When photographed on August 17th 2006, 14655 (C655LFT), an Alexander-bodied Leyland Olympian originally new to Tyne & Wear PTE in 1986, was by far the oldest bus operating out of Stagecoach's Sunderland depot. The vehicle is seen in Vine Place, Sunderland, working the 11 service to Grangetown.

Another view of Olympian 14655, this time at the 2006 Seaburn rally. Over the years, most of this batch of vehicles received various modifications to their lower front panels, but 14655 remained remarkably original and unmodified right up to its withdrawal in December 2006. The bus is now part of the North East Bus Preservation Trust’s collection.

During March 2007, four of the 1990 batch of Northern Counties-bodied Leyland Olympians were converted to partial open top for use on the Newcastle-Gateshead sightseeing service. Here we see 14669 (H669BNL) at the 2007 MetroCentre rally.

On the 10th April 2007, Northern Counties-bodied Olympian 14671 (H671BNL) is seen outside Newcastle’s Royal Station Hotel.

14672 (H672BNL) is a Northern Counties Palatine-bodied Leyland Olympian - one of ten buses of this type originally new to Busways in 1990. The vehicle is seen at Sunderland's Transport Interchange on August 22nd 2006.

Olympian 14672 (H672BNL) heads down Hylton Road towards Sunderland City Centre on the afternoon of December 23rd 2006.

Open top Leyland Olympian, 14674 (H674BNL), seen in Neville Street, Newcastle – 23rd December 2008

Alexander-Dennis Enviro 400, 14930 (NK58FMO), in Neville Street, Newcastle – 23rd December 2008

Former Stagecoach London Northern Counties-bodied Volvo Olympian 16432 (N332HGK) departs for South Shields when seen at Sunderland Interchange on the afternoon of April 12th 2007.

Alexander bodied Volvo Olympian, 16707 (N707LTN), seen in Market Street East, Newcastle – 17th September 2009

Volvo Olympian 16708 (N708LTN) was one of the very few surviving vehicles of its type with Stagecoach in Newcastle when seen in Percy Street, Newcastle on the afternoon of 31st March 2009

Alexander-bodied Volvo Olympian 16715 (N715LTN) seen in Blackett Street, Newcastle, on the afternoon of August 16th 2006. The vehicle is one of a batch of 40 similar buses that were delivered to Busways in 1995 for operation in Newcastle and South Shields.

Volvo Olympian/Alexander, 16720 (N720LTN), passes Newcastle Central railway station – 9th July 2008

Alexander-bodied Volvo Olympian, 16721 (N721LTN) in Grainger Street, Newcastle – 23rd October 2007

On 18th February 2008, Volvo Olympian 16725 (N725LTN) is seen in Pilgrim Street, Newcastle, disguised as a London Transport Routemaster!

Alexander-bodied Volvo Olympian 16728 (N728LTN) at Newgate Street, Newcastle – 17th February 2007.

Volvo Olympian/Alexander, 16729 (N729LTN) in Neville Street, Newcastle – 9th July 2008

Alexander-bodied Volvo Olympian, 16736 (N736LTN), seen in John Street, Sunderland – 22nd January 2008

South Shields depot’s 16737 (N737LTN) departs from Sunderland Transport Interchange, heading for its home town on the E1 service – 22nd August 2006.

Volvo Olympian 16738 (N738LTN) on the E2 to South Shields, is seen in Mary Street, Sunderland on the afternoon of August 22nd 2006.

Recent additions to the Stagecoach in Newcastle fleet are a batch of Enviro 400 low floor double deckers such as 19035 (SN56AWC), seen at the city's Haymarket bus station on October 24th 2006.

Alexander Dennis ‘Enviro 400’ 19036 (SN56AWF) pictured in Newcastle’s Blackett Street – 21st December 2006.

Alexander Dennis 'Enviro 400', 19151 (NK07HBL) at Gallowgate, Newcastle – 23rd October 2007

Alexander PS bodied Volvo B10M 20117 (N217LTN) seen in Durham Road, Sunderland – 13th January 2007.

Volvo B10M/Alexander, 20117 (N217LTN), in Prudhoe Place, Newcastle, on 31st March 2009

Volvo B10M/Alexander, 20125 (P125XCN), at Sunderland Interchange on the afternoon of 23rd March 2009. The bus is one of several of the type to receive updated seating.

