293 (E293ETY) was an Alexander-bodied Renault-Dodge S56 new in 1988, and one of a number of Sunderland-based minibuses that sported the dark blue and white version of 'Minilink' livery based on the old Sunderland District colours. The vehicle is seen outside Sunderland’s Park Lane Bus Depot on the 13th May 1990.

Optare MetroRider 344 (J944JJR) at the MetroCentre Bus Rally - 12/07/98.

445 (F502ANY) was a MCW 'MetroRider originally new to Oxford Citybus in 1989. Still sporting full Oxford Citybus livery but with Wear Buses fleetnames, the vehicle is seen in Chester Road, Sunderland, on March 1st 1999 on the busy 126 service to Pennywell Estate.

Former Oxford Citybus (also part of the Go-Ahead Group) MCW MetroRider 447 F504ANY ended its days with Go North East as a Staff Shuttle Bus. At the time this photo was taken (1st August 1998) work to construct the new Park Lane transport interchange had only just commenced and bus services were departing from temporary stops in the surrounding side streets.

Northern General Transport was the only operator outside of London to purchase Routemasters new and favoured a forward entrance layout rather than the open rear platform standard to the London buses. Preserved Northern Routemaster 2199 PCN762 (originally RCN699) was from the first batch delivered in 1964 and is seen at the 1998 Seaburn rally.

Preserved Routemaster, 2105 (EUP405B) seen on wedding hire in Chester Road, Sunderland, passing St. Gabriel’s Church – 28th December 2007

Routemaster 2105 (EUP405B) is another superb example of a Northern Routemaster to be preserved. The bus is seen at the 1986 N.E. Bus Preservation Society’s open day & rally at Leam Lane. Alongside, looking rather sorry for itself, is Metro Cammell-bodied Leyland PD3/4 AFT930. This vehicle dates from 1958 and was originally new to Northern’s Tynemouth & District subsidiary as fleet number 230, but in later years was renumbered several times - 2185, 3138, DT21, and finally T211. Twenty-one years on, restoration of the PD3/4 still awaits completion.

Another shot of Northern Routemaster 2105, seen at the 1997 H.C.V.S. rally at Gypsies Green Stadium, South Shields, in the company of the infamous Leyland PD3 ‘Tynesider’ rebuild, 3000 (MCN30K).

On the 10th July 1997, Coastline’s open top Leyland Atlantean 3285 (RCN111N) is seen outside the Bridges Shopping Centre, Sunderland, publicising the Prince’s Youth Business Trust. The Park Royal-bodied vehicle was originally new in 1974 to Northern’s Gateshead & District subsidiary, transferring to the main Northern fleet in 1976.

Seen shortly after withdrawal from service, having been bought for preservation, is Bristol VR 3401 (JPT901T) at the MetroCentre Bus Rally - 12/07/98.

During the early to mid-80s, many of Northern's buses operating on local services within Tyne and Wear were outshopped in Tyne & Wear PTE livery and Bristol VR 3401 has been restored in these colours. The location is the North East Bus Preservation Society's Seaburn Rally - 27/08/01.

VFM Buses Roe-bodied Atlantean 3465 (AUP365W) pictured outside Gateshead Interchange - 28/02/98

3501 (UTN501Y) was the very first Mk 2 MCW Metrobus new to Northern and the National Bus Company in June 1983, and is now preserved. The bus is seen here at the N.E. Bus Preservation Society's 2000 Seaburn Rally, only a few days after coming straight out of service with Go Wear Buses.

Preserved MCW Metrobus, 3501 (UTN501Y), seen in North Road, Durham, resplendent in NBC Northern livery – 8th April 2009

Preserved MCW Metrobus, 3501 (UTN501Y), seen in North Road, Durham - 8th April 2009

Former London MCW Metrobus 3516 (BYX218V) inside Park Lane depot on the 15th July 1997.

3516 at Sunderland Central Bus Station on the 10th November 1997.

