31/10/03

Elliot Stuffins kindly informs me that former Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian / Alexander (7)304/5 (F304/5JTY) and Optare Delta 260(4101) (H598CNL) are now with Walton, Freckleton (Preston).

Mike provides news that Arriva Tees & District Optare Vecta 1534 (L534FHN) is off the road with what sounds like terminal engine damage. He also informs me that funding has been secured to fit two Loftus and three Redcar vehicles with CCTV.

25/10/03

The confusion over the numbering of Olympian 7217 at Peterlee has been cleared up - the three Arriva Northumbria examples at Jesmond have all been renumbered. Ther are now 7216 (D160FYM) ex 7212, 7218 (D189FYM) ex 7215 and 7220 (D178FYM) ex 7217 ex 7214!!

I can now bring the identity of Arriva Northumbria's new Transbus Mini Pouinter Dart. It is 1758 (NK53HJA), and features very comfortable semi-high-back seating, powerblinds front and rear, an LED destination on the side and also has CCTV. The CCTV appears to have been retrofitted by Arriva, rather than being built in by Transbus.

Arriva Tees & District currently have Mercedes Citaro demonstrator BX02CMK on loan at Redcar working service 64. My efforts yesterday to catch up with it came to no use, but Martin Brigham has kindly supplied the above picture.

Withdrawn Stagecoach in Hartlepool Leyland Lynx 29606 (F606UVN) has emerged from the paintshop at Sunderland in allover white, reason unknown.

Slightly old news, but as I finally caught up with it today I may as well put it here! Target Travel, Cramlington now have Mercedes Vario / Plaxton(Transbus) NK53KGJ for use on service 318.

Stagecoach in South Shields Volvo B10M / Alexander 20123 (P123XCN) has been refurbished with new seating as per the Hartlepool examples, but judging from the fact it was travelling down the Felling by-pass this morning it would appear still to be at South Shields.

Go North East have transferred most if not all of the remainder of service 35/35A from Deptford to South Shields depot. SPDs 8205-10 have moved to work the service.

24/10/03

Unusual workings abounded today! Stagecoach on Teesside had Leyland Atlantean / Alexander 15811 (EJR111W) out on the 58 Stockton - Hardwick for most of the day, then used Magicbus blue Olympian 13026 (A26ORJ) on the X36 Middlesbrough to Hartlepool (there were no "X"s on the blinds, so confusingly was blinded as a 36!). Richard Smiles reports that Lynxes 29611/9 (G611/9CEF) have vanished. Only two Lynx remain in use at Stockton, these being 29607/10 (F607/10UVN) both out in all-day service today. Their replacemnt Scanias are receiving less than favourable comments from the natives. "It's like one of those old Delta buses" one Park End resident was heard to remark - shame it doesn't have the same sound effects!

Greame Scarlett infroms me that his company The Eden arez acquiring Mercedes 709 / Plaxton L634VCV ex First Western National (via Houston Ramm). This is expected to gain Eden livery and fleetnumber M3.

Ian S kindly advises that Arriva Durham County's Peterlee depot now has fromer Arriva London Leyland Olympian / ECW D165FYM. It is fully repainted and converted to single door, but has yet to enter service. Ian reports it as 7217, however 7217 is carried by D178FYM, and I undertand that Peterlee's example should be 7213. Also, from a different source, I hear Arriva are to regain evening and sunday service 239 Easington - Sedgefield from Go Northern (latterly shared with JSB Travel).

During the visit of the replica ship "Endevour" to Middlesbrough, Kings Coaches are running a free shuttle service from the bus station to the riverside. The journey photographed above was a bit light on passengers carrying only two tramps, their dog and a bottle of white cider!

I am informed that Abbey Coaches Optare Metrorider G222VDX is now for scrap due to corrosion.

19/10/03

Stagecoach on Teesside have gained the final Leyland Olympian from Darlington 14658 (C658LFT). Darlington now has an eighth Titan in it's place. As there was no sign of 10648 or 10840 in Stockton's yard today it is probably one of these two, 10648 being the more likely due to 10840 having CCTV. That said 10827 has also vanished from Walkergate as reported last week, so is also a possibility.

18/10/03

Martin Brigham informs me that withdrawn 29107 (F107HVK) has gained "L" plates, suggesting it is joining 29122 as a trainer at Stockton.

