31/03/03

News kindly provided by Mark Gibbon is that Arriva Teesside Optare Vecta 1544 (L544GHN) is the second tobenefit from a Cummins engine. It is undergoing body mods to account for the offside radiator. Also at Stockton is Olympian 7303 (F303JTY). Though in reserve, it remains taxed, so is seeing use as a staff bus - better than Ford Transit R733LVL!

Abbey Coaches have acquired the two former Northumbira Leyland Leopard / Duple that have languished at North East Bus Breakers for some time. I will be a happy bunny if/when these return to service! UGG918W, F563HPP and JWO57P are reported taken away for scrap.

30/03/03

Continental Coaches, Stockton Leyland Leopard / Plaxton SJI2585 is now under cannibalisation, outside the depot. Accident damaged VR LFJ878W is parked up behind it.

With regard to the former Stagecoach Transit Titan A846WUL observed in Frosterley, Mark Westgarth informs me that it was reported sold to Weardale Motor Services back in December, and that the bus next to it is in fact a rare Marshall bodied Olympian.

M&D Travel, Thornaby have added unusual Volvo B6 / Jonkherre L964NNW to stock, which is understood to be ex Wallace Arnold.

29/03/03

An interesting addition to stock at Jayline, Horden is Mercedes Sprinter Y791WOY, used on new services 143 and 145 in Seaham. It carries MicroBus branding.

With the introduction of service 150 Sunderland - Seaham, Go North East have given MPDs 522/43-8 purple Turn up and Go branding. A second ex London Olympian in use at Stanley is 3922, freshly repainted. The Go North East Website notes the sale of Metrobuses 3506/621/786, Olympian 3523 and Nationals 4666/73/87/98/717.

Stagecoach on Teesside are fitting certain vehicles with CCTV, noted so far are MANs 22668/71 and Olympians 16834/5. Thanks to Martin Brigham for letting me know that Titan 10846 (A846SUL) has been sold. He spotted it in Frosterley, parked next to a red VR - it's new operator remains a mystery!

The future is looking short for Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian / Alexander "Smelly" 7206 (E228WBG). It has had it's destination overpainted black, and operates only with numbers! Clearly it's life expectency does not justify a repair!

Classic, Annfield Plain are have taken over some of the services of St George travel in Washington, following that operator's decision to cease operating. Mercedes 811 / Alexander H425/9XGK have come from MK Metro to work the services.

28/03/03

Neil Wise brings news that Procters (Dales & District) have new Volvo Merit / Wright Cadet NX03ANF. This is the Volvo badged version of the DAF SB120.

23/03/03

Notably Arriva Northumbria service A5 (Ashington Hospitals) is to be withdrawn after operation on Friday (28/3/03), due to the closure of Ashington Hospital. This will bring an end to the need to fit Ashington buses with tow bars and the towing of Hospital trailers.

Arriva Durham County Dennis Dart SLF 1609 (R609MHN) is back in use at Darlington, while Metrobus 617 (OJD858Y) has returned to Durham having spent several month at Peterlee. Leyland National Trainer 9999 (GSU347) is also reported back in use.

22/03/03

An addition to stock at Leven Valley is Mercedes 811D / Leicester Carriage Builders M478YSG. This differs from the other vehicles in the fleet by having an automatic gearbox.

On loan at JSB Travel of Newton Aycliffe is Optare Alero VU02TRV, covering for one of the Durham City Catederal Bus examples.

Go Northern are currently using Volvo Olympian / Northern Counties 3910 (R553LGH) at Stanley, working the Newcastle expresses.

New at Overlander of Ferryhill (the heir to the throne of Martindales) is Mercedes Sprinter OV52BUS.

Noted out of use at South Shields are Stagecoach Lynxes 29116/21/4 (F116/21/4HVK). Reports on the StagecoachNE Yahoo group suggest that sister 29122 (F122HVK) is to become a driver trainer - perhaps these will be next?.

19/03/03

Neil Wise kindly informs me that Go Northern are now using Optare Solo 9182 (YM52TOU) on service 70 Darlington - Bowes Museum, which is owned by Durham County Council. Apparently it even carries customer assistants!

11/03/03

Recent Deliveries to Atkinsons, Ingleby Arncliffe are Volvo B7R / Jonkherre FN02HRO and Iveco Eurorider / Beulas FN02VCJ. Also added to stock is DAF SB3000 / Ikarus N503LUA.

Procters of Bedale have recently taken five Optare Solos into stock, the fifth of which is 05 (MW52PZA). Also in stock is DAF SB220 / Ikarus VIL1584, lettered for a Tesco free bus service.

Additions to stock at Winns, Brompton are Bova Futura GAZ2432 and one-time Busways Leyland Tiger / Plaxton TBC2X.

10/03/03

A further Optare Vecta reinstated with Arriva Durham County at Bishop Auckland is 1545 (L545GHN). Optare Metrorider 933 (K723HUG) is working for Durham depot, while sister K724HUG (ex934) is now in ASDA livery with Low Fell Travel.

In stock at Griersons, Fishburn is former Skills of Nottingham Volvo B10M / Plaxton UJI6313.

08/03/03

Arriva Tees & District Optare Vecta 1537 (L537FHN) has been retrieved from the reserve fleet and repainted, and is currently parked up in Loftus depot. It is not clear if this is it's final destination.

Procters of Bedale now have somewhat unusual Volvo B6LE / Alexander R630GSC in service which looks to be ex Eve, Dunbar.

The Go North East website notes that Optare Metroriders 360/1/4/7/75/7 are to be reinstated. I understand that these will be used at Sunderland (cheers Gary), presumably for additional Nexus contracts.

07/03/03

Bob Smith, Durham now have Scania L113 / Wright N162KPS, which was, I beleive, previously with an operator on the Shetland islands.

The latest notices and proceedings for the North East show that Dunn-Line, as well as increasing the number of vehicles that can operate from their depot near Easington loane to 30, have registered the open top service to operate again in Whitby this year from April to September..

04/03/03

Elliott Stuffins informs me that former United Leyland Olympian / ECW WDC218Y, AEF221/2/8/9Y are to be withdrawn by UK North in Manchester due to a drop in the number of buses allowed on their O licence. Let's hope the find good homes!

03/03/03

Arriva Optare Vecta 1539 has made a suprise move to Hexham, though for a temporoary service during roadworks. Thanks to Gary Mitchelhill for this! It is nopt clear whether it will be repainted as first thought.

01/03/03

A few allocation changes have taken place at Arriva North East / Northumbria Metroriders 894 and 897 have swapped depots with 894 now at Durham and 897 now at Blyth. DAF 4033 and 4036 have also swapped with 4036 working for Durham and 4033 working for Stockton. Olympian 7426 is back at Durham. Olympian 7290 is stored at Jesmond, while Vecta 1539 is there for repaint.

The Optare Excel demonstrator with Go North East has moved on to Deptford.