Continuing my northern odyssey, I track down former London buses with Go North East and sample some of the remaining Dennis Pointer Darts with Stagecoach North East, featuring rides in the Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields, Durham, Sunderland and Chester-le-Street areas.

Now fleet no 6151 at Riverside (Gateshead) Depot, former London WVL505 was one of the first batch of the class to transfer to Go North East and is seen picking up returning shoppers in Central Newcastle on the 58 service to Heworth during my previous visit in 2022.

*Note the signwriting showing the frequency and points served, plus the special “East Gateshead Rider” livery.*

Overview of Buses in Newcastle

On my previous visit to the area in 2022, I had concentrated on riding Arriva North East services around Durham and Go North East routes in Newcastle / Gateshead, both of which featured ex London buses (of which more later!). Prior to that, back in 2000, I had covered Arriva Northumbria services to the north and north-east of Newcastle which included a ride on one of the last surviving Bristol VRs to Morpeth and back, plus one of my first trips on the (then) new Plaxton Pointer MPD Darts, together with a selection of ECW Olympians on Go Ahead Northern services to the south of the city.

Back to the present, the three main operators in Newcastle are:

Go North East - Operating mainly out of town to the south and west of the city, with depots in Consett, Hexham, Gateshead, North Shields, Sunderland and Washington.
Stagecoach North East - Operating cross-city / local services in Newcastle, with depots in Slatyford and Walker, plus local services around South Shields and Sunderland, with depots also in those places.
Arriva North East / Northumbria - Operating mainly out of town to the north and north east of the city, with depots in Ashington and Blyth plus an outstation in Alnwick. Also operating local services around Durham with a depot in that city.

***Stagecoach North East have a dozen Dennis Pointer Darts left in service. 35189 is seen at South Shields Interchange before departing on local service 18 to Brockley Whins.***

*This was one of 8 examples remaining at South Shields at this time, the other 4 being at Hartlepool.*

Stagecoach North East: South Shields Locals

DAY 1: Having not sampled Stagecoach services in Tyne & Wear before, I began in a small way on this visit with a trip out to South Shields to track down some of the few remaining Dennis Darts in service with the company, of which a dozen remain in the North East.

Stagecoach operate various local services around South Shields plus longer distance services to Newcastle and Sunderland. The South Shields fleet is mainly single deck, comprising mostly Enviro200s (supported by the Dennis Darts), although new electric Yutong E12 vehicles based at Wheatsheaf Depot in Sunderland work into the town on routes from that city. In addition to the electrics, Sunderland operates examples of the Enviro 300 and Enviro200 single deckers. There are a smaller number of double deckers, comprised of Enviro400s (both “classic” and MMC version) at both depots.

In contrast, the two Newcastle depots at Slatyford and Walker operate a predominantly double deck fleet, mainly with Enviro400 types (MMC, standard diesel and hybrid), together with a smaller number of single deckers including Enviro300, Enviro200MMC and standard Enviro200 types, but that will have to wait for another visit!

The Metro “Yellow Line” transported me from Newcastle Central to South Shields somewhat quicker than the Go North East bus 27 had done on my previous visit. On arrival, I made way down from the platform to the Interchange (Bus Station) beneath, a modern building with nose-in stands behind glass doors. As with other Tyne & Wear PTE (Nexus) transport hubs, despite stop specific timetable information provided, other facilities like toilets and information like maps & timetable leaflets are sadly lacking. Luckily, I was able to access what I needed via the Stagecoach and Go North East websites, plus the invaluable bustimes.org for the vehicle workings.

Route 7: South Shields Circular via Marsden (anticlockwise)

This is a town service operating every 15 mins M-S daytimes, every 30 mins eves & Suns. Sister route 8 operates at the same frequency on the clockwise loop. Mixed Enviro200 and Dart operation on the day I travelled, with one Enviro400 double decker in support. I had Dart 35261 for my trip, which was a quiet run with only a handful of passengers, as we left the town centre and proceeded via the garage at Chichester (pronounced with a hard “i” rather than the soft one for the West Sussex location of the same name!). Victorian and Edwardian housing gave way to post war estates as we proceeded towards the coast at Marsden, before turning back towards the town centre via Westoe, an inner suburb. A little over half an hour for the journey.