An update on Arriva Tees & District's Redcar depot. Optare Metrorider 2611 (P611FHN) and Optare Deltas 4001/104 (G209HCP, H266CFT) remain in use, but Optare Vecta 1555 (M504AJC) is out of service.

I can confirm that Stagecoach in Newcastle MAN 22035 is regsitered NK53KEJ, while 22051 is NK53KFV.

17/10/03

D Taylor confirms that Stagecoach in Newcastle MAN 18.220 22050 is registered NK53KFU.

Neil Wise informs me that Stagecoach in Darlington are expected to lose their remaining Mercedes minis when their operation of the contract for service 17 ends at the end of the month.

Last week Mark Gibbon supplied a photo of Dennis Dart / Plaxton N685GUM, which was calling at Arriva Teesside's depot, apparently en route for Scotland West. However, it has now entered service at Redcar!!!

Stuart Gray tells me that Arriva Durham County Optare Vecta 1541 now has a Cummins engine fitted, but that sister 1550 has suffered engine failure! Two ex London Olympians are also expected for Bishop Auckland.

12/10/03

News kindly provided by Mark Westgarth is that Stagecoach in Newcastle have received another ex Manchester Olympian at Walkergate, in this case 13023. Olympian 14179 (C179ECK) which had been in Stockton depot was noted recieving attention at Walkergate, while Olympian 13020 was showing signs of having been used in service for schools. Titan 10827 (A827SUL) was conspicuous by it's absence.

I have been informed by "Dogcatcherssc" that the other three vehicles (in addition to 1758) due for Arriva Northumbria at Blyth will be Wright Commander bodied DAF SB200s - my breath is already baited for their arrival!!.

Leyland Olympian / Alexander 14198 (J198HFR) has now entered the main service pool with Stagecoach on Teesside I have also been informed by several people that the Transbus Dart SLF for the 525 Stockton Riverside shuttle has finally materialised as NK53KFW. This is understood to be in the new Stagecoach livery rather than the dedicated scheme expected for the 525 vehicle. Lynx 29107 (F107HVK) has been taken out of service along with at least two others. "Magic" Olympian 13026 has had the Magic Bus vinyls remobed and new stagecoach logos added, suggesting it will be used without repaint.

Noted in stock at Compass Royston are fromer Weardale Leyland Atlantean / Roe AUP350W and former French's Volvo B10M / Caetano C702KDS.

Continental, Stockton have added Volvo B58 / Duple Goldliner FHS727X to stock. It is not in service.

Analysis of the fleetlist on the Go North East website shows that a good number of vehicles have been sold, scrapped or otherwise removed from stock. These comprise Optare Metroriders 373/4/6, MCW Metrobuses 3516/647/758, Leyland Olympians 3662/739, Leyland Nationals 4662/3, Dennis Darts 8081/4-7/9 and Volvo B6s 8429/32.

10/10/03

I have been informed by "Dogcatcherssc" that Arriva Northumbria have gained a new Transbus Mini Pointer Dart at Blyth, as yet not carrying numbers but understood to be 1758. Presumably this is one of the "four Dart-sized vehicles" understood to be due for the 441. It would seem likely that the one due for Stockton to work the 567 will be part of this batch.

Eliott Stuffins inroms me that it would be a good bet to expect Stagecoach North East to get Leyyland Olympian 13027 from Manchester also.

05/10/03

Gary Mitchelhill has kindly supplied that above picture of the ex Manchester Magic Bus Olympians that have turned up with Stagecoach in Newcastle. One can only wonder what the people of the north east will make of there black-based interior scheme!

04/10/03

More new MAN 18.220 for Stagecoach in Newcastle are arriving. I have noted 22046 (NK53KFO), while D Taylor tells me that 22048 is NK53KFR. This presumably leaves 22047 as NK53KFP, and 22035/45 still unidentified. News from Elliot Stuffins (though which appears to have originated with enthusiasts this side of the Pennines!) is that Walkergate depot have received a couple of ex Stagecoach Manchester Leyland Olympian / Northern Counties in Magic Bus livery. These are 13020/2 (A585HDB, A22HNC), while I have noted sister 13026 (A26ORJ) parked up at Stagecoach on Teesside's Stockton depot. Notably the ex Lancaster Olympians 14179/98 have vanished from the yard at Stockton. Further Scanias moved from Newcastle to Stockton are 28914/6/25 (F914/6JRG, G925TCU).