Bus-Related Outings & Reviews

[Marcus Green]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews

(17/01/2015 21:33)Metroline1511 Wrote:  That wasa interesting about the Volvo B7TL on route 21. I thought it was meant to use Volvo B5LHs? I miss former London PVLs on this route, like I rode in 2012!

Hi, at Go North East's Chester-le-Street depot there are 15 Volvo B5HLs with the Gemini 2 bodywork branded for Service 21. There are two spares, also branded for the Angel, these are given the fleet numbers 3962 and 3965. They are Volvo B7TL chassied Gemini 1s. They were recently fitted with free Wi-Fi like the B5HL examples and re-registered to private plates. I don't know these off the top of my head but I will find them out. I think 3965s is 570 GUP?

I too miss the Ex-London Presidents, fine machines! So much character to them, in my opinion.

[Marcus Green]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
Just found out...

Registration of Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 1 3962 - JCN 822
Registration of Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 1 3965 - 574 CPT

Hope that helps!

[Marcus Green]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
Forgot to mention what I got up to today, haha.

My mam woke me up at 10:00, because I had an appointment with my opticians to change my contact lense subscription in Shiney Row (and 15+ mins from our house) at 10:50. After sorting that out, I went on my way!

#4 - Shiney Row Co-Op to Washington, The Galleries
(11:11 --- 11:34) - GNE 5364 - Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro
#83 - Washington, The Galleries to Birtley Station Road
(11:45 --- 12:08) - GNE 8260 - VDL SB120/Wright Cadet
#21 - Birtley Station Road to Chester-le-Street
(12:27 --- 12:39) - GNE 3965 - Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 1
#8 - Chester-le-Street to Washington, The Galleries
(12:49 --- 13:11) - GNE 4897 - Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown
#8 - Washington, The Galleries to Chester-le-Street
(13:22 --- 13:46) - GNE 4909 - Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown
#21 - Chester-le-Street to My House
(13:59 --- 14:04) - GNE 6063 - Volvo B5HL/Wright Gemini 2

[Metroline1511]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews

(17/01/2015 22:54)Marcus Green Wrote:  Hi, at Go North East's Chester-le-Street depot there are 15 Volvo B5HLs with the Gemini 2 bodywork branded for Service 21. There are two spares, also branded for the Angel, these are given the fleet numbers 3962 and 3965. They are Volvo B7TL chassied Gemini 1s. They were recently fitted with free Wi-Fi like the B5HL examples and re-registered to private plates. I don't know these off the top of my head but I will find them out. I think 3965s is 570 GUP?

I too miss the Ex-London Presidents, fine machines! So much character to them, in my opinion.

I welcomed some Presidents running on such a frequent service as the 21. I rode one back from Newcastle to my guest house in Gateshead on the Saturday night. Indeed, I deliberately stayed in Gateshead rather than Durham that week in 2012 so that I would be surrounded by Go North East buses! My first bus there was an ex-London President, I believe on route X21 though.

[Marcus Green]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews

(18/01/2015 18:54)Metroline1511 Wrote:  I welcomed some Presidents running on such a frequent service as the 21. I rode one back from Newcastle to my guest house in Gateshead on the Saturday night. Indeed, I deliberately stayed in Gateshead rather than Durham that week in 2012 so that I would be surrounded by Go North East buses! My first bus there was an ex-London President, I believe on route X21 though.

Yeah, the 'Pronto' X21 used Volvo Presidents back then, still does now! lol

They are 6021/24, 6034/35/37 and 6040/41.

Yes, Gateshead is probably where you'll get the most activity from GNE, I'd even go as far as saying you're more likely to cop more GNE vehicles at Gateshead Interchange than you would in Newcastle City Centre.