During 1981, Northern acquired ten of these coach-seated Leyland 'Atlanteans' with Alexander bodies from Tyne and Wear PTE. Seventeen years later, when seen here at Newcastle’s Haymarket Bus Station on the 27th March 1998, 3530 (EJR130W) was still giving sterling service for Go-Ahead Northern’s ‘Coastline’ subsidiary.

ECW-bodied Leyland Atlantean 3538 (MBR438T) at the MetroCentre Bus Rally - 11/07/99.

'Atlantean' 3554 (MBR454T) at Sunderland's Park Lane Bus Station in September 1988.

ECW-bodied Leyland Olympian 3595 (JTY395X) in Chester Road, Sunderland, carrying Go North East corporate livery - 1st March 1999.

Olympian 3597 (JTY397X) at Park Lane Bus Station, Sunderland - 20th July 1997.

3597 at Park Lane Bus Station - 25th November 1997.

Leyland Olympian 3611 (JTY371X) seen at Washington Galleries Bus Station in April 1982.

Wearing an all-over advert for City of Sunderland College, MCW Metrobus 3619 (A619BCN) is seen at Park Lane Bus Station on the 10th November 1997.

On the 1st December 1997, Metrobus 3622 (A622BCN) is seen at Sunderland's Central Bus Station.

MCW Metrobus 3632 (A632BCN) pictured in Chester Road heading towards Sunderland on the X6 service - 01/03/99.

Illustrating the later simplified version of Wear Buses livery is Eastern Coachworks-bodied Olympian 3659 (C659LJR). The bus is pictured at Park Lane Bus Station on the 20th July 1997.

In this September 1988 view, Olympian 3665 (C665LJR) is pictured outside Park Lane Bus Depot.

Alexander-bodied Olympian 3677 (G677TCN) was one of five buses of this type bought new in 1989 by Go-Ahead Northern. The vehicle is seen at the 1998 MetroCentre bus rally.

VFM Buses Olympian 3742 (B742GCN) seen in Go-North East corporate colours at Gypsies Green Stadium, South Shields. 7th June 1998.

Coastline Olympian 3745 (B745GCN) seen at Sunderland's Park Lane Bus Station about to set off on a journey to Cramlington on the 319 service - 15/02/98.

Metrobus 3755 (C755OCN) rests between duties outside Park Lane Depot, Sunderland - 23rd April 1997.

Go-Ahead Northern Bristol VR 3884 (EUP384S) and MCW Metrobus 3767 (C767OCN) at Park Lane bus station in September 1988.

Preserved MCW Metrobus, 3771 (C771OCN), seen on display at the MetroCentre bus and coach rally on 3rd May 2009

MCW Metrobus 3776 (C776OCN) at Park Lane on 20th July 1997.

MCW Metrobus 3777 (C777OCN) at Park Lane Bus Depot, Sunderland, 15-07-97.

3777 at Park Lane Bus Station - 20th July 1997.

Coach-seated MCW Metrobus 3781 (C781OCN) at Park Lane Bus Station - 15th February 1998.

Metrobuses 3781 & 3783 seen at Park Lane on Sunday 15th February 1998.

In the final couple of years before the old Park Lane bus station and depot sites were closed, Sunderland’s allocation of vehicles was larger than the number of buses that could be housed in the depot – this due to closure of the Philadelphia garage. Consequently, Sunday visits to Park Lane could always guarantee good photo opportunities as the overspill of buses usually occupied large parts of the adjoining bus station. Coach-seated MCW Metrobus 3784 (C784OCN) is seen parked in the bus station on Sunday 29th June 1997.

Marshall-bodied Dart 8124 (N124WBR) passes coach-seated Metrobus 3789 (C789OCN) at High Barnes, Sunderland - 1st March 1999.

Alexander-bodied Leyland Atlantean 3793 (AVK152V) at the MetroCentre Bus Rally - 29th May 2000. The vehicle was originally new in 1980 to Tyne & Wear PTE, but had latterly been operated by OK Travel, in whose livery it still carried, but with Go-Northern fleetnames.

Former OK Travel Northern Counties-bodied Leyland Olympian 3806 (F106UEF) at the MetroCentre bus rally - 12th July 1998.

