Seen in pre-Stagecoach-owned days, Sunderland Busways Daimler Fleetline/Alexander 807 (OCU807R). This shot was taken from the footbridge outside Sunderland’s Bede School (now owned by City of Sunderland College) in Durham Road on the morning of February 1st 1989.

816 (OCU816R) seen in Chester Road, Sunderland operating service 16 to Hastings Hill on the 13th January 1997.

816 basking in the late afternoon sun, approaches Sunderland's Central Bus Station in Crowtree Road on the 13th October 1997.

Fleetline 816 seen at Wheatsheaf depot, Sunderland, on the 20th January 1998, two months before being withdrawn. It subsequently passed to Travelux UK, Grays, in November 1998.

818 (OCU818R) in Crowtree Road, about to depart for Pennywell Estate on the 3rd March 1997.

On the 13th October 1997, 818 picks up passengers in Athenaeum Street, Sunderland in the late afternoon sunshine.

818 and an Optare Metrorider seen in Olive Street, Sunderland on the 25th November 1997.

By late 1997 double deck operation of services 14/14A had become very rare. On 20th December 1997, 818 is seen at Sunderland’s Central Bus Station standing in for a Favourite Services Dennis Dart. This is the last occasion a Fleetline operated on this particular service. Two months later, this vehicle was transferred to South Shields depot, where it continued to operate until its withdrawal in July 1998.

819 (OCU819R) seen at Sunderland's old Central Bus Station on the 18th November 1996.

A rear view of 819 in Crowtree Road, Sunderland, on the 13th January 1997.

819 about to enter Sunderland’s Central Bus Station in Crowtree Road on the 31st July 1997. This location looks completely different today. The bus station closed in May 1999 for redevelopment and the site is now occupied by part of the Bridges shopping centre. Buses now use the Park Lane transport interchange.

Crowtree Road is the scene again, with 819 operating service 11 on the 10th November 1997. At the end of March 1998, this vehicle was withdrawn and transferred to Stagecoach East Midland, where it gave a couple more years of service.

Fleetline 819 and Leyland Lynx 102 (F102HVK) seen at Sunderland's Wheatsheaf depot on the 20th January 1998.

820 (OCU820R) seen at Gypsies Green Stadium, South Shields, after participating in the 14th annual HCVS Tyne Tees Run on the 2nd June 1996.

820 in Chester Road, High Barnes, on the 3rd February 1997.

820 pictured shortly before withdrawal from service on a cold and gloomy 20th January 1998.

In 1990 Busways handed over the operation of service 14 between Helmsdale Road and Docks to their ‘Favourite Services’ division, initially using a fleet of ex-GM Buses Leyland Leopards and later, Dennis Darts. However, during 1996 Fleetline and Atlantean double deckers from the main Busways fleet could often be seen putting in appearances on the service too. One such occasion was on the 1st October 1996. 822 (OCU822R) is seen at Sunderland’s Central Bus Station.

822 seen at the North East Bus Preservation Society's annual vintage vehicle rally at Seaburn on the 25th August 1997.

Lower deck interior view of 822.

Upper deck interior view of 822

The driver's cab of 822.

822 takes a short break in Crowtree Road, awaiting a change of driver on the 20th January 1998. Two months later, the vehicle was transferred to Stagecoach East Midland along with similar vehicle 819, where they gave further service in the Chesterfield and Mansfield areas. I believe this vehicle still survives today as a mobile classroom/internet access station in the Mansfield area.

Another view of 822 on 20/1/98 in Crowtree Road taken from the leisure centre footbridge. Just about visible in the background inside the bus station are Busways Alexander bodied Atlantean 330 (AVK150V) about to operate a schools service, and a Go-Wear Buses Optare Excel.

828 (RCU828S) seen in Brougham Street, Sunderland, on the 29th August 1996 - one month before withdrawal from service.

832 (RCU832S) seen in Brougham Street, Sunderland, operating service 104 between Doxford Park and Downhill on the 29th August 1996.

This shot of 832 on the 29th August 1996, shows off its distinctive nearside staircase to good effect – for years a feature of Tyne and Wear double-deck buses. When new, these Alexander bodied Fleetlines were also fitted with centre exits, designed to speed up boarding and alighting by avoiding the clash of two streams of passengers using the gangway. However, with the separate front entrance and centre exit layout falling from favour in the early 1980s, they were all converted to single door configuration.

Not a very good shot I know, but the only one I managed to get of 833 (RCU833S) before withdrawal from service during January 1997. The location is Chester Road Sunderland on a freezing cold December 6th 1996.

834 (RCU834S) in Crowtree Road on the 2nd April 1997. After withdrawal in May 1998, the bus passed to TRS of Leicester in October 1998 and later, in September 2001 to A.C. Williams, Ancaster.for further service.

834 stands at the Brougham Street bus stop about to depart on the 104 service to Downhill Estate, Sunderland - 3rd March 1997.

On the 10th November 1997 834 is seen outside Crowtree Road Leisure Centre in the company of an Alexander PS bodied Volvo B10M of Stagecoach and a Go-Ahead Optare Delta painted in their respective corporate liveries.

834 seen in Brougham Street, Sunderland on the 20th January 1998. This vehicle was Sunderland’s last operational Fleetline and remained in front-line service until May 1998. Its withdrawal marked the end of an era in Sunderland’s public transport history, bringing 36 years of Fleetlines and 65 years of continuous Daimler bus operation in the city to a close.

Rear view of 834 in Brougham Street on the 20th January 1998.

837 (RCU837S) seen on a snowy 31st December 1996 in Chester Road, Sunderland, heading towards the city centre on service 16.

837 pictured in Brougham Street operating the 104 service on the 31st January 1997.

837 on the 15 service to Hastings Hill seen at High Barnes, Sunderland, on the 4th November 1997. The bus was withdrawn in March 1998, passing to Hennings of Thornley, County Durham.

838 (RCU838S) operating the 11 service on 21st March 1997.

A nearside view of 838 outside Crowtree Road Leisure Centre on the 28th July 1997. A Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart of Catch-A-Bus can be seen behind.

838 rests in Brougham Strret prior to operating a schools service on the 2nd December 1997.

Another Brougham Street view of 838 basking in bright winter sunshine on the afternoon of December 2nd 1997. During April 1998 the bus was transferred to South Shields depot, where it joined 818 until withdrawal in July 1998. 838 then passed into preservation with the North East Bus Preservation Society.

838 seen making its debut as a preserved bus at the North East Bus Preservation Society's Seaburn vintage vehicle rally on the 31st August 1998.

Rear view of 838 at the 1998 Seaburn rally.

838 shows off its trusty Gardner engine.

An immaculate-looking 838 seen operating the free vintage bus service on the 27th August 2001 as part of the North East Bus Preservation Society’s annual Seaburn rally.