderland, Volvo B10M / Alexander 20695 (P315EFL) from Hartlepool, Volvo B10M / ALexander 20838 (P838GND) from Stockton and Dennis Dart / Alexander 32564 (K564NHC) from Darlington. Regulars on the 685 through to Newcastle are now Volvo B10M / Plaxton Interurban 52139/88 (K569GSA, L588HSG) - see photos above.

Stuart Gray reports that Weardale, Stanhope have Dennis Dart SLF . Plaxton W669TNV on loan while one of their DAF SB220s has major accident damage repaired.

12/01/05

Neil Wise has confirmed that Arriva North East have swapped Lynx H757WWW for H339UWT and has provided the above picture of H339UWT. It has also been confirmed that Leyland Olympian / ECW 7301 (C263XEF) has now left Peterlee. Optare Vecta 1534 (L534FHN) is widely reported as being off the road with accident damage.

Ross Sherwood tells me that Stagecoach in Darlington Leyland Lynx II 29630 (K630YVN) has returned to service.

Alex Bettenny tells me that Compass Royston, Stockton have a pair of new Volvo B12Bs registered FJ54ZDL/M. He also noted Travel West Midlands 1681 (type to be confirmed) arriving at sister company ITC on the back of a low-loader.

09/01/05

It may only just be the start of 2005, but a candidate for most unusual working of the year must surely be of Stagecoach in Newcastle MAN 18.220 / Transbus 22019 (NK03XJJ) on Megabus duties due to high wind. I had the pleasure of it from Leeds to London and can say it ran very well.

John Hart tells me that Go North East have new Scanias 5212 (NK54NVG) and 5214 (NK54NVJ) in use at South Shields. He has kindly provided the above picture.

07/01/05

Neil Wises that a third ex Arriva Yorkshire Lynx is with Arriva Northumbria at Ashington - intended to be used for spares. It is H345UWX - seen above at Castleford depot in November. He also adds that H757WWW is to be swapped for H338UWT as it was collected in error. I should also mention that Olympian 7263 (TPD116X) has now arrived at Peterlee.

06/01/05

Ian S tells me of some interesting arrivals at Arriva Durham County's Peterlee depot. They are Leyland Lynx IIs H755/7WWW which are understood to be for use as driver trainers.

04/01/05

Several vehicles have been added to stock at Nortumbira Coaches, Ashington. Most notable of these are Leyland Tiger / East Lancs (rebody) C141SPB which is repainted and in use and a Marshall Minibus - the latter a long-term project. Also arrived are an as yet unregistered double deck coach (also rebodied apparently) and a couple of coaches which appear not to be for use just yet. These are Volvo B10M / Ikarus LIW9278 and Bova Futura SIL7486. A non-bus arrival is Seddon Atkinson Wrekker G921UYV. Optare Metrorider L836MWT is now under cannibalisation.

A suprising vehicle in stock with Astley, Ashington is Leyland Tiger (front engined variety) JAX354. It is in Stevensons of Uttoxeter livery, but has Astley legals so may be more than preserved in the most basic sense.

Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian / Roe 7263 (TPD116X) has not quite reached Peterlee yet - it is currently receiveing attention at Jesmond.

02/01/05

The Go North East website shows that New Scania L94UB /Wright 5206-8 are now in service at Deptford (5206) and South Shields (5207/8). Mini Pouinter dart 517 joins 514/6/8 at Percy Main ex Deptford, while Percy main also gain SPDs 8162-4 from Gateshead. Further Optare Excels to leave the fleet are 8125-30.

News from Ian S, passed on by John Atkin is that Arriva Durham County now have Leyland Olympian / Roe 7263 (TPD116X) at Peterlee ex Arriva Northumbria at Blyth. It is also reported that Leyland Olympian / ECW 7301 (C263XEF) [which, had history been different, could have become 7263 itself!] is due for withdrawal.

In interesting sighting on New Year's Eve was of Arriva Teesside Optare Metrorider 876 (M876LBB) which recently suffered engine failure, arriving on the back of a flatbed truck at Arriva Northumbria's Blyth depot.