On the 12th July 1998 Leyland Lynx 102 (F102HVK) is seen at the MetroCentre Coach Park, taking a break between duties on service 33.

One of the last vehicles to retain the yellow Busways livery was Lynx 104 (F104HVK). The bus is seen in Crowtree Road, Sunderland on the 1st August 1998.

Leyland Lynx 114 (F114HVK) in Brougham Street, Sunderland on the 2nd December 1997.

401 (VCU401T) was one of a batch of 40 Metro Cammell-bodied Leyland ‘Fleetlines’ to enter service with Tyne & Wear PTE in Sunderland during 1979. The vehicle is seen departing from Sunderland’s old Crowtree Road Bus Station on Sunday 13th May 1990.

Alexander bodied Leyland Olympian 619 (C619LFT) pictured in Newcastle's Blackett Street on the 27th March 1998.

On the 25th August 1986, South Shields Busways Alexander-bodied Olympian 647 (C647LFT) is seen in the company of United Bristol FLF Lodekka driver training bus JNU989D at the N.E. Bus Museum's open day rally. Twenty years on, housing now occupies the site where these two vehicles were parked.

Alexander-bodied Olympian 652 (C652LFT) and Favourite Services Dart 1715 (K715PCN) are seen in Vine Place, Sunderland on December 1st 1997.

On the 13th October 1997 Olympian 653 (C653LFT) is seen in Fawcett Street, Sunderland on service 27 to Hylton Castle.

Northern Counties bodied Olympian 668 (H668BNL) in Fawcett Street Sunderland on the 10th November 1997.

1995 saw the addition of 40 brand new Alexander bodied Volvo Olympians to the Busways fleet. On the 13th November 1998, 731 (N731LTN) is seen inside Sunderland's old Central Bus Station about to depart for South Shields on the E1 service.

Fleetline/Alexander 822 (OCU822R) outside Crowtree Leisure Centre, Sunderland on the 2nd December 1997. For more photos of the Alexander-bodied Fleetlines see my Busways Fleetline collection.

Several batches of Alexander PS bodied Scania single-deckers were supplied to Busways between 1988 and 1991 for operation in Newcastle. 903 (F903JRG) is seen in 1990 at the H.C.V.S. rally, South Shields, carrying promotional branding for service 100 between central Newcastle and the Gateshead MetroCentre.

1101 (R101KRG) was the first of a batch of 26 Alexander ALX200 bodied Dennis Dart SLFs. The vehicle is seen in Fawcett Street, Sunderland, on the 10th November 1997 - just one week after entering service. Note the absence of ‘Lo-Liner’ branding which was still to be applied.

1125 (R125KRG) at the MetroCentre bus rally on the 12th July 1998.

1201 (M201DRG) was one of a trial batch of three Plaxton Verde bodied Dennis Lances new in 1994. It is seen in Sunderland's Fawcett Street on the 10th November 1997.

Dennis Lance 1203 (M203DRG) in Sunderland Busways livery, seen at the Central bus station on October 13th 1997.

Alexander 'Dash' bodied Dennis Dart 1728 (K728PNL) seen in Brougham Street, Sunderland, on the 13th October 1997.

Alexander-bodied Dennis Dart 1737 (L737VNL) at Sunderland’s old Central Bus Station on the 1st December 1997.

Dart 1762 (L762ARG) in Crowtree Road, Sunderland on the 20th January 1998.

Dennis Dart/Alexander, 1773 (N773RVK), seen in Chester Road, Sunderland – 1st March 1999

Alexander ‘Dash’ bodied Dennis Dart 1782 (P782WCN) and Redby’s ex-Ribble Leyland National SCK697P take a break between duties in Crowtree Road, Sunderland on August 29th 1997.

On the 1st March 1999 Dennis Dart 1782 is seen in Chester Road, Sunderland, outside St. Gabriel’s Church.