Route 18: South Shields - Brockley Whins (& back)

This service operates west of the town to Brockley Whins, an enormous mainly post-war housing estate close to the former Boldon Colliery. Another frequent service running every 15 mins M-S daytimes, 30 mins eves & Suns. On the day I travelled, 2 x Darts and 2 x Enviro200s were providing the allocation. This time, I had Dart 35189. A busier journey than the previous one, with good usage in both directions. We made our way out of the town centre to Chichester again (but via a different intermediate route), before continuing via the Simonside Estate, which has a main thoroughfare named “Dame Flora Robson Avenue” after the famous actress who was born in South Shields. Crossing a main road, the bus entered the Brockley Whins estate and described a large terminal loop, which seemed to last forever as we passed through identical looking streets of housing. Eventually, we completed the circuit and returned the way we had come to South Shields. A 55 min rounder.

Route 3: South Shields Circular via Biddick Hall (anticlockwise)

Another circular town service, again on the 15 min M-S daytime, 30 min eves & Sun frequency. Route 4 provides the clockwise version of the same route on an identical headway. An Enviro200 / Dart mix, routes 3 & 4 being interworked with the afore-mentioned 7 & 8 at the Interchange. I boarded my third Dart, 35233, for the 40 min round trip. A good number of shoppers carried from and to town on this journey, with a mix of older and more modern urban scenery. As with the other rides in the area, we passed the large and impressive Grade II listed Edwardian Baroque Town Hall near to the Bus Station, with statue of Queen Victoria outside.

Good to experience rides on Dennis Darts once again, as they are now very thin on the ground, the examples I travelled on acquitting themselves well mechanically despite being nearly 20 years old. In addition, all were clean and well presented inside, showing that superannuated buses can still give great service.

***The offside view of the once common but now rare Dennis Dart is represented by 35222 departing South Shields Interchange on circular local 8 via Marsden.***

*I rode sister vehicles 35189, 35233 and 35261 during my travels here.*

Go North East 50: South Shields to Durham

For the rest of my trip, I switched my attention to Go North East, the draw being that they operate a number of ex London buses, which currently include almost 50 WVLs, around 30 Es and half a dozen or so DOEs, with more possibly arriving soon. I had ridden some of the first WVLs to arrive during my 2022 visit, but not the other two types which had transferred at a later date.

Early lunchtime and I left South Shields on the long trunk route 50 to Durham. This operates every 30 mins M-S daytimes, every 60 mins eves & Suns, although there is no evening service on the Chester-le-Street to Durham section. The main allocation is Volvo B9TLs, of which a couple on the day I travelled were former London examples. I was lucky that former WVL287 (now plain 6215) was on the next departure and I boarded with a good crowd.

This is a long and winding service, comprising both urban and country sections, so the opportunity from some fast running on the latter in a former London bus! After departing South Shields, we made our way through the suburbs of Chichester and West Harton, before crossing the Newcastle - Sunderland railway line and leaving the built up area. Then, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, we reached the enormous Nissan Factory, with the surrounding industrial units interspersed with farms and open country - a strange mix! After this, we entered the new town of Washington, named after George Washington, whose ancestral family seat can be visited at Washington Old Hall. As with many new towns, the old settlements survive, with modern estates in between. We called at the old town with the unusual name of Concord, where there is a small Bus Station, before continuing into Washington New Town proper, where there is a larger Bus Station at The Galleries Retail Park. During a scheduled 4 min “hesitation” here we had a driver change, where I was able to observe a number of little Optare Solos in “Washington Pinks” livery on local services.

Continuing on through the Washington estates, we left the town and entered a country area through the lanes before reaching Chester-le-Street, mid way between Newcastle and Durham on the East Coast Main Line, which passes adjacent to the town centre on a high viaduct. Another “hesitation” was taken in the High Street, before leaving for the final stretch to Durham. Beyond here, the 50 turns off the direct main road to Durham served by trunk route 21 to proceed via Waldridge Estate, then through open country back to the main Durham Road. Upon entering the outskirts of the city, the Arnison Centre Retail Park is served, before continuing via County Hall and the University into the centre. We terminated at the new Durham Bus Station after a good 1h 40m thrash.

