29/11/02

 

I have recieved some news on Abbey Coaches from my anonymous informant. A further ex stagecoach Busways Metrorider is H171WWT (via Houston Ramm). A former Compass Travel Metroridr has also been acquired for spares. Bedford YMT / Duple E904EAY has come ex Memory Lane Coaches, Lincoln. Leopard CTD133V (ex 89HBC) has had an engine rebuild and new seating, and is soon to return to service. Metrorider F563HPP is out of use and may be scrapped.

 

27/11/02

 

KVTipple has noted the return of Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian / ECW 7316 (C614ANW) to service at Alnwick. This is presumably what freed 7241 up to go to Darlington.

 

26/11/02

 

Neil Wise has reported on Busesnortheast suggest that Arriva Olympian 7241 (A241GHN) was moved by his good self from Alnwick to Darlington to stand in for 7425 which hs been deroofed.

 

24/11/02

 

Neil Wise has reported on Busesnortheast suggest that Arriva North East is resuscitating Opatre Vecta 1550 (L550GHN), which retains a MAN engine.

 

Present at Mitchell Diesels in Stockton is Go Wear Buses Dennis Super Pointer Dart 8216 (V216ERG), presumably for engine attention. Also present is a Plaxton bodied Mercedes 811 in a new ADSA livery - not sure who's it is though!

 

The BBC has two new MAN 14.220 / East Lancs publ;icity buses. The Teesside area one is silver and kept at Compass Royston's depot in Stockton, while the Newcastle one is blue and kept at Arriva Northumbria's Jesmond Depot.

 

20/11/02

 

Stagecoach Transit have announced major service changes from 5/1/03 on their website. Click here

 

KVTipple informs me that Arriva Northumbria are making some changes to services in the Alnwick area. The most significant of these is that Arriva will operate the 401 Alnwick - Bamburgh Mon-Fri, rather than Travelsure.

 

19/11/02

 

My annonymous informant tells me that Abbey Coaches Leyland National VIA6243 has returned from the paintshop and will be back in service once MOT'd. Leyland Tiger / Duple AKG162A has been acquired from Jenson Coaches. MCW Metrorider F52RFS is withdrawn, while Leopard/Duple PSO241W and B10M / Duple WSV517 are scrapped. EWE672V is under cannibalisation.

 

KVTipple has noted that Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian / Alexander 7308 (F308JTY) is back in service with much quiter sounding engine!.

 

The Go North East Website Shows that Gateshead Scanias 4937/8 have been swapped for Washington B10BLEs 4848/9.

 

John Gelso has brough to my attention the following info about Newcastle's new Coach Station - Cheers!

 

17/11/02

 

Sorry for the slight lack of updates recently, but things have been quite quiet! Forgot to mention that Go North East has two ne Volvo B12M / Plaxton for National Express work. These are NL52WVY/Z, though may be reregistered before use.

 

Stuart Gray reports that Arriva trainer 9999 (GSU347) is stuck at Loftus, due to loosing it's diff oil on Loftus bank He also reports that the remaining Lynxes at Bishop Auckland will be leaving the fleet next year.

 

10/11/02

 

Go North East movements are as follows:

Olypian 3612 looks to be still in service, parked in the main PM shed, with full discs, blinds, etc in a row of other Olympians. Metrobuses 3629/33 are parked at the rear of Stanley (ex GD) with Gateshead wording removed. Not sure if for service or sale. Olympian 3898 is at South Shields, with new interior, but still red, while 3928 is in the new livery with old seats! 3909 is also at SS, painted, but couldn't see interior. Olympian 3927 appears to have been replaced at Chester-le-Street by 3939. Optare Delta 4753 is now at Stanley. Leyland National 4713 is back at Gateshead, along with B10B 4875.

 

Stagecoach Newcastle Mercedes 709 / Alexander 1501 is in an advanced state of destruction at Byker depot.

 

09/11/02

 

I have now seen and can therefore confirm the second of Jayline's Optare Solos as being VU52UEE. It was working the 148 today.

 

Withdawn Go North East National 4665, Metrorider 358 and Olympian 3674 are all stored at South Shields, while South Shield's have recieved another repainted and refurbished Olympian this time 3935 (R394LGH) noted on the depot today.

 

Arriva Northumbria Optare Metrorider 856 (L856WRG) is now stored at Hexham.

 

All eleven of the Scania L94UB / Wright have now entered service at Go Wear Buses' Washington depot. 4965 is the last to be noted. The full batch is therefore 4956-66 (NL52WVM-P/R-X). One of these was clearly shipped over with the erroneous registration NL52THN.

 

A couple of Stagecoach South Shields repaints noted are Lynxes 101/2/4 (F101/2/4HVK).

 

08/11/02

 

A further Olympian repainted and reupholstered for Go North East is 3904 (R262LGH) working at Gateshead.

 

Neil Wise has spotted a Leyland Leopard / Duple Dominant Service bus working for Garnetts - I hope to bring you more details soon.

 

Dave P has posted to BusesNorthEast that a second Solo for Jayline is VU52UEE. Between them the solos work services 148/247/50. I visited Peterlee only to see VU52UEF working the 247!

 

I had something of an unusual experience today courtesy of Arriva Tees & District's soon to close Stokelsey depot. I was taking my first and quite possibly last ever ride on service 180 Stokesley to Coulby Newham, driven by one of the few drivers I know reasonably well. I was the only passenger. Just outside Seamer (well out in the sticks) Metrorider 870 developed an expensive sounding knocking sound. The driver stopped the bus and took a look at it. The only thing that was obviously wrong was a missing wheel nut. After phone calls to the depot, we sat for half an hour and a fitter arrived in MPD 1720, so it was on to Coulby Newham. So Stokesley to Coulby, one hour, two buses, just one passenger and a very entertaining driver. I'll miss Stokesley!

 

05/11/02

 

Jayline now have an Optare Solo! It is VU52UEF, and works the 148 Seaham - Houghton.

 

Further Go North East ex London Olympian repaints noted are of 3913/38. These and 3928/30/40 are reupholstered too.

 

Go Wear Buses now have Scania L94UB / Wright 4966 (NL52WVX) in service at Washington.

 

Neil Wise advises that Arriva Durham County Optare Metrorider 2604 (L604FHN) has gone on to Petelee to see out it's final fortnight - taking several bits of 2601 with it! 2616 (P616FHN) has come in exchange.

 

A small swap at Arriva is of Durham Optare Delta 4015 and Stockton DAF / Plaxton 4031. It is assumed temporary.

 

04/11/02

 

Firstly a correction! Abbey Coaches MIL9320 is almost certainly not a Tiger after all! It has a tiger-style pedastall mounted semi-auto gearchange - but the sound effects are most certianly Volvo! It would appear to be an equally rare semi auto B10M - either that or the untinkable - a Volvo engined Tiger!

 

Arriva Teesside Leyland National driver trainer 9999 (GSU347 ex GOL399N) was today noted at Loftus depot, looking like several bits of the interior were being removed. Looks like the end for 510 power!

 

Continental Coaches are using Mercedes 709 / Reeve Burgess J298NNB on the 751 Easington - Brotton service.

 

Neil Wise has reported that Arriva Durham County has withdrawn Optare Metrorider 2604 (L604FHN).

 

02/11/02

 

Another acquisition for Jayline is Mercedes 709 / Plaxton NCZ2021. Jayline now have a Website which is most interesting!.

 

Low Fell Travel now have former George Bell Dart H536XGS.

 

Go North East Olympians 3928/40 (R387/99LGH) are now in fleet livery at South Shields and Gateshead respectively.