Although not actually carried on the vehicle, fleet number 1801 in the Busways fleet was Bristol RESL ECU201E, which was new to South Shields Corporation in 1967. After withdrawal by successors Tyne and Wear PTE in 1977, the bus spent the next ten years with various small independent operators. In 1987 the vehicle was purchased by Busways, repainted into its original South Shields livery and used for private hire and attending rallies. The Bristol has since passed to a private preservationist and is painted in Tyneside PTE livery, but was still owned by Busways when seen here in June 1997

1828 (GTJ388N) was an ex-Merseyside PTE Bristol RESL, seen here at the North East Bus Museum's open day and rally on 25-08-86. This bus was one of a batch of ten similar vehicles that had just been acquired by Tyne & Wear PTE for service in South Shields and were painted in the new Busways livery prior to the launch of the company at deregulation later that year.

Although most REs acquired second-hand by Busways were internally refurbished, when pictured here on August 25th 1986, ECW-bodied Bristol RESL 1828 (GTJ388N) still retained its original Merseyside PTE seating.

Newcastle Busways 1842 (LTE488P) was one of a number of Plaxton Derwent-bodied Leyland Leopards acquired from GM Buses during 1987. The vehicle is seen at the H.C.V.S. event at Gypsies Green Stadium on June 6th 1993.

Also purchased by Busways in 1994 for evaluation, were a pair of Alexander Strider bodied Volvo B10Bs. 1901 (M901DRG) is seen at the Gateshead MetroCentre Coach Park on the 29th May 2000.

On the 20th January 1998, Alexander PS bodied Volvo B10M 2203 (N203LTN) is seen at Sunderland's Wheatsheaf depot in the company of an unidentified Alexander bodied Olympian and Fleetline 837.

Alexander bodied Volvo B10M, 2215 (N215LTN), seen in Crowtree Road, Sunderland – 20th January 1998

Volvo B10M 2217 (N217LTN) at the MetroCentre Coach Park on the 11th July 1999.

Alexander bodied Volvo B10BLE 2237 (R237KRG) at the Gateshead MetroCentre Bus Rally on the 12th July 1998.

The Newcastle-based Blue Bus Services division was famous for its small fleet of Bristol REs. 1802 (TRY118H) was originally new to Leicester City Transport in 1969 and is seen at Gypsies Green Stadium, South Shields, after participating in the 1997 HCVS Tyne Tees Run.

1814 (OWC723M) was one of seven Bristol RELLs that were acquired from Colchester Borough Transport during 1988. It is seen at the North East Bus Preservation Society's Seaburn vintage vehicle rally on the 25th August 1997.

1833 (LBN202P) was a former Southend Transport Plaxton bodied Leyland Leopard. It is seen on the 12th July 1998 at the MetroCentre Bus Rally.

This ex-Ministry of Defence Dodge G13, DT19 (D305YTY) was one of several vehicles of this type to join the Busways fleet during 1998/99 for Driver Training duties. It is seen on the 12th July 1998 at the MetroCentre bus rally.

Leyland Leopard 1849 (MTE18R) of the Favourite Services division approaches Sunderland's old Central Bus Station in Crowtree Road on the 13th May 1990 - the very first day of Favourite operation of services 13/14.

Ten former GM Buses Leyland Leopards fitted with Plaxton Derwent bodies were acquired by the Busways group in 1987. However, when the Favourite subsidiary took over operation of services 13 & 14 from Sunderland Busways in 1990, an eleventh example was bought – namely 1851 (MTE32R), seen here in Crowtree Road, Sunderland on May 13th 1990.

Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart 1748 (L748VNL) of the Favourite division, seen at Sunderland's Central Bus Station on the 10th November 1997.

Stagecoach first commenced Magic Bus services in Newcastle on the 28th April 1997, providing a low fare alternative to the standard service. On the 27th March 1998 Alexander bodied Leyland Atlantean 363 (AVK183V) is seen picking up passengers in Blackett Street, Newcastle.

Former Bexleybus Northern Counties bodied Olympian 687 (E915KYR) pictured in Blackett Street, Newcastle on the 27th March 1998.