(07 Jun 2015, 9:30 am)Jimmi wrote It's just the poor stand layout that really irritates me in the town centre and sometimes it can be a pig for photos due to light and pedestrians walking in front of the camera although you get that other places as well. You are right about routes from Darlington that have good scenery I'd strongly recommend the X75/X76 and Scarlet Band 84 and I think there may be some other good routes as well.

(07 Jun 2015, 1:08 pm)MrFozz wrote 722/723 was that the service jointly operated by United/Arriva and Northern???

Used to use it a lot when I lived in Durham and the 724 when I lived in Spennymanure and Bishop Auckland all the time

(07 Jun 2015, 1:15 pm)Jimmi wrote Yes it was.

Think it stopped serving Newcastle around 2003 with Arriva operating it between Darlington and Durham (Framwellgate Moor?) and GNE Durham and Newcastle. There has been loads of changes since then.

Was quite fun actually having two operators doing the same service but was annoying at the same time as I don't think GNE accepted Arriva tickets. Think my first rides on GNE Prestige's were on evening 723s.

(07 Jun 2015, 1:11 pm)MrFozz wrote What routes from Darlington goto North Yorkshire and over to Barnard Castle, I remember getting a bus to Ripon years ago and it went all over the world, I wouldn't mind having a look down towards Richmond and Catterick one day and maybe have a look over to Barnard Castle one day

(07 Jun 2015, 1:15 pm)Jimmi wrote Yes it was.

Think it stopped serving Newcastle around 2003 with Arriva operating it between Darlington and