An April 1981 view of 1972 Willowbrook-bodied Daimler Fleetline, 4259 (NCN65L), seen picking up passengers in Chester Road, Sunderland, on a local service to Hastings Hill Estate.

In this April 1982 shot, Tyne & Wear PTE-liveried Leyland National, 4463 (NCN962L), is seen in Chester Road, Sunderland, on the 638 service. The vehicle was originally built to dual-door specification, entering service during May 1973, later being converted to single door configuration in December 1979.

Go-Ahead Northern Leyland National 2 4660 (UPT660V) departs from Park Lane Bus Station - 10th July 1997.

Wear Buses National 2 4665 (UPT665V) at Park Lane Bus Station - 29th June 1997.

Wear Buses National 2 4677 (UPT677V) obstructs one of the exits from Sunderland's Park Lane Bus Station on Sunday 20th July 1997.

Front and rear views of Wear Buses National 2s 4685 and 4677 at Park Lane - 15/02/98.

4677 at Park Lane Bus Station - 15th February 1998.

National 2 4685 (UPT685V) at Park Lane Bus Station, Sunderland - 22/03/98.

National 2 4686 (BGR686W) at Park Lane on the 29th June 1997.

Leyland National 2 4688 (BGR688W) pictured in Percy Street, Newcastle, on 27th March 1998.

A side view of National 2 4691 (WPT691V) inside Sunderland's Park Lane depot on 20th July 1997. When new to Northern in 1980, this vehicle was unique in being the only 'B-series' National 2 in the fleet - instantly recognisable by the lack of a roof pod. However, during the late 90s it lost this distinction, as most of Go North East's National 2s had their pods removed as part of the extensive refurbishment programme.

4694 (FTN694W) awaits a driver at Park Lane Bus Station - 13th October 1997.

National 2 4697 (FTN697W) at Park Lane Bus Station - 15th February 1998.

National 2 4703 (FTN703W) rests in Sunderland's Crowtree Road - 29th August 1997.

4703 in Vine Place, Sunderland on the 1st December 1997.

Towards the late 1990s, most of the Leyland National 2s were extensively referbished and fitted with new Volvo engines. Looking extremely smart at the North East Bus Preservation Society's 1997 Seaburn rally was 4708 (FTN708W) - the vehicle having just been referbished and outshopped in the new Go North East corporate colours.

Amongst the first of the National 2s to be referbished and re-engined was 4717 (TJR717Y). This vehicle was also one of two National 2s from the 'Y' registered batch that were upgraded to dual purpose spec for use on local express services. The bus is seen at Park Lane Bus Station - 10/08/97.

Leyland Lynx 4723 (F723LRG) at Sunderland's Park Lane Bus Station - 22nd March 1998.

Lynx 4728 (F728LRG) picks up passengers in Sunderland's Olive Street on 13th November 1998.

Optare Delta-bodied DAF SB220 4743 (G743RTY) seen in Olive Street, Sunderland, on the 13th November 1998.

Optare Delta 4746 (G746RTY) at the MetroCentre bus rally - 12/07/98.

Optare Delta 4747 (G747RTY) passes St. Gabriel's Chruch as it heads towards Sunderland city centre on the 778 service - 01-03-99.

Optare Delta 4751 (G751UCU) seen at Gypsies Green Stadium, South Shields on the 3rd June 1990. This vehicle was one of a batch of five Deltas that had recently been purchased to operate the X66 MetroCentre shuttle service.

Coastline’s five Wright Pathfinder-bodied Dennis Lance low floor buses were the first easy access buses to enter service in north east England in 1994. Seen carrying Go North East corporate livery is 4770 (M470FJR) at the MetroCentre bus rally – 12th July 1998.

Optare Sigma-bodied Dennis Lance 4785 (L485CFT) at the MetroCentre Bus Rally - 12/07/98.

4805 (J205VHN) was one of a batch of eight Optare Deltas that were originally new in 1992 to OK Travel. The bus is seen inside Park Lane Bus Deopt - 2nd December 1997.

