30/11/03

New operator Green Bus (Darlington & District) hit the roads of Darlington today. Vehicle stock comprises Optare Alero YN53WYZ/ZA/B/D in Darlington council livery, Dennis / Plaxton MPD X184BNH (white), Mercedes 709 / Alexander L155/6UEM, M102/4WKA, M158WWM ex Arriva NW in green bus livery, and rental Mercedes Vario / Plaxton S376TMB (white) and Mercedes Vario / Marshall T455HNV, S716KNV (white). It is understood that the Varios are temporary until MPDs can be acquired.

28/11/03

Martin Brigham tells me that the former United, Tees & District and Arriva depot at Stokesley has been demolished. A sad end for one of the nicest (in several respects) depots in the land. Further sad news, from a correspondent who will remain anonymous, is that the former Lockeys / OK Motor Services depot at St Helen Auckland is soon to be demolished. Readers may be interested to know of the existence of a website devoted to Lockeys - click here

News cortesy of Richard Smiles is that Abbey Coaches had their vehicle authorisation cut from ten to five at a pulic enquiry this week. It will be interesting to see what effect this has on their services and the role of sister company A1 Coaches

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Ian S kindly advises that Arriva Durham County have received a further ex Arriva London Leyland Olympian / ECW at Peterlee, this being 7221 (D157FYM). Stuart Gray advises that Optare Delta 4104 (H266CFT) has been fitted with roller destination blinds and is in use at Bishop Auckland, along with 7275 (L275FVN), back from body repairs. He also understands that Optare Vecta 1550 (L550GHN) will be re-engined with an MAN unit.

23/11/03

Arriva Durham County Optare Delta 4083 (F792DWT) has been moved from storage at Bishop Auckland to ITC at Thornaby. It is not clear at this stage whether it is there for a new engine or has been sold. Ian S confirms that Leyland Olympian 7215 (D155FYM) has entered service at Peterlee repainted and single door displacing Metrobus 601 (BYX210V) back to Jesmond, while Peterlee MPD 1708 (V708DNL) is off the road after an engine fire. Neil Wise informs me that Optare Metrorider 2629 (P629FHN) remains in use at Darlington due to sister 2643 being off the road in need of a new engine.

Notably the final Bristol RE of Delta Coaches remains at ITC in Thornaby. It remains complete other than a couple of broken windows, a broken light fitting and a flat tyre.

Further analysis of the Go North East fleet allocation available on their website shows that Optare Metroriders 360/2 (K360/2SCN) have been reinstated at Deptford, while Leyland Nationals 4671/83/5 (UPT671/83/5V) move from Deptford to Washington, and sisters 4678-80/4/8/708 (UPT678-80/4V, BGR688W, FTN708W) are removed from service. Vehicles sold are Optare Metrorider 363 (K363SCN), MCW Metrobus 3629 (A629BCN), Leyland Olympian / ECW 3661/1/745 (C661/6LJR, B745GCN), Leyland Nationals 4678-80/4/8/708 (UPT678-80/4V, BGR688W, FTN708W) and Dennis Dart / Wright 8082/3/8 (K982/3/8SCU).

22/11/03

Former Arriva Durham County Leyland Lynx II 5007 (H32PAJ) is now with Arriva Northumbria at Ashington as a driver trainer. It currently remains in Arriva livery, but sports "L" plates. This was apparently regared as an unpopular machine at Bishop Auckland - it must have been to replace it with Optare Delta 4104!!

More on the Olympian movements at Arriva Northumbria. 7413 (P413CCU) is in fact working for Alnwick as kindly pointed out by "KvTipple" and observed by myself today (whether it is allocated there on paper, however, must be a matter of conjecture!). 7370/3 (M370/3FTY) are also currently at Alnwick, though again, given the frequency with which these vehicles change places between Ashington and Alnwick it is hard to know what is officially where until you can get you hands on the official allocation sheet! Good news, ECW bodied 7302/16 continue in use at Alnwick.

Appologies for not mentioning this sooner, but Gary Mitchelhill kindly informs me that Stagecoach in Newcastle have received another Leyland Olympian from Manchester. This one is, however, more familliar than most, as it is 14631 (C631LFT) which was transferred to Manchester from Busways a year or two back. Check out Gary's new fotopic site at http://gjmtransportphotos.fotopic.net/

A quick squint at the Go North East website shows that a new pair of Volvo B12M / Plaxton have been delivered for National Express work. They are 7088/9 (524FUP, 574CPT). Also, Bedford / Plaxton driver trainer 9914 (D914URG) has been withdrawn. Significantly this was the final manual gearbox driver trainer in the fleet.

21/11/03

Good news on the Arriva Durham County Leyland Olympian front. 7301 (C263XEF) was only away for a new engine and is back in use (thanks to Ian, Dave and Marty for this!), while 7241 (A241GHN) has returned to use at Darlington with a new engine. Also I can bring you a nice shot of ex London 7217 in Peterlee looking very smart - note the unusual destination layout.

Another interesting Olympian move, as reported by "Dogcatcherssc" is of Arriva Northumbria 7407 (C260UAJ) from Jesmond to Blyth, presumably replacing previously withdrawn 7206. Jesmond also appear to have lost two Volvo Olympians to Ashington, namely 7412/3 (P412/3CCU). This will presumably allow a couple of DP seated examples to move to Alnwick reinstating the dd/sd balance there and seeing off a couple of Tigers (214 was parked up minus several bits on my last visit, but we shall see what happens on the ground!).