Volvo B10M/Alexander, 20135 (P135XCN), seen approaching Sunderland Interchange on the afternoon of 25th August 2009

On the afternoon of August 15th 2007, Northern Counties ‘Paladin’-bodied Volvo B10M, 20243 (M543SPY), is seen in Prudhoe Place, Newcastle. The vehicle carries a black-based livery with branding for the X77/X78 Darras Hall services.

Volvo B10M/Alexander 20262 (N552VDC), seen in Kepple Street, South Shields – 8th March 2008

Alexander PS-bodied Volvo B10M, 20263 (N553VDC), one of several of this type to be fitted with dual purpose seating, is seen turning into Prudhoe Place, Newcastle – 18th February 2008

Northern Counties-bodied Volvo B10M 20267 (M707KRH) at Gallowgate, Newcastle - Saturday 17th February 2007.

Northern Counties ‘Paladin’ bodied Volvo B10M 20273 (M713KRH) seen departing from Sunderland Interchange for South Shields on April 4th 2007.

Northern Counties Paladin bodied Volvo B10M, 20296 (M406SPY), seen in Blackett Street, Newcastle - 17th September 2009

Volvo B10M/Alexander, 20552 (P552ESA), seen on display at the MetroCentre bus and coach rally on 3rd May 2009. The vehicle carries a special pink livery to promote Breast Cancer awareness and also branding for service X34 between South Shields and Newcastle.

Alexander PS-bodied Volvo B10M, 20703 (K703DAO), seen at High Barnes on Saturday 1st December 2007, making a rare appearance on Stagecoach in Sunderland’s service 16 to Hastings Hill estate

Volvo B10M/Alexander, 20724 (K724DAO), seen outside the Wheatsheaf head offices carrying an all over advert for local radio station Sun FM – 2nd August 2008

Volvo B10M/Alexander, 20724 (K724DAO), in John Street, Sunderland – 23rd March 2009

Volvo B10M/Alexander, 20730 (K730DAO), seen inside Wheatsheaf depot, Sunderland – 2nd August 2008

Former Stagecoach Manchester Alexander PS-bodied Volvo B10M 20842 (P842GND) turns into Albion Place in Sunderland's city centre, while working the E1 to South Shields - 22-08-06.

21001 (M901DRG) is one of a pair of Alexander ‘Strider’ bodied Volvo B10Bs that were originally purchased by Busways in 1994 for evaluation purposes. The vehicle was still hard at work with successors Stagecoach North East, when seen in Newcastle’s Percy Street on the afternoon of Saturday 27th January 2007.

Alexander Strider-bodied Volvo B10B 21002 (M902DRG) seen turning into Albion Place, Sunderland, on the afternoon of April 4th 2007.

Volvo B10B/Alexander 21002 (M902DRG), seen in Kepple Street, South Shields – 10th March 2008

Alexander Strider bodied Volvo B10B, 21002 (M202DRG), seen in Vine Place, Sunderland – 24th September 2009

Alexander ALX300-bodied Volvo B10BLE 21136 (R236KRG) picks up passengers in Blackett Street, Newcastle - 17th February 2007.

Due to road works in Sunderland City Centre during October/November 2009, access to Sunderland Interchange was temporally diverted via Stockton Road and part of the bus station was altered. Seen negotiating the tight turn through the temporary entrance, Volvo B10BLE/Alexander, 21137 (R237KRG), on 2nd October 2009

Volvo B10BLE 21143 (R243KRG) pictured in Newcastle’s Blackett Street on the afternoon of 17th February 2007.

Volvo B10BLE/Alexander 21143 (R243KRG), seen in Kepple Street, South Shields – 8th March 2008

Alexander ALX300-bodied MAN 22073 (NK54BFZ) at High Barnes – 24th February 2007.

Saturday 26th May 2007 marked the last day of service 14A and Alexander ALX300-bodied MAN 22075 (NK54BGF) is seen at High Barnes, Sunderland, as dusk approaches on the final day.

On the afternoon of September 21st 2005 Alexander ALX300-bodied MAN 22082 (NK54BHA) picks up passengers outside Bishopwearmouth Cemetery, Sunderland.

