Van Hool bodied Volvo B10M, 2191RO, seen outside the Carling Academy, Newcastle – 9th July 2008

6MPT is a Leyland Leopard fitted with a Plaxton Highway body. The vehicle was new in 1963 to Stanhope Motor Services, and in later life also operated for Eden, West Auckland and Stevensons of Uttoxeter. Seen at the 1997 MetroCentre rally carrying SMS livery.

Seen at the 2007 Seaburn bus rally, Plaxton ‘Highway’-bodied Leyland Leopard ACU304B (originally 6MPT) is now preserved in the livery of The Eden.

This former Gardiners of Spennymoor Ford Thames Trader with rare Burlingham 'Gannet' body was converted to a caravan in later life. 8666PT is seen at the 1992 annual Seaburn rally.

Leyland Titan NUW648Y of the Middlesbrough-based A1 Coaches fleet seen at the 2006 MetroCentre bus rally.

Abbey Coaches’ unusual ex-British Airways Van Hool A308 Intergral, YIW5672, seen at the 2007 MetroCentre rally.

Rear view of Abbey Coaches Van Hool A308 Intergral, YIW5672 at the 2007 MetroCentre rally.

Former London Transport RT LLU710 seen in use as a mobile café at the Seaburn Recreation Ground, Sunderland – 14th June 1998

Astley Coaches’ Plaxton ‘Beaver 2’-bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario 0814D, YP52KRF, at Morpeth bus station – 23rd October 2007

ATEC Travel Mercedes-Benz, M570SRE, outside Newcastle Central railway station – 23rd December 2008

This Park Royal-bodied AEC Monocoach was being used as a mobile publicity vehicle for the North of England Open Air Museum, Beamish, when seen on the 25th August 1981. The bus was originally new to Northern General Transport in 1954.

A 1986 Auwaeter Neoplan Skyliner of Blue Line, seen on May 13th 1990 about to depart from Sunderland's Park Lane bus station. This vehicle was one of a batch of six Gardner-engined Skyliners used on the London Express service.

571BWT is an AEC Relience fitted with Duple ‘Brittania’ coachwork. The vehicle was originally new to Fearns of Dodsworth in 1962 and later also operated for Cadmans Coaches of Thorne. When seen here at the 1991 HCVS Tyne-Tees Run event, the coach had been preserved by an employee of Bond Bros and painted in that fleet’s colours.

Bond Bros’ Roe-bodied Atlantean PRH248G seen while participating in the 1991 HCVS Tyne-Tees Run in torrential rain. The vehicle was originally new to Hull Corporation in 1968.

A regular at rallies in north east England for a number of years during the late 1980s and early ‘90s was this Karrier BF fitted with a 14-seat Plaxton body. BVH157A (later re-registered OSK831) dates from 1957 and was originally purchased by a Leeds proprietor carrying the registration 6666U. The vehicle also served as church transport for many years before being bought for preservation in 1985. Here she is pictured at the Rover P4 Club’s vintage vehicle rally at Seaburn in 1990.

Stagecoach Kingston Upon Hull’s former Tyne & Wear PTE/Busways Alexander-bodied Olympian 931 (C621LFT), back in it’s native north east England at the 1999 MetroCentre rally.

HTC661 was a 1947 Bedford OB of the now defunct Calvary Coaches fleet of Washington. Pictured at the N.E. Bus Preservation Society's 1993 Seaburn rally, the coach was thought to be the oldest Bedford still in regular use as a PSV.

The previous year, Calvary's entrant in the annual Seaburn rally was GUP647H - a 1969 Plaxton Derwent-bodied AEC Relience, which had recently been acquired from its original owner, OK Motor Services.

In this September 1988 view of Northern’s Park Lane bus depot, Sunderland, two visiting coaches keep company with a Mk.1 Leyland National. On the left is Chester City Transport 24 (A157MCK), a 1983 Duple ‘Dominant IV’-bodied Leyland Tiger, while alongside is Cumberland Williowbrook-bodied Leyland Leopard 632 (PRM631X) carrying ‘Border Clipper’ branding.

A722UOE is a former West Midlands Mk.2 MCW Metrobus of the City Sightseeing fleet, seen on display at the N.E. Bus Preservation Trust's 2006 Seaburn rally. These open top tour buses are maintained and housed at Stagecoach's Slatyford depot in Newcastle on behalf of City Sightseeing, hence the vehicle having two different fleet numbers.

An unusual vehicle seen in Chester Road, Sunderland outside of the city’s university, was V875LYS. It is an American-built Blue Bird school bus owned by Club Campus, Glasgow, as a publicity vehicle – 22nd September 2008

A former Cleveland Transit 1976 Northern Counties-bodied Daimler Fleetline of the Compass Royston fleet, seen at the N.E. Bus Preservation Society’s Seaburn Rally on the 25th August 1997.

Compass Royston’s Jonkheere ‘Modulo’ bodied Volvo B7R FL02ZXF seen departing from Sunderland Interchange on a rail replacement service to Seaham – 11th April 2007.