Jayline, Horden Mercedes 709 / Alexander G291TSL is now in normal fleet livery ex mint and purple!.

Abbey Coaches are on the move to a new depot at Middlesbrough Road East in South Bank. The Margrove Park facility will remain in partial use for a while dut to the need to dispose of all of the scrap.

09/11/03

A couple of interesting pictures of Arriva Durham County buses stored at Peterlee. These are engineless Optare Metrorider 2622 (P622FHN) and ex London Leyland Olympian 7219 (D216FYM). Notable by it's absence from Peterlee today was Olympian 7301 (C263XEF) - hopefully it is only away temporarily - I would hate to think that it had succumbed to the breakers' torch.

Neil Wise tells me that yet another Arriva Tees & District Optare Vecta awaiting a new engine is 1524 (L524FHN).

Now "missing" from Arriva Northumbria's Jesmond depot is Leyland Olympian 7220 (D178FYM). It would appear that the return of Metrobus 623 has allowed this to go for refurbishment.

Former Stagecoach Hartlepool Leyland Lynx 29601 (F601UVN) has emerged from the Sunderland paintshops in a new training scheme, carrying Busways legals. Also in the paintshop currently are Olympian 16702 (N702LTN), MAN 22464 (T464BNL) and Dart SLFs 33102/826 (R102KRG, R826YUD).

08/11/03

Arriva Northumbria VDL SB200 / Wright 1801-3 (NK53HHX-Z) are 44 seaters with the same high standard interiors as new MPD 1758. They feature Cummins ISBe six cylinder engines coupled to a Voith three speed automatic box, giving them very reasonable acceleration, though requiring high engine revs to maintain a good speed on the A189 Spine Road. Volvo B10BLEs 4506-8 are reported transferred to Jesmond this morning.

A visit to Alnwick today would suggest that Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian / Alexander 7311 (F311JTY) has indeed been withdrawn, replaced by Scania 7258 (N183OYH). This is regareded by many as sad, as this batch of Olympians was considered by many to be Northumbria Motor Services' first indication of the excellence to come.

Stuart Gray reports that Arriva Durham County Leyland Olympian / Alexander 7275 (L275FVN) is off the road with a structural defect, while another Optare Vecta to suffer engine failure is 1545 (L545GHN). The queue to join 1541/4/56 (L541FHN, L544GHN, UOI772) with Cummins units gets ever longer! Neil Wise kindly informs me that the majority of the Metroriders expected to be removed from use are still working, covering for other defective buses, no least Metrorider 2720 (R720MHN) which has sustained serious accident damage.

The temporary services in Darlington operating until Green Bus are ready to begin are providing some interest. Scarlet band had Optare Metroriders J337/42JJR and J709CGK in evidence today, while Hodgsons of Barnard Castle were using Iveco / Marshall N42YJW in operation. Least inspring of all was Catterick Minibuses Ford Transit F692JTN which was working Stillington service 97 - did any intending passengers recognise it as a bus I wonder? It was empty when I saw it!

Finally for today, an unusual working. Arriva Tees & District DAF SB120 / Wright 1922 (W83PRG) works the X14 through Darlington.

07/11/03

"Dogcatcherssc" kindly tells me that Arriva Northumbria VDL SB200 / Wright 1801-3 (NK53HHX-Z) entered service today at Blyth on the 441. I hope to bring you a selection of in service pictures and some general comment tomorrow. Also, it should be noted that during October Olympians 7370-7 were all officially allocated to Alnwick, while Scania L113s 273/4 were allocated to Alnwick - it will probably come as little suprise if I say that this was not always reflected by reality! Olympians 7307/10 (F307/10JTY) have been withdrawn and sold, leaving just 7311 (F311JTY) from this pioneering batch - however this may have also have gone by now.

02/11/03

A number of service changes in the Darlington area take effect this weekend. Green Bus (Darlington & District), set up by Richard Cranmer, was due to take on operation of several routes, but will be unable to for another month. Services will be temporarily operated by other operators - see the Darlington Council Website for more detail.

Neil Wise informs me that the effect of services lost to green bus and other operators on Arriva Durham County will be that several Metroriders become surplus to requirements. These are expected to be 2601/5/29/41 (L601/5FHN, P629/41FHN), but this may change as required. He also reports that Optare Delta 4104 (H266CFT) is due to move to Bishop Auckland.

01/11/03

"Dogcatcherssc" kindly informed me that the new VDL (nee DAF) SB200 / Wright Commander have arrived at Arriva Northumbria's Blyth depot. A trip up there today revealed them to be 1801-3 (NK53HHX-Z). They have yet to enter service.

Ian S confirms that Arriva Durham County Leyland olympian 7217 has now enetered service at Peterlee, displacing Metrobus 623 (B112WUL) back to Jesmond. While I did not see 7217 in service today, Peterlee did have Metrobus 601 (BYX210V) out on the 230/242 - how could I resist a ride!.

Finally, I can bring you the identities of three of Northumbria Coaches' ex Dart of Paisley MAN 11.220 / Marshall. Noted today were R412/3XFL and P190SHR. Also in stock is Leyland Olympian / Northern Counties B115SJA, which cam from First Manchester via Compass Royston.