Alexander ALX300-bodied MAN 22346 (NK55AJY) picks up passengers in Newcastle’s Blackett Street. 21st December 2006.

Alexander ALX300 bodied MAN, 22453 (S453OFT), seen in Kayll Road, Sunderland, taking a diversion along Kayll Road and Hylton Road due to road works on Chester Road on this day – 8th February 2009

Although all daytime weekday journeys on the now defunct 14A were provided by Redby Travel for a number of years, Stagecoach buses still operated the evening and Sunday service. Alexander ALX300-bodied MAN 22489 (T489BNL) is seen working the 18.00 Docks – Helmsdale Road on Saturday 26th August 2006.

Alexander ALX300-bodied MAN, 22495 (T495BNL), seen at Wheatsheaf depot, Sunderland - 2nd August 2008

Alexander Dennis ‘Enviro 300’ 27506 (NK05JXE) seen in Newcastle’s Blackett Street operating the 100 MetroCentre shuttle service – 16th August 2006.

Alexander ’PS’-bodied Scania N113CRB, 28901 (F901JRG), in Prudhoe Place, Newcastle – 23rd October 2007

On the afternoon of April 10th 2007, Alexander-bodied Scania 28902 (F902JRG) is seen passing Newcastle Central railway station.

Although the number of Alexander PS-bodied Scania N113CRBs operated by Stagecoach in Newcastle had diminishing towards the end of 2006, several were seen hard at work on my visit to the city on October 24th 2006. Here we see 28905 (F905JRG) in Bewick Street, Newcastle, working the 87 service to Newbiggin Hall.

Alexander PS bodied Scania 28930 (H430EFT), is seen in Newcastle’s Percy Street on the 16th August 2006, having just set off from Eldon Square bus station on the X82 service to Throckley.

A trio of Leyland Lynx at Wheatsheaf depot, Sunderland. Nearest the camera 29107 (F107HVK), with 29601 (F601UVN) in front and just visible lurking in the garage, 29629 (K629YVN) which had just recently been withdrawn from service – 2nd August 2008

On 27th December 2006, Leyland Lynx driver training bus 29616 (G616CEF) is seen at Sunderland’s Wheatsheaf depot. The vehicle was originally new to Cleveland Transit in 1989.

It came as a major surprise when this Leyland Lynx II was transferred to Stagecoach’s Sunderland depot towards the end of 2005, Sunderland having withdrawn all their own Lynxes several years earlier. New to Cleveland Transit in 1992, 29629 (K629YVN) was one of a batch of nine Lynxes that were fitted with powerful Volvo engines rather than the usual Cummins L10 unit. The bus is seen here picking up passengers in Fawcett Street, Sunderland on 11th April 2007.

Leyland Lynx II, 29629 (K629YVN) at the Seaburn bus rally – 27th August 2007.

Plaxton Pointer-bodied Dennis Dart 32112 (K112SRH) heads for Four Lane Ends on the 32 service, when seen in St. Thomas Street, Newcastle, on the afternoon of 19th May 2007.

Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart, 32112 (K112SRH) is seen on the afternoon of 18th November 2008 having just crossed the Swing Bridge into Newcastle. It is one of two elderly Darts that are used as backup vehicles for the Quaylink service, normally operated by the Designline Olympus electric buses.

‘Quaylink’ branded Plaxton ‘Pointer’ bodied Dennis Dart, 32134 (K134SRH), seen in seen in Percy Street, Newcastle – 23rd December 2008

Dennis Dart/Alexander 32569 (K569NHC) is seen in Newcastle’s Bewick Street on the afternoon of December 21st 2006. The vehicle was originally new to Stagecoach South (Sussex Coastline Buses) in 1992.

Former Stagecoach London Alexander-bodied Dart 32621 (P621PGP) ascends the steep incline of Sunderland’s Durham Road on a foggy Saturday 14th October 2006.

Alexander ‘Dash’-bodied Dart, 32622 (P622PGP), seen at High Barnes, Sunderland, working the 5 service on a wintry Friday 1st February 2008

Sunday operation of Stagecoach in Sunderland services are now usually operated exclusively by easy access buses, but on 17th February 2008, step entrance Dart 32622 (P622PGP), was seen at High Barnes making a rare Sunday appearance on the 5A service.