Compass Community Transport’s Optare Solo, YJ08PKU, seen in Frederick Street, Sunderland – 8th July 2008

Cooper’s Tourmaster Irizar Century bodied Scania, V100LCT, at the 2007 MetroCentre rally

Former Eastern National Omnibus Co Bristol Lodekka FLF, MVX878C, of the Dreadnought Coaches fleet of Alnwick, seen on display at the 2007 MetroCentre rally.

Interior view of Dreadnought Coaches Bristol Lodekka/ECW, MVX878C

Durham Travel provided many National Express services and one of their coaches, P56XNL, a Plaxton Expressliner 2- bodied Volvo B10M, is seen at Sunderland's Park Lane bus station on February 15th 1998, prior to departing on the London Victoria service.

Jonckheere-bodied Volvo B10M ESK793 of the Esk Valley Coaches fleet of Whitby, seen at the MetroCentre coach park – 6th May 2007.

Seen at Park Lane bus station, Sunderland, on July 20th 1997 was Harrogate-based Expert Coach Travel's F855XJX - a Plaxton-bodied Volvo B10M.

Seen at the 1993 H.C.V.S. rally at South Shields, was this 1968 ex-Kingston-on-Hull Corporation Roe-bodied Leyland Atlantean owned by Fairley's of Spennymoor, County Durham.

On the 26th October 2006 Gardiners of Spennymoor's Optare Metrorider J942JJR is seen approaching Durham city centre. The bus was originally new to Go-Ahead Northern in 1991 as fleet number 342.

An Optare StarRider of the now defunct George Bell fleet of Sunderland, seen in Chester Road on the afternoon of March 1st 1999. F911YWY was originally new to London Central in 1988.

On the 22nd February 1999, this Caetano-bodied Volvo B6 of the Godson’s fleet of Leeds was photographed quite a way from its native Yorkshire home, parked outside a house on High Barnes Estate, Sunderland.

WIB7806 is a Plaxton ‘Paramount 3500 Mk.III’ bodied DAF owned by Griersons of Fishburn. The coach is seen passing the City of Sunderland College’s Bede Centre in Durham Road on the afternoon of January 13th 2007.

Grierson of Fishburn's ex-Lothian Buses Leyland Olympian/Alexander, J852TSC. The vehicle is seen at the North East Bus Preservation Trust's Father's Day rally at Howlands park and ride site, Durham - 21st June 2009.

Hartlepool Transport’s Plaxton Paramount-bodied Volvo B10M, HDZ8683, seen on private hire outside Sunderland’s Crowtree Leisure Centre on October 13th 1997.

Former Reading Transport MCW Metrobus, 183 (HCF183W), seen in Northumberland Street, Newcastle on the afternoon of February 18th 2008, acting as a mobile publicity vehicle for the government’s National Minimum Wage.

This Leyland National 2 of the short-lived HMB Buses fleet of Gateshead is seen at the MetroCentre bus rally on the 12th July 1998. VBG120V was originally new in 1980 to Merseyside PTE.

Hunters of Seaton Delaval's Alexander-bodied Leyland Atlantean, NRG163M, seen at the H.C.V.S. rally, South Shields on the 2nd June 1991. The bus was originally new in 1973 to Aberdeen Corporation as a dual-door vehicle.

Irvings of Carlisle Van Hool Alizee bodied Scania K113CRB, R8BUS, seen at Gateshead MetroCentre coach park – 6th May 2007

Van Hool-bodied DAF JAZ9420 of Silver Gray Carriage Co Ltd, seen in Fenkle Street, Newcastle – 10th April 2007. The vehicle was originally new in 1987 to Price, Yeadon.

JC Bell Optare Solo, MX57UPJ, seen outside Durham Cathedral operating on the city’s ‘Cathedral Bus’ service – 16th July 2008

JC Bell Optare Solo, MX57UPM, seen at Owengate, Durham, on the ‘Cathedral Bus’ service – 16th July 2008

Jim Hughes Van Hool Ailzee-bodied Volvo B10M, PJI2409, seen at High Barnes, Sunderland – 18th February 2008

Jim Hughes Van Hool Alizee bodied Volvo B10M, PJI2407, seen passing Newcastle Central railway station – 9th July 2008

Seen at Millburngate, Durham, on the afternoon of August 9th 2007, a visitor from Dublin - J.J. Kavanagh & Sons Setra ‘S415HD Top Class’ 04-O-11

Lees of Durham’s Plaxton ‘Paramount’-bodied Volvo B10M, 891FUO, in Chester Road, Sunderland – 4th November 2007

Lothian Region Transport Alexander-bodied Leyland Atlantean, 374 (SSF374H), seen in Edinburgh on the 19th August 1981

861 (JSC861E) was one of eight 1967 Leyland Atlanteans that were refurbished by Lothian Region Transport for use on the Edinburgh city tour and the service to Turnhouse Airport. The bus is seen on Waverley Bridge on 19th August 1981

Neoplan Skyliner 50145 (YN05WEC) of Stagecoach Bluebird seen outside Newcastle’s Royal Station Hotel – 10th March 2007.

Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B12B, 54016 (SV07ADO), of Stagecoach Bluebird, seen outside the Royal Station Hotel, Newcastle on the afternoon of November 18th 2008

National Express Irizar-bodied Scania, NXL32 (YN55NDZ), at Sunderland Interchange – 26th October 2007

The stylish rear end design of the Irizar coachwork is shown to good effect in this view of National Express Scania, YN55NDZ, in Cowan Terrace, having just departed from Sunderland Interchange – 26th October 2007

J254BHH is a Mellor-bodied Mercedes-Benz 609D of Lemington-based Palmer’s Coaches. The vehicle is seen in Prudhoe Place, Newcastle on the afternoon of December 21st 2006.

MBR436T is a former Northern General ECW-bodied Atlantean of the Premier Coaches fleet of Blyth. The vehicle is pictured at the 1999 MetroCentre bus rally.

LDV minibus, YX05BGZ, of Hetton-le-Hole-based Safari Travel, seen at High Barnes, Sunderland – 26th May 2009

Silverdale of Nottingham’s Caetano bodied Scania, FJ58AJO, in National Express livery, seen entering Durham bus station on 8th April 2009

SJR612Y is one of two former Go North East ECW-bodied Olympians that were converted for use as mobile exhibition/publicity units after withdrawal. The bus is seen at Go North East’s Deptford depot in Sunderland, where these vehicles are kept and maintained - 23/12/07

Stagecoach in Cumbria’s Plaxton Expressliner II bodied Volvo B10M 52268 (RBZ5459) sets off from Newcastle’s Prudhoe Street Bus Station at the start of its journey to Carlisle on the 685 service – 19th May 2007.

Stagecoach in Cumbria Plaxton-bodied Volvo B10M, 52196 (VRR447), seen at Prudhoe Street bus station, Newcastle – 23rd October 2007

Style Travel’s Plaxton Paramount bodied Volvo B10M, BKZ7837, in Chester Road, Sunderland – 8th July 2009.

Tees Valley Coaches Duple Metsec bodied Dennis Condor, G863FVX, seen on the seafront at Seaburn, Sunderland – 25th August 2008

Tees Valley Coaches Dennis Condor, G863FVX, at Sea Lane, Sunderland - 25th August 2008

During 1990, the Cleveland operations of famous N.E. independent, Trimdon Motor Services were split off to form a separate company called Teesside Motor Services. The new company duly passed to the Caldaire Group who already owned United and Tees & District. Illustrating the smart new livery that was introduced under Caldaire ownership is ECW-bodied Bristol LH, LMA607P - one of many buses of this type operated by TMS. This ex-Crosville Wales bus is seen at the 1990 H.C.V.S. rally at Gypsies Green Stadium, South Shields.

Tristar Minicoaches’ Alexander-bodied Mercedes-Benz 709D, P383FEA, at Morpeth bus station – 23rd October 2007

New to Tyne Valley in 1970, Plaxton-bodied Leyland Leopard VTY543J is now preserved and is seen on display at the 2007 Seaburn rally.

For many years Tyne Valley Coaches of Hexham ran a pair of Plaxton-bodied Leyland Leopards dating from 1971. Originally new to Wallace Arnold, they were acquired by Tyne Valley in 1976. GAN744J is now preserved and is seen at the 2007 Seaburn rally.

WA Shearings Plaxton-bodied Volvo B12M, 623 (MX04AFJ), at the MetroCentre coach park – 6th May 2007

WA Shearings Plaxton-bodied Volvo B12M, 724 (MX05AHY), picks up passengers at Sunderland Interchange on the afternoon of 5th November 2007

Weardale Motor Services Neoplan N316 SHDL, YN06FVR, seen departing Sunderland Interchange while working on hire to David Urquhart Travel – 5th May 2008

Welco Transport Services' former Chester Alexander-bodied Renault-Dodge S56, E42PJV, seen in Fawcett Street, Sunderland on November 13th 1998. This short-lived operator provided competition to several Stagecoach Busways services in Newcastle and Sunderland, operating from the former W.H. Jolly bus garage at South Hylton.

Duple Caribean-bodied Leyland Tiger, CUI841 of South Shields based Wilkinson Travel, seen on display at the 2008 Seaburn bus rally

This former Crosville Bristol VR/ECW, WTU468W, is now used as a mobile community centre in the Middlesbrough area. The vehicle is seen at the 2009 Seaburn bus rally

New to West Yorkshire in 1977, this Bristol VR/ECW is now owned by Stockton Riverside College, converted into a mobile computer training centre. The vehicle is seen at Bents Park, South Shields, after participating in the H.C.V.S. 2007 Tyne-Tees Run.

This unusual six-wheeled Bluebird minibus, YX58EHV, is owned by Durham County Council and was seen near Sunderland’s Empire Theatre on the afternoon of 23rd September 2009