***Go North East Volvo B9TL 6201 of Sunderland Depot is former London WVL304 and is at the Langley Park terminus of route X20, before returning to Sunderland via Durham.***

*The WVLs were appearing in ones and twos on various routes including the 20, X20, 50 and 56 alongside the majority scheduled types, so you have to be in the right place at the right time to catch one!*

Go North East X20: Durham to Langley Park, then Langley Park to Sunderland

Whilst in Durham, I noted ex London WVLs in ones and twos on odd routes including routes 20 and X20 which link the city to Sunderland. The X20 is one of those routes which stretches the “express” concept of the “X” a bit far, as for much of its length, it serves all stops! Nevertheless, it is up to 10 mins quicker between Durham and Sunderland than the plain 20. The X20 runs every 30 mins M-S daytimes, every 60 mins eves and Suns.

Spotting another ex Londoner in the form of WVL304 (now fleet no 6201) on the X20, I hopped aboard it for the 30 min run to its western terminus at Langley Park. As with the previous bus, this WVL had been neatly single doored and fitted with new moquette. This took me back part of the way I had come before diving off into deepest County Durham to serve former pit villages.

After a short layover at Langley Park, I reboarded for the full run through to Sunderland. The area is characterised by large former mining villages with countryside in between and we passed through Witton Gilbert and Sacriston, calling at the “Aged Miners Home” at the latter. Then through Nettlesworth and Plawsworth, before arriving back into the outskirts of Durham at the oddly named suburban village of “Pity Me”, the origin of which has several disputed derivations. We then called at the Arnison Centre one last time before taking a different intermediate route from the 50 into the city centre.

We took a scheduled 5 min pause at Durham Bus Station, before departing via the suburbs and then open country over a fast dual carriageway “A” road section, finally becoming an “express” route. Arriving into to the small town of Houghton-le-Spring, we traversed a narrow main street section after calling at the picturesque church, followed by a call at an edge of town retail park built on the site of a former colliery. Then, another short stretch of fast running on the main road before turning off to call at various stops in Doxford Park, an industrial and technology park, only served in M-F PM Peaks into Sunderland and in the opposite direction in the AM Peak. Interestingly, whilst proceeding through the park, we passed the Arriva UK Head Office.

The final section of route was through the southern suburbs of Sunderland, in tandem with various other services, an unusual feature on this section being a series of “No Car Lanes” for use by buses and commercial vehicles. We then reached the city centre, terminating at the Bus Station or “Sunderland Interchange” as it is known. 1h 35m end to end on this trip, which was well used throughout.

***Go North East 6095 is an indigenous Volvo B9TL based at Sunderland Depot and is seen at Sunderland Interchange before my journey on it to Newcastle.***

*This is one of a batch of vehicles in a special orange livery with signwriting for route 56 between the two cities. There was one WVL out on the service when I travelled.*

Go North East 56: Sunderland to Newcastle

By now late afternoon, it was time to return to Newcastle, so I opted for Route 56. This is marketed as the “City Rider”, mainly operated by Volvo B9TLs in a mainly orange livery. A frequent service operates every 12 mins M-S daytimes, 20 mins Sun daytimes and 30 mins evenings.

Next off the stand was fleet no 6095 with high backed seating and USB charging points. Only a few boarded at the Interchange, but we picked up more as we proceeded through the city. Then it was out of town over the Wearmouth Bridge, looking like a smaller version of the similar arch bridge over the Tyne in Newcastle and indeed designed and built by the same firms. Passing through Monkwearmouth on the northern bank, we continued through the suburbs of Southwick and Hylton Castle before again reaching the Nissan Factory which I had encountered earlier in the day on the 50. On this stretch, we passed a lone WVL going in the other direction, which was out supporting the indigenous Volvo B9TLs on the route - the WVLs being in standard red and blue Go North East livery.

Noted on this stretch and in general at the areas I visited on this trip, was the preponderance of substantial brick built bus shelters at many stops away from the city centres. Whether this is a deliberate move to prevent vandalism or for some other reason, I have no idea!