Plaxton Verde-bodied Volvo B10B 4813 (N813WGR) at the MetroCentre bus rally - 12th July 1998.

Wright Renown-bodied Volvo B10BLE 3840 (340GUP) at the MetroCentre bus rally – 12th July 1998.

4856 (KAZ2752) was one of a pair of 1986 Leyland Lynxes acquired from Redby Travel of Sunderland during 1998. The vehicle is pictured at Sunderland Transport Interchange on the 6th May 1999.

Willowbrook-bodied Leyland Leopard 5077 (TUP577V) at Washington Galleries Bus Station during May 1981. This is one of my earliest bus photographs, taken with my very first camera when I was only 10 years old!

Leyland Leopard coach 5088 (FNL688W) is seen departing Sunderland's Park Lane Bus Station in this September 1988 view.

Wearing OK Travel livery, but with Wear Buses fleetnames is Plaxton 'Paramount'-bodied Leyland Tiger coach 5116 (A716ABB), pictured at Park Lane Bus Station - 22/03/98.

Tiger coach 5118 (A718ABB) at Park Lane - 22nd March 1998.

Plaxton 'Paramount'-bodied Leyland Tiger 5127 (C683JGR) at Sunderland's Park Lane Bus Station - 7th September 1997.

On the 9th December 1997, 5127 is seen about to depart from Park Lane Bus Station on the X96 service to Peterlee.

Six Plaxton Expressliner-bodied Volvo B10Ms were operated by Northern on National Express contracts. 7044 (H330UWT) is seen on the 20th July 1997 at Sunderland's Park Lane Bus Station prior to departing on the Liverpool service. The vehicle was originally new to Yorkshire Voyager in 1990.

Wright-bodied Dart 8057 (K857PCN) in the revised Wear Buses livery is seen in Sunderland's Park Lane Depot - 28/06/98.

Wear Buses Wright Handybus bodied Dennis Dart, 8060 (K860PCN), seen in Park Lane bus depot, Sunderland – 29th June 1997

Dennis Dart 8061 (K861PCN) passes St. Gabriel's Church as it heads down Chester Road towards Sunderland city centre on the 126 service - 01/03/99.

Dennis Dart 8063 (K863PCN) still in the original Wear Buses livery at Park Lane Bus Station - 15/02/98

Wright 'Handybus'-bodied Dart 8064 (K864PCN) at Park Lane Bus Station on Sunday 28th September 1997.

Go-Ahead Gateshead's Wright-bodied Dart 8078 (K378RTY) at Gateshead Interchange - 28/02/98

Coastline Dennis Dart/Wright 8088 (K988SCU) at Gateshead Transport Interchange - 28/02/98.

Dennis Dart/Marshall 8094 (M804GFT) at Park Lane - 15th February 1998.

Dennis Dart 8097 (M807GFT) at Park Lane - 15th February 1998.

Marshall-bodied Dennis Dart 8098 (M808GFT) receives attention inside Park Lane Depot. 25-11-97.

Dart 8100 (M810GFT) at Park Lane - 20th July 1997.

Dart/Marshall 8101 (M811GFT) and Tiger/Plaxton 5127 (C683JGR) at Park Lane Bus Station - 28th September 1997.

Dart 8102 (M812GFT) at Park Lane in Go North East corporate livery - 22nd March 1998.

On 11th August 1997, Plaxton Pointer-bodied Dart 8115 (M815HCU) of the South Shields-based VFM Buses subsidiary is seen in Brougham Street, Sunderland, sporting a special yellow and red livery advertising Go-North East’s ‘Go‘n‘ Save’ travel card.

Between 1997 and 1999 Go-North East purchased 43 Optare Excel low-floor buses such as 8139 (R839NRG) seen here in Olive Street, Sunderland on August 1 1998. These vehicles had rather short lives with Go-North East and have now all been sold off for further service elsewhere.

Go Coastline Optare Excel 8143 (R243OCU) at the MetroCentre Bus Rally - 12/07/98.