28/06/03
Johnathan Hare kindly advises that Stagecoach
Hartlepool Volvo B10M / Plaxton 20256 (R556RPY) was this morning involved
in an accident and has sustained substantial damage to it's front end.
A second Volvo B10BLE noted in Arriva Northumbria's
Jesmond depot is V532GDS. Scania / Northern Counties 7251 (L160GYL) has joined
7257/8 at Ashington, with the rest of the batch expected to follow. Postings on
the arriva_northumbria yahoo group suggest that they will be displaced from the
308 at Blyth by Hexham's Tridents, which will in turn be replaced by Volvo
B10BLEs from Scotland - can't help thinking the B10BLEs will get a bit full on
the 602!! Currently stored at Ashington are Leyland Olympian / Alexander
7201/3, 7304 (F248/1YTJ, F304JTY), while Metroriders 855/7 (L855/7WRG) are
stored at Hexham.
Martin Brigham brings news that Arriva Tees &
District now have Optare Delta 4104 (H266CFT) at Redcar - a big thanks for
the piccy!.
21/06/03
An interesting arrival at Arriva Northumbria’s
Jesmond depot is former Arriva Scotland West Volvo B10BLE / Wright V534GDS. At
this stage it is not clear whether it is an addition to fleet strength or just
passing through. Leyland Olympian 7307 (F307JTY) is reinstated at Ashington.
Stagecoach in South Shields have
lost all of their Dennis Dart SLFs to Walkergate (Byker) depot, with Volvo
B10Ms / Alexander 20120/5/6/35/840/2 (P120/5/6/35XCN, P840/2GND) being noted in
South Shields in exchange. Also noted in South Shields were Dennis Dart /
Plaxton 32121/5 (K121/5SRH).
Summer must be here, as Stagecoach on Teesside’s MAN
18.220s are wilting in the heat again. 22658 (T658OEF) was keeping Ian
Bradley’s Eurowrecker busy today, while two Lynxes and a B10M were noted
working the 36.
13/06/03
Elliot Stuffins tells me that former Arriva Northumbria Leyland
Olympian / Alexander 7303 (F303JTY) is with Aintree Coachlines, while 7306/9
(F306/9JTY) are with Liverpool Motor Services. Sister 7305 has moved to
Peterlee, as several people has informed me, reason unknown.
07/06/03
Arriva North
East are about to fit their third Vecta
with a Cummins B series engine. This time it is 1535 (L535FHN) of Loftus. Ian S
informs me that an F-reg Alexander bodied Olympian has been noted in Peterlee
depot. Former United/Northumbria Leyland Leopard / Duple (rebody) ABR866S is
now with the Scarborough Starlights Jazz Band. The current storage situation at
Stockton sees Optare Vectas 1501/3/11/6/20/2/3/32/46/54 (J661UHN, K503/11/6BHN,
L520/2/3/32FHN, L546GHN, M503AJC) amd Optare Metroriders 856/936 (L856WRG),
K727HUG) laid-up. Over at Redcar Olympian 7276 (G21HHG), Optare Vectas 1552/8
(M501AJC, K140RYS) and the remains of Optare Metrorider 858 (L858WRG) are
stored.
Abbotts of Leeming have
taken on services 80/89 Stokesley to Northallerton, using brand new Optare Solos
WL03AOL/XL03AOL.
Noted at Skelton Coaches is
Leyland Leopard / ECW YEL98Y. This had once operated for Nortrhumbria, but has
since been with a community group in South Shields. In the windscreen sits a
notice stating "Coaches for Sale".
06/06/03
Vehicle movements at Arriva North East
after last weekend's service changes and depot closures see MPDs 1708/16
(V708/16DNL) move to Peterlee to work the 215 ex Stokesley, Metroriders
752/2602 (M752WWR, L602FHN) move to Peterlee ex Stokesley/Redcar, Optare Delta
4001 (G209HCP) and Metrorider 2626 (P626FHN) move from Peterlee to Richmond,
the latter as a result of Go North East giving up the Richmond town service,
and Optare Delta 4104 (H266CFT) enter reserve ex Peterlee. What is not clear is
why Peterlee have gained one bus overall, having lost at least two diagrams of
work