29/05/04
Mark Westgarth tells me that Arriva Northumbria have MPD 1701 (T701RCN) back at Jesmond, while the May allocation shows that Scania L113 / East Lancs 273/4 (P273/4VRG) are now allocated to Ashington, while Volvo Olympian / East Lancs 7423/4 (M687/8HPF) are now allocated to Alnwick. It should, however, be noted that vehicles frequently swap between Ashington and Alnwick, so this may not be the case in practice!
Martin Brigham and John Atkin both noted that Stagecoach on Teesside are now using Mercedes 709 / Alexander 40496 (N496RVK) which has been stored at Stockton since returning from loan to East Midlands.
Go North East MPD 8195 (V195ERG) is another to move from Deptford to Winlaton.
Style Travel, Peterlee have added Dennis Javelin / Neoplan Transliner P983HWF to stock..
28/05/04
Neil Wise and Stuart Gray between them advise that Arriva Durham County now have Optare Delta 4092 (G253SRG) ex Arriva Northumbria at Bishop Auckland, where it has replaced Lynx II 5006 (H31PAJ) which is set to join the training fleet. Darlington have MPD 1719 (V719DNL) from Stockton for the summer, while Richmond have gained much travelled Optare Delta 4001 (G209HCP) ex Redcar/Loftus (they've been sharing it!)
KVTipple advises that Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian / ECW 7244 (A244GHN), while officially at Ashington, has been working for Alnwick on the 406 and 515!
Gavin Miller kindly corrects that Abbey Coaches A700OCJ and A300DCJ are in fact Bedfords.
A pair of new Transbus Mini Pointer Darts have arrived at Northumbria Coaches, Ashington. They are NK04UTJ/L, and are in allover white livery.
Astley, Ashington have made some interesting purchases. Volvo B58 / Plaxton Viewmaster 8975EL is ex Scott, Acomb, Leyland Tiger / Duple HSB950Y is ex Longstaffs, Amble (appears to be for spares) and Mercedes 709 / Plaxton N915ETM, which appears to have originated with an Arriva fleet.
A pair of new Transbus Mini Pointer Darts have arrived at Northumbria Coaches, Ashington. They are NK04UTJ/L, and are in allover white livery.
Ray Barber offers further information on Arriva Durham County's latest Optare Delta 4098. It is Chassis number 005946, body number 5343.
23/05/04
Graeme Scarlett tells me that The Eden are to operate Commercial service 99 West Auckland - Shildon (and 99A/99B variants to Bishop Auckland) from early June. Also, M4 (LIL2176) the ex Moores, Stanley Mercedes Minibus is now in livery and looks at home with it's sisters.
John Atkin tells me that Abbey Coaches have an additional Bedford A300RCJ in allover white.
Stagecoach in Hartlepool new Transbus Darts are now in service.
Ian S very kindly brings news of some very interesting arrivals at Arriva Durham County's Peterlee depot. Acquired is Optare Delta 4098 (P130RWR) which was previously used at Luton Airport, and is now single door. This is presumably replacing fire damaged 4007. The nearside grille suggests that it is one of the few Deltas to feature DAF's 8.65 litre engine. It is reported as having only 31000 miles on the clock and is pristine. Also arrived at Peterlee are ex Jesmond MPD 1701 (T701RCU) and Volvo B10M / East Lancs 2871 (H922XYT).
22/05/04
Northumbria Coaches have added a number of Dennis / Plaxton MPDs to stock for the new services to Great Park. Two ex Jim Stones, Leigh examples noted are W928PTD and W869YNB, while an allover white example was noted, but couldnot be identified.
Coopers, Annitsford have one of only two Volvo B6BLE / Plaxton 2000s built. It is painted in a livery similar to that of Flights, Birmingham, and has styling much like that of the Enviro 300 to the ends, and perhaps more Mercedes Citaro to the sides.
New at Stanley Taxis is Mercedes Sprinter GO04STX.
Added to stock at Generation Travel, Great Ayton is Volvo B10M / Van Hool XIL8944. It is well presented as is usual for this fleet.
Arriva Tees & District Optare Vecta 1510 (K510BHN) and MPD 1753 (W754SBR) bot appear to have suffered engine failure.
Movements at Go North East are of Volvo Olympian / Northern Counties 3925/6 from Winlaton to Stanley in exchange for 3919/20, while 3940 moves from Winlaton to Bishop Auckland in exchange for 3915. Optare Metrorider 410 has moved from Percy Main to Winlaton replacing 365, while ex London Darts 575/8 have entered service at Chester-le-Street. Nationals 4672/715/9/21 have been sold. My fleetlist has been updated to suit.
21/05/04
Appologies to anyone who is receiving spam or virusus purporting to be from me. I have checked my computer an it is clean, indeed there is clear evidence that they are coming from within Yahoo!.
Some Arriva North East news from Neil Wise, Stuart Gray and Marty B. Optare Metrorider 2626 (P626FHN) has been destryed by fire while in service at Skeeby near Richmond, while Optare Vecta 1517 (K517BHN) has suffered engine failure again, after only three months! Sister 1549 (L549GHN) is away being fitted with a Cummins unit, while sister 1533 (L533FHN) is back at Stockton also with Cummins power.
Richard Smiles has most kindly passed on much useful information over the last week. The Stagecoach Hartlepool Transbus Darts delivered recently and noted on 09/05/04 are numbered 34561-5, and have since been joined by 34566-9 (NK04KZZ/LBA/E/NPE). These are expected to work from Sunday. Richard also points out that "Buses" Magazine contains details of forthcoming new deliveres for Stagecoach North East which consist of 11 new Darts for South Shields and 22 new MANs. These are awaited with interest. Further shuffles will take place as a result, such that Darlington is to lose it's fleet of Titans, Atlanteans and B6s this summer! Already arrived at Darlington are Leyland Olympian / Northern Counties 13022 (A22HNC) and Dennis Dart / Plaxton 32702/70 (J702KCU, M770DRG).
16/05/04
Phil Logie reports that Compass Royston have a third ex Continental VR, PAG517W.
Ian S reports that Arriva Durham County Leyland Olympian / ECW 7244 (A244GHN) is now withdrawn. It has since been noted as having passed to Arriva Northumbria at Ashington.
09/05/04
Now delivered to Stagecoach in Hartlepool are Transbus Dart SLF / Transbus Pointer 2 NK04KZU/V/W/X/Y. They are parked up at Hartlepool depot, though have not been prepared for service yet.
08/05/04
Removed from stock at Go North East are Leyland Nationals 4674/704 (UPT674V, FTN704W).
Ian S advises that Arriva Durham County now have Leyland Olympian / ECW 7216 (D160FYM) at Peterlee.
Peter Tuck brings the news that Weardale, Stanhope have ex Lothian Leyland Olympians C778/87SFS in allover white, retaining dual doors. These are understood to be Atlantean replacements.
Some interesting news courtesy of Richard Smiles' regular fleetlist, is the sale of Stagecoach North East Leyland Titan 10668 (NUW668Y) and Dodge / Wadham Stringer 48013 (C918AHN) to Redby, Sunderland. It is presumed that the Titan is a replacement for ex Dublin Olympian H643PTW which was reported sold in the last "BUSES" magazine.
02/05/04
Added to stock at Roberts, Wingate is Leyland Tiger/Plaxton LUI7646. This has a 3+2 seating layout acheiving a capacity of 70.
Compass Royston, Stockton have placed Optare StarRider VIB7141 into service, after a long period parked in the yard.