Continuing on through the outskirts of Washington, we called again at Concord Bus Station, which I had also visited earlier. However, this time, we took a northerly route through the villages of Usworth, Donwell and Springwell, after which we passed the headquarters of the Bowes Railway, built to transport coal from pits in Durham to boats on the River Tyne and which is today the world’s only preserved standard gauge cable railway.

The last stretch of route took us via the Gateshead suburbs of Wrekenton and Sheriff Hill (calling at the large Queen Elizabeth Hospital), before proceeding downhill into Gateshead Town Centre. Calling at the Interchange, we were soon over the Tyne and back into Newcastle City Centre, terminating near the Monument (built in recognition of Earl Grey, UK Prime Minister from 1830-34, and celebrating the passing of the Great Reform Act of 1832). 1h20m for this particular journey.

***Two ex Londoners for the price of one here!***
***Enviro400 E134 (now 6963) reunites with Volvo B9TL WVL332 (6225) at Heworth Interchange. Both vehicles are now allocated to Gateshead Riverside Depot.***

*Routes 51 & 52 are circulars from Gateshead - the former operates clockwise and the latter anticlockwise.*

Go North East: Gateshead Locals

Route 57: Newcastle - Wardley (and back to Gateshead)

DAY 2: After a hearty breakfast, I resumed my travels the next morning, walking a short distance back to Monument in Newcastle City Centre. Almost immediately, I was confronted with a familiar face, as ex London Enviro400 E131 (now 6960) roared into view on the 57 and halted at the outbound pick up stop. Despite this being a route I rode during my previous visit, I couldn’t resist another spin, but this time on an E rather than a WVL as on the last occasion. This particular example had been neatly single doored and fitted with new red moquette inside, so I settled down with a few others as we made our way out of the city and across the Tyne to Gateshead.

The 57 is unusual in that it runs every 30 mins daily, except that the evening service operates as a shuttle at the outer end between Heworth Metro and Wardley only. After Gateshead Interchange, we made our way uphill past the QE Hospital and then turned off the main road via the Leam Lane Estate on one of several routes that link Gateshead with Heworth. After calling at the Metro Station, we continued on along a short fast dual carriageway section, before turning off to Wardley, yet another of the large housing estates that characterise the area. By now, I had the bus to myself and reaching the Turning Circle after a 45 min run, we continued on without stand time, performing a loop around the Ellen Wilkinson Estate, named after the local MP who was one of the leaders of the Jarrow marchers to London in the famous 1936 protest to demand jobs for unemployed shipyard workers.

Then a second loop which was more countrified beside the local golf club, before proceeding back the way we had come through Heworth and on to Gateshead Interchange, where I alighted after a 50 min trip on this leg. After a quiet run around Wardley, we became very busy with shoppers on the final section into Gateshead.

Route 94: Gateshead Circular (via Leam Valley anticlockwise)

I then switched my attention to the third ex London class to feature in the area, as a few DOEs have migrated from their old haunts at Sutton Garage to the North East. DOE3 was the first one I saw (now numbered 6974), performing on local circular route 94. This is one of a pair which serves the Leam Valley, the 93 running clockwise (which I had done last time on a WVL) and the 94 anticlockwise. Each route runs every 20 mins M-S daytimes, 30 mins eves & Suns. Both are a good bet for an ex London bus, with WVL, E and DOE types spotted on this occasion. Surprisingly, although repainted into Go North East red and blue livery, this DOE still retained its dual doors and London style interior.

Another well filled journey as we made our way out of Gateshead downhill to the Team Valley, crossing the main Durham - Newcastle road. The Team Valley section is mainly along a dual carriageway, with industrial and retail units lining the route. After this, we began climbing again, through Low Fell on the Durham Road and the suburb of Beacon Lough, to approach the QE Hospital from another direction to earlier on the 57. On via Felling to Heworth once more, before completing the circle via East Gateshead, serving the stadium and industrial area, before a change of scenery as we reached the modern Gateshead Quays development, with its arena, conference centre and university, linked by the Millennium Bridge across the Tyne to Newcastle. We took about an hour for the circular trip.

