Tyneside - May/Jun 2018

Thursday 31 May 2018 (1957) – Go North East 8343 (NL63 XBN), a Wrightbus Streetlite DF new in November 2013, seen at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central Station. It carries a livery for the Saltwell Park circular services 53/54 and is allocated to Riverside garage in Gateshead.

Thursday 31 May 2018 (1627) – Go North East 5246 (NK56 KHR), a Scania OmniCity new in February 2007, and 6301 (NK16 BXA), a Wrightbus Streetdeck new in March 2016, seen in Chester-le-Street. The photograph was taken from the upper deck of Go North East Wrightbus Streetdeck 6333 (NK67 GOC). The three buses had left Durham bus station at 1557, 1601 and 1603 respectively. 5246 (Washington garage) was working the ‘Whey Aye Five O’ service 50 to South Shields; 6301 (Crook garage) the ‘Castles Express’ service X21 to Newcastle; and 6333 (Chester-le-Street garage) the ‘Angel’ service 21 also to Newcastle.

Friday 1 June 2018 (1705) – Go North East 6304 (NK16 BXD), a Wrightbus Streetdeck new in March 2016 and allocated to Crook garage, was seen in the bus station at Eldon Square, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It carries the livery for the ‘Castles Express’ service X21 and was working the 1705 trip to Bishop Auckland.

Friday 1 June 2018 (1658) – Go North East 6304 (NK16 BXD), a Wrightbus Streetdeck new in March 2016 and allocated to Crook garage, was seen in the bus station at Eldon Square, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It carries the livery for the ‘Castles Express’ service X21 and was working the 1705 trip to Bishop Auckland.

Thursday 31 May 2018 (1623) – Go North East 6301 (NK16 BXA), a Wrightbus Streetdeck new in March 2016 and allocated to Crook garage, was seen in Front Street, Chester-le-Street. It carries the livery for the Newcastle to Bishop Auckland ‘Castles Express’ service X21 and was working the 1524 trip from Bishop Auckland that departed Durham at 1601 being due at Newcastle (Eldon Square) at 1655. The photograph was taken from the upper deck of Go North East Wrightbus Streetdeck 6333 (NK67 GOC) which was working the 1603 ‘Angel’ service 21 due in Eldon Square at 1716. The two buses followed the same route more or less between Durham and Chester-le-Street keeping pace with each other although the X21had fewer stops (this was a school holiday day so the 21 perhaps made fewer stops as a result). The 21 served Birtley and Harlow Green etc whereas the X21 omitted these points.

Friday 1 June 2018 (0843) – Go North East 6303 (NK16 BXC), a Wrightbus Streetdeck new in March 2016, seen crossing the Tyne Bridge into Newcastle from Gateshead. It carries the livery for the Bishop Auckland to Newcastle ‘Castles Express’ service X21. The bridge was opened by King George V and Queen Mary in October 1928 and has become a defining symbol of Tyneside.

Saturday 2 June 2018 (0852) – A Go North East Wrightbus Streetdeck double decker wearing the ‘Castles Express’ branding seen on the Tyne Bridge. The roadway of the bridge is higher than the substantial five storey stone buildings in the view taken from Sandhill.

Friday 1 June 2018 (1857) – People relaxing on a pleasant summer evening at the bars and cafes on Sandhill, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Go North East 8314 (NK10 GOE) was heading for Wallsend working ‘Quaylink’ service Q3 heading to Wallsend. It is an Optare Versa new in August 2010.

Saturday 2 June 2018 (1133) – Go North East 8317 (NK10 GOP), an Optare Versa new in August 2010 seen outside Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central Station. It is allocated to Riverside garage in Gateshead and had arrived on ‘Quaylink’ service Q1 from Gateshead. Buses from Gateshead run as service Q1 and buses towards Gateshead run as service Q2. I had just arrived on this bus having taken the short ride from the Theatre Royal where, whilst waiting for our respective buses, I was talking with an elderly lady waiting for the Q3 service. She had decided to forsake a trip to Sunderland today and go to a shop she knew in Gosforth where she could by a whistling kettle.