[Marcus Green]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
My outing from today:

#21 - My House to Durham Bus Station
(10:05 --- 10:24) - GNE 6058 - Volvo B5HL/Wright Gemini 2
#15A - Durham Bus Station to Consett Bus Station
(10:31 --- 11:09) - GNE 6014 - Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President
#45 - Consett Bus Station to Newcastle, Eldon Square
(11:33 --- 12:39) - GNE 3822 - Volvo Olympian/NC Palatine 2
#10B - Newcastle, Eldon Square to MetroCentre Interchange
(12:46 --- 13:05) - GNE 6084 - Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2
#31 - MetroCentre Interchange to Newcastle, Eldon Square
(13:16 --- 13:40) - GNE 5149 - Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown
#21 - Newcastle, Eldon Square to My House
(13:46 --- 14:35) - GNE 6056 - Volvo B5HL/Wright Gemini 2

[Marcus Green]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
Hardly an outing, but I ventured out after school to catch the new 36 service that runs past my nearest stop, provided by Go North East using 'Laser' branded Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaros.

#36 - My House to Chester-le-Street
(16:01 --- 16:07) - GNE 5306 - Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro

The service interworks with the 35, another route under the 'Laser' network. The 'Laser' brand is based at Deptford depot, over in Sunderland. There is no designated spare - so this means any vehicle can appear on the service.

[Marcus Green]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
Absolutely milked a North East Explorer today!

#36 - My House to Houghton-le-Spring Church
(09:56 --- 10:14) - GNE 5308 - Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro
#20A - Houghton-le-Spring Church to Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange
(10:15 --- 10:36) - GNE 4946 - Scania L94UA/Wright Solar
T&W Metro - Sunderland, Park Lane to Newcastle, Monument
(10:44 --- 11:20) - T&W Metrocars 4047 + 4059
#40 - Newcastle, Blackett Street to Wallsend, Metro Interchange
(11:35 --- 12:03) - SNE 12081 - Dennis Trident 2/Alexander Enviro400 Hybrid
#22 - Wallsend, Metro Interchange to Newcastle, Market Street West
(12:06 --- 12:32) - SNE 22344 - MAN 18.220/Alexander ALX300
#X22 - Newcastle, Haymarket Bus Station to Regent Centre Metro
(12:44 --- 12:55) - ANE 7528 - Dennis Trident 2/Alexander Enviro400
#X10 - Regent Centre Metro to Newcastle, Haymarket Bus Station
(13:00 --- 13:09) - ANE 7616 - VDL SB300/Wright Gemini 2
#10B - Newcastle, Eldon Square to MetroCentre Interchange
(13:13 --- 13:33) - GNE 6074 - Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2
#X66 - MetroCentre Interchange to Gateshead Interchange
(13:35 --- 13:46) - GNE 4944 - Scania L94UA/Wright Solar
#27 - Gateshead Interchange to Heworth Metro
(13:50 --- 14:02) - GNE 5328 - Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro
T&W Metro - Heworth, Metro to Sunderland, Park Lane
(14:13 --- 14:36) - T&W Metrocars 4070 + 4068
#8 - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange to Chester-le-Street
(14:53 --- 15:44) - GNE 4901 - Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown

[SK15 GZG (Moderator)]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
Yesterday I met up with another member of the forum and we went to Manchester:

15 - 3067 MX61 AWY - Home to Liverpool City Centre
Northern Rail 142054 - Liverpool Lime Street to Earlestown
Arriva Trains Wales 175102 - Earlestown to Manchester Piccadilly
85 - 10410 SL64 HZT - Piccadilly to Chorlton
86 - 10409 SL64 HZS - Chorlton to Piccadilly
42 - 33836 SN14 TSU - Piccadilly to East Didsbury
142 - 17614 V614 DJA - East Didsbury to Piccadilly
43 - 12028 MX10 MVS - Piccadilly to Manchester Airport
Manchester Metrolink 3088 - Manchester Airport to Chorlton
Rail Replacement - 19252 MX08 GNK - Chorlton to Piccadilly
86 - 10405 SL64 HZM - Piccadilly to Chorlton
84 - 19425 MX58 FUH - Chorlton to Piccadilly
Northern Rail 156441 - Manchester Piccadilly to Liverpool Lime Street
15 - 3072 MX61 AVY - Liverpool City Centre - Home

[Metroline1511]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
You have sampled more MMCs in Manchester than me 4593! I have earmarked February 28th to ride one. I have seen a couple on route 84 near me already.