Route 51: Gateshead Circular (via Heworth anticlockwise)

To complete my trio of routes around Gateshead, I found another former London Enviro, this time E109 (now simply 6958) on the 51. This is one of another pair of local circulars, the 51 operating a clockwise loop and the 52 anticlockwise. Interworked with the 93/94, unsurprisingly they run at the same 20 min M-S daytime and 30 min eve and Sun headway. However, unlike the example I had ridden earlier on the 57, this particular E was still in London condition inside with two doors and original moquette, although it had been repainted into red and blue like the others.

Yet another intermediate routeing out of Gateshead to Sheriff Hill and the hospital, before continuing to Felling and Heworth. This was followed by an alternative route through the Leam Lane Estate, to Springwell Estate and Wrekenton, before diverting away from the direct route into Gateshead to serve more estates in the Beacon Lough and Low Fell areas. Quite hilly in parts, but our old London bus coped just fine! 65 mins for the round trip.

Go North East Trident Optare Olympus 6974 starts its next trip on the 51 at Gateshead Interchange after my ride on its previous working on the 94. The bus was formerly DOE3 with Go Ahead London when it was based at Sutton Garage.

*The 51/52 and 93/94 circulars interwork at Gateshead.*

Go North East 4: Heworth to Houghton-le-Spring

Having sampled the ex London types in the morning, my quest for the afternoon was to seek out another rare class, Mercedes Benz Citaros, of which Go North East had just 11 examples at this time (not former London ones), based at Washington Depot, mainly for route 4, although they do appear on other services. After some lunch, I made my way from Gateshead to Heworth on the Metro, northern terminus of the 4. The service operates every 15 mins M-S daytimes, 30 mins eves & Suns.

Most of the Citaros are in a special pink & blue based livery for “Connections 4”, but next to arrive was one of the few in standard red and blue colours, fleet no 5358. A fair number boarded with me at Heworth Interchange, before we set off along the dual carriageway, turning off at Follingsby, where we served an industrial park dominated by a large Amazon. Continuing across country, we arrived into Washington, calling at Concord Bus Station in the old town, before serving Washington Galleries Bus Station in the new town, where we had a scheduled “hesitation” and a driver change.

Leaving this point, it was a mix of green stretches and settlements, as we passed through Shiney Row and Fence Houses, before arriving into our final destination of Houghton-le-Spring. A couple of minutes under the hour for the trip.

A low bridge en route restricts this route to single deckers, which included a couple of Streetlites and an Optare Solo in addition to the Citaros when I travelled on it.

***At the time of my visit, there were 11 Mercedes Benz Citaros with Go North East, all based at Washington Depot. 5358 has just arrived at the Houghton-le-Spring terminus of Route 4 from Heworth.***

*Most of the batch are in a pink and blue livery for “Connections 4”, which is their main allocation, but this is one of three in standard livery.*

Go North East X1: Houghton-le-Spring to Peterlee; then Peterlee to Newcastle

With time for one more route to end the day, I opted for a ride on the X1, beginning with a trip from Houghton-le-Spring to its outer terminus at Peterlee. There was one WVL out on the service, but it was at the other end of the route, so I took one of the more usual Wright StreetDecks, fleet no 6370 in gold and red “X-Lines” livery.

Up to this point, the buses I had caught had been reasonably punctual, but this one was running 15 mins late for reasons unknown and turned up in tandem with the next bus, which was on a scheduled shortworking to South Hetton. The X1 has a frequency of every 30 mins M-S daytimes, 60 mins Sun daytimes, between Newcastle & Peterlee, with additional shorts to Easington Lane or South Hetton providing a 15 min service M-S daytimes and 20 mins Sun daytimes over that section. An Hourly evening service runs Newcastle to Easington Lane only.

I jumped aboard and settled into my comfy high backed seat with convenient USB port, for the short run of just under half an hour to Peterlee, cross country via various large villages. We soon arrived at Peterlee Bus Station, a place I had visited on my previous trip in 2022, when I had ridden Arriva routes between Durham and Hartlepool. Peterlee is another new town, near the coast but not on it, in the triangle between Sunderland, Hartlepool and Durham. Local services in the town are provided by Go North East Optare Solos operating as “Peterlee Purples” in a special livery. Arriva & Go North East run the main out of town routes.