Thursday 31 May 2018 (2024) – Go North East 8331 (NK11 HJX), an Optare Versa new in August 2011, seen in Bridge Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne having just crossed the old swing bridge from Gateshead. It is allocated to Riverside garage in Gateshead and was working ‘Quaylink’ service Q1 to Newcastle Central Station. Buses from Gateshead run as service Q1 and buses towards Gateshead run as service Q2. The swing bridge, designed and paid for William George Armstrong, was first used in 1876 and is still moved by hydraulic power today. The high mounted control cabin sits over the roadway and the central pivot supporting the structure.

Friday 1 June 2018 (0832) – Go North East 8334 (NK11 HJE), an Optare Versa new in August 2011 and allocated to Riverside garage in Gateshead, is seen travelling along Hillgate/South Shore Road working ‘Quaylink’ service Q2 heading to Gateshead and Heworth. The return service on this route operates as service Q1. The Tyne Bridge is a backcloth with a ‘Red Arrows’ branded double decker crossing from Gateshead into Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Beyond that is the High Level Bridge which carries railway tracks on the upper level and a roadway on the lower level.

Thursday 31 May 2018 (1941) – Go North East 8335 (NK11 HJF) seen passing under the Tyne Bridge heading for the Quayside when working ‘Quaylink’ service Q3 to Wallsend. It is an Optare Versa new in August 2011 allocated to Riverside garage in Gateshead. The Sage culture and concert venue stands across the River Tyne on the southern bank in Gateshead.

Friday 1 June 2018 (0847) – A view from the Tyne Bridge with Go North East 5386 (NL63 YAU), an Optare Versa new in November 2013, seen having just crossed the old swing bridge from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Gateshead. It is allocated to Riverside garage in Gateshead and was working ‘Quaylink’ service Q2 to Gateshead and Heworth. Buses towards Newcastle run as service Q1. The swing bridge, designed and paid for William George Armstrong, was first used in 1876 and is still moved by hydraulic power today. The high mounted control cabin sits over the roadway and the central pivot supporting the structure. Across the background is the High Level Bridge which was opened by Queen Victoria in 1849. This bridge carries railway tracks on the upper level and on the lower level there are 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. (The Travelodge where I stayed can be seen under the second arch from the left of the High Level Bridge. My room was on the top floor offering a great view of the bridges from the opposite side).

Friday 1 June 2018 (1850) – Go North East 5386 (NL63 YAU), an Optare Versa new in November 2013, seen in Sandhill, Newcastle-upon-Tyne working ‘Quaylink’ service Q2 to Gateshead and Heworth. Buses towards Newcastle run as service Q1. It is allocated to Riverside garage in Gateshead. A pleasant summer evening with people relaxing at the bars and cafes around this historic part of the city. The buildings on the right include some examples of fine Jacobean domestic architecture. The black and white building directly behind the bus is ‘Bessie Surtees House’, now a public venue building. Bessie is said to have eloped from a first-floor window of the house in 1772 with John Scott, a coal merchant's son. Scott eventually became a successful lawyer and, as Lord Eldon, Lord Chancellor of England. The building on the extreme left is the Guildhall. The High Level Bridge stands in the background.

Friday 1 June 2018 (1846) – Go North East 5387 (NL63 YAV), an Optare Versa new in November 2013 and allocated to Riverside garage in Gateshead, seen making the turn from Grey Street to Market Street in Newcastle-upon-Tyne when working ‘Quaylink’ service Q3 from Wallsend to Great Park. The Theatre Royal which opened in February 1837 forms the backcloth.

Saturday 2 June 2018 (0900) – Go North East 8318 (NK10 GOU), an Optare Versa new in August 2010, seen in Sandhill, Newcastle-upon-Tyne with the Tyne Bridge and Guildhall in the background. It is allocated to Riverside garage in Gateshead and was working the ‘Quaylink’ service Q1 from Gateshead to Newcastle Central Station.

Friday 1 June 2018 (0859) – A view from the Tyne Bridge looking down on Sandhill, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. A Go North East Optare Versa working ‘Quaylink’ service Q2 descends the hill. A quick fire shot in which I failed to get the top of the tower of the Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas in frame. The viaduct carries the railway out of Newcastle Central Station to destinations further north.

Friday 1 June 2018 (0854) – A view from the Tyne Bridge looking down on Sandhill, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. A Go North East Optare Versa working ‘Quaylink’ service Q1 is passing through. Landmarks in the photograph include the Guildhall (lower left); Newcastle Castle (upper right); the Doric style Moot Hall directly below the Castle; and the tower of the Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas (upper centre).