Bus-Related Outings & Reviews

[Metroline1511]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
So, my Newcastle and East Cumbria turned out loosely as follows:

Mon 23 July - arrive at Gateshead via National Express to Newcastle and Metro
Tue 24 July - South Durham ie Bishop Auckland, Darlington and Bishop Auckland
Wed 25 July - "East Durham" ie Hartlepool, Sunderland and Washington
Thu 26 July - South Northumberland ie Newbiggin, Morpeth, Alnwick and Blyth
Fri 27 July - Gateshead/ Newcastle local and "East Tyneside" ie South Shields, Jarrow and North Shields
Sat 28 July - Gateshead West, Hexham and Consett
Sun 29 July - Sunday routes, rest of Metro and Durham rail extra
Mon 30 July - to Kirkby Stephen via Carlisle and Keighley
Tue 31 July - Hawes and Penrith
Wed 1 Aug - Barnard Castle via Middleton-in-Teesdale
Thu 2 Aug - Home via Kendal, Ulverston and Barrow-in-Furness

I shall cover Go North East, Arriva and Stagecoach buses, and refurbished Tyne & Wear Metro cars in the respective threads. I also rode Solos with Phoenix, Scarlet Band and Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire, vintage buses with Cumbrian Classic Coaches, unfamiliar midibus with Grand Prix Coaches, and Mercedes Beaver with Blueworks Taxis. As regards trains, I rode refurbished 125s with Grand Central and Cross Country, and 322 481 with Northern Rail, as well as familiar 158, 185, 225 and 321 stock.

Oh, and I also rode Nexus Solo YJ61JHX on route 73. I understand that Nexus run it in-house rather than contracted out to a private operator.