Dennis Dart/Alexander, 32631 (P631PGP), seen in Vine Place, Sunderland – 24th July 2009

Former Stagecoach London Alexander-bodied Dart 32633 (P633PGP) is seen in Chester Road heading for Sunderland City Centre on the overcast afternoon of Saturday 24th February 2007.

Former Glenvale Transport Dart/Alexander, 32695 (J701YRM), is seen at the Wheatsheaf depot, Sunderland on 2nd August 2008. The vehicle is used to train mechanics in the stripping down and rebuilding of components.

On April 10th 2007, Plaxton ‘Pointer’ bodied Dennis Dart 32701 (J701KCU) is seen in Newgate Street, Newcastle. This vehicle was originally new in 1992 to Busways’ subsidiary Blue Bus Services – the very first of many Darts operated by Busways and successors Stagecoach North East.

Alexander ‘Dash’ bodied Dart 32714 (K714PCN) seen in Bewick Street, Newcastle – 10th April 2007.

Alexander ‘Dash’ bodied Dart, 32714 (K714PCN) in Neville Street, Newcastle – 9th July 2008

Dennis Dart/Alexander, 32724 (K724PNL), seen in Market Street East, Newcastle, on 31st March 2009

Dennis Dart/Alexander, 32733 (L733VNL), seen in Church Way, South Shields, on 31st March 2009

During 2004 Stagecoach North East repainted this Dennis Dart in the green and cream livery of Sunderland Corporation Transport to commemorate 125 years of transport in the city. The vehicle is pictured at the MetroCentre bus rally on the 1st May 2005.

Dennis Dart/Alexander 32743 (L743VNL), seen in Kepple Street, South Shields – 10th March 2008

Plaxton-bodied Dart 32745 (L745VNL) seen about to enter Newcastle’s new Prudhoe Street bus station – 10th April 2007.

2006 saw this Plaxton 'Pointer' bodied Dart repainted in South Shields Corporation livery. 32749 (L749VNL) is seen at the MetroCentre bus rally on April 30th 2006.

Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart, 32749 (L749VNL), seen in Fowler Street, South Shields – 31st March 2009

Dennis Dart/Plaxton 32750 (L750VNL), seen in Kepple Street, South Shields – 8th March 2008

Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart, 32750 (L750VNL), seen in Church Way, South Shields, on 31st March 2009

Alexander bodied Dennis Dart, 32760 (L760ARG), seen in Pilgrim Street, Newcastle - 17th September 2009

Alexander Dash-bodied Dart 32764 (L764ARG) seen heading down Chester Road towards Sunderland city centre on the 5 service - 4th July 2006.

South Shields allocated 32767 (M767DRG), a Plaxton ‘Pointer’ bodied Dart seen at Sunderland Transport Interchange – 26th February 2007.

Plaxton bodied Dennis Dart, 32769 (M769DRG), seen in Pilgrim Street, Newcastle - 17th September 2009

Alexander ‘Dash’ bodied Dennis Dart, 32778 (N779RVK), in Vine Place, Sunderland – 23rd February 2009

Alexander Dash bodied step entrance Dart, 32780 (P780WCN), seen in Chester Road, Sunderland – 7th October 2009

Dennis Dart/Alexander, 32781 (P781WCN), seen at the Wheatsheaf depot, Sunderland – 2nd August 2008

Due to road works in High Barnes estate, Sunderland, during October 2009, services 5/5A were diverted to run via Ettrick Grove North, which had never previously been served by a regular bus service. Alexander bodied Dennis Dart, 32781 (P781WCN), is seen on a service 5 working, descending the steep Ettrick Grove incline on the afternoon of 13th October 2009

Dennis Dart/Alexander, 32782 (P782WCN), seen in Holmeside, Sunderland – 6th November 2009

Stagecoach North East Dart/Alexander, 32789 (P789WVK), seen in Ewesley Road, Sunderland, about to negotiate a tight left turn into Cleveland Road while on a diversion due to road works in the Chester Road/Kayll Road area – 30th July 2009

Due to road works in High Barnes estate, Sunderland, during October 2009, services 5/5A were diverted to run via Ettrick Grove North, which had never previously been served by a regular bus service. Dennis Dart/Alexander, 32789 (P789WVK), is seen on a service 5 working in Ettrick Grove, about to turn into Cleveland Road on the afternoon of 13th October 2009