Tyneside - May/Jun 2018

Thursday 31 May 2018 (1625) – Go North East 5261 (NK56 KJV), a Scania OmniCity new in February 2007, seen in Front Street, Chester-le-Street. It wears normal fleet livery, is allocated to Washington garage and was working the South Shields to Durham service 50. The journey to Durham takes 27 minutes. The ‘Angel’ branded Wright Streetdeck in the background is also bound for Durham offering a quicker ride taking 20 minutes. The photograph was taken from the upper deck of Go North East Wrightbus Streetdeck, 6333 (NK67 GOC) operating the 'Angel' service bound for Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Friday 1 June 2018 (0937) – Go North East 5274 (NK56 KKL), a Scania OmniCity new in February 2007, seen in Market Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It carries an advertising livery for ‘Big days out’ and was working the Whitley Bay-Gateshead (Metrocentre) service 11. Allocated to Percy Main garage close to North Shields.

Friday 1 June 2018 (0938) – Go North East 5274 (NK56 KKL), a Scania OmniCity new in February 2007, seen in Grainger Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It carries an advertising livery for ‘Big days out’ and was working the Whitley Bay-Gateshead (Metrocentre) service 11. Allocated to Percy Main garage close to North Shields.

Saturday 2 June 2018 (1120) – Go North East 6017 (V317 LGC), a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL that had been new to London Central in March 2000, seen in Blackett Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Now one of the oldest vehicles in the Go North East fleet.

Saturday 2 June 2018 (1121) – Go North East 6017 (V317 LGC), a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL that had been new to London Central in March 2000, seen in Blackett Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Now one of the oldest vehicles in the Go North East fleet.

Friday 1 June 2018 (1111) – Go North East buses in Park Avenue, Whitley Bay. Left is 6070 (NK62 CZL), a Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B5LH new in October 2010, branded for ‘Coaster’ service 1. Right is 6139 (GX03 SVJ), an East Lancs Omnidekka bodied Scania N94UD that had been new to Brighton & Hove (611) in June 2003, which wears fleet livery. I took a short ride on the latter to the Promenade on the north side of town.

Friday 1 June 2018 (1110) – Go North East 6139 (GX03 SVJ) arriving in Park Avenue, Whitley Bay working the 1027 service 309 from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Blyth. This service is branded the ‘Cobalt Clipper’ although 6139 wears fleet livery. It is an East Lancs Omnidekka bodied Scania N94UD that had been new to Brighton & Hove (611) in June 2003. I took a short ride on the latter to the Promenade on the north side of town.

Saturday 2 June 2018 (0931) – Go North East 6146 (X21 GNE) seen about to cross the High Level Bridge linking Newcastle-upon-Tyne with Gateshead. It is an East Lancs Omnidekka bodied Scania N94UD new in 2005. It is allocated to Crook garage. The bridge was opened by Queen Victoria in 1849 and carries railway tracks on the upper level which can be seen above right emerging from Newcastle Central Station. The lower level features pedestrian paths either side of a roadway now restricted to use by local buses and taxis travelling southbound only. When constructed the roadway was adequate for two way carriage and cart traffic. In the background is the Tyne Bridge, the road bridge opened by King George V and Queen Mary in October 1928.

Thursday 31 May 2018 (1657) – Go North East 8309 (NK09 FVL), an Optare Versa new in July 2009, travelling south on Durham Road, Low Fell followed by a Wright Streetdeck branded for the ‘Angel’ service 21 (possibly 6319 (NK67 GMX) or maybe 6329 (NK67 GNX). The photograph was taken from the upper deck of Go North East Wrightbus Streetdeck, 6333 (NK67 GOC).

Friday 1 June 2018 (1608) – Go North East 3962 (JCN 822), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL, seen arriving at the Metro Interchange in Gateshead. It was new in April 2006 carrying registration NK06 JXE. Allocated to Chester-le-Street garage.

Friday 1 June 2018 (1608) – Go North East 5249 (NK56 KHV), a Scania OmniCity N230UB new in February 2007, seen arriving at the Metro Interchange in Gateshead. It carries fleet livery and is allocated to Stanley garage.

Friday 1 June 2018 (1116) – Go North East 6139 (GX03 SVJ) seen on The Links at Whitley Bay working the 1027 service 309 from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Blyth. This service is branded the ‘Cobalt Clipper’ although 6139 wears fleet livery. It is an East Lancs Omnidekka bodied Scania N94UD that had been new to Brighton & Hove (611) in June 2003. I had just taken took a short ride on this bus from the town centre.

Friday 1 June 2018 (1116) – Go North East 6139 (GX03 SVJ) seen on The Links at Whitley Bay working the 1027 service 309 from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Blyth. This service is branded the ‘Cobalt Clipper’ although 6139 wears fleet livery. It is an East Lancs Omnidekka bodied Scania N94UD that had been new to Brighton & Hove (611) in June 2003. It was a little misty out on the sea and the lighthouse (right) was sounding the fog horn for passing shipping. I had just taken took a short ride on this bus from the town centre.

Friday 1 June 2018 (1642) – Go North East. 6143 (YN04 GKA) is an East Lancs Omnidekka bodied Scania N94UD that had been new to Brighton & Hove (628) in April 2004. It was seen arriving at Eldon Square bus station in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The mainly white livery carries poetry by Tommy Armstrong (The Pitman Poet) (1848-1920) together with contributions by pupils from the schools in Stanley, County Durham. It is allocated to Stanley garage.

Friday 1 June 2018 (1642) – Go North East. 6143 (YN04 GKA) is an East Lancs Omnidekka bodied Scania N94UD that had been new to Brighton & Hove (628) in April 2004. It was seen arriving at Eldon Square bus station in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The mainly white livery carries poetry by Tommy Armstrong (The Pitman Poet) (1848-1920) together with contributions by pupils from the schools in Stanley, County Durham. It is allocated to Stanley garage.

Friday 1 June 2018 (1616) – Go North East 6315 (NK67 GMG), a Wrightbus Streetdeck new in December 2017, seen arriving at the Metro Interchange in Gateshead. It works the ‘Angel’ service 21 between Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne and is allocated to Chester-le-Street garage. The service takes its name from the ‘Angel of the North’ sculpture which is passed on the journey. The Angel of the North celebrates 20 years of age in 2018 marked by the orange vinyls.

Friday 1 June 2018 (1709) – Go North East 6316 (NK67 GMO), a Wrightbus Streetdeck new in December 2017, seen in Percy Street heading to Eldon Square bus station in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It works the ‘Angel’ service 21 to Durham and is allocated to Chester-le-Street garage. The service takes its name from the ‘Angel of the North’ sculpture which is passed on the journey.

Friday 1 June 2018 (0921) – Go North East 6318 (NK67 GMV), a Wrightbus Streetdeck new in December 2017, turning from Grainger Street to Bigg Market, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It is allocated to Chester-le-Street garage for the ‘Angel’ service 21, a service running every 15 minutes from Newcastle to Durham with short trips to Chester-le-Street in between giving a frequency of every 7/8 minutes between Newcastle and Chester-le-Street.