After a break to stretch the legs, I caught the next X1 to Newcastle on the half hourly cycle, 6368, another in the gold and red “X- Lines” livery, which attracted reasonable custom. Leaving the town, it was cross country once again, calling at the former pit village of Easington, before continuing via South Hetton, Easington Lane and Hetton Le Hole back to Houghton-le-Spring. The “Bonnie Pit Lad” pub we passed at Easington Lane was just one of many I saw during my visit which reflected the mining history of the region.

From Houghton, we took a faster route than the 4 via a dual carriageway “A” road back to Washington, earning our “Express” route credentials. After a double run to the Galleries Bus Station, we resumed our speedy trip along the main road a short distance to Springwell Village, before taking a similar route to the 56 into Gateshead although (as we were an “X” service) only stopping at main stops on the way and saving a good few minutes.

From Gateshead Interchange, it was once more over the bridge into Newcastle, terminating at Eldon Square Bus Station, one of two in the city centre. A 1h30m trek from Peterlee, but with some good fast running included.

There are a sizeable number of Wright Streetlites and Optare Versas with Go North East. One of the latter, 8325 of Washington Depot, awaits departure time at the Chester-le-Steet terminus of Route 29 which, together with sister route 28, connects the town with Newcastle the long way round.

*I rode this bus to this point from Newcastle and then back to Beamish Museum.*

Go North East 29: Newcastle to Chester-le-Street (and back)

DAY 3: My final day in the North East dawned a little overcast but dry and I ended my tour with a trip to the Beamish Outdoor Museum, a place I had always wanted to visit but had never previously got around to. The story of this will have to wait until the next article, but in the meantime, I will cover my final Go North East bus rides of the trip.

Beamish is served by Routes 28 and 29, which run between Newcastle and Chester-le-Street indirectly via slightly different intermediate routeings. Each runs Hourly M-S daytimes, giving a 30 min combined service. On Sundays, only the 28 runs Hourly during the daytime. On M-S evenings, a 28B variant covers an amalgam of the 28 & 29 on an Hourly basis. These are single deck routes using Optare Versas and Wright StreetLites.

I had Versa 8325 for my outward trip, which I boarded at Eldon Square Bus Station with one other passenger. After proceeding in the usual manner across the Tyne to Gateshead, we looped away from the direct route to Chester-le-Street served by frequent trunk route 21, instead serving estate roads below Low Fell in the Team Valley, before rejoining the main road further south. However, a short distance further on, we again descended into the Team Valley, leaving the urban section behind and entering a countrified area through more former mining villages including Kibblesworth, Ouston and Pelton. At Beamish, the bus descends to the Museum Main Entrance during opening hours, providing a very direct service! As there was still half an hour before the museum opened, I stayed on the bus for the final stretch through more villages down into Chester-le-Street, passing under the impressive railway viaduct carrying the East Coast Main Line and terminating at the end of the High Street. 1h10m from Newcastle.

A driver change during the layover, after which I reboarded for the 15 min trip back up to the museum, this time alighting for my visit. Later, I caught StreetLite 5462 back from Beamish to Gateshead, where I finally concluded my trip to the North East with a last ride on the Metro one stop to Newcastle Central. Changing there, I made my way into the main station for the LNER Azuma service back home.

***Retro View 1:***
***Arriva North East Volvo B7TL 7485, previously VLW39 when in London, at Crook Market Place on the X46 service back to Durham. Taken at the time of my previous visit in 2022.***

*This vehicle has since been withdrawn.*

Postscript… Arriva North East

Whilst I did not ride any Arriva routes on this trip, I had covered a reasonable selection of their services around Durham on my last visit to the area in 2022. This included journeys on several ex Arriva London VLAs and a VLW.

A couple of examples are illustrated here to end this review of the North East.

Today, Arriva’s double deck services in the area are in the hands of Enviro400s, both “classic” and MMC versions.

Watton

Go North East, Young Man!

Heritage Visit: Beamish Museum

Great North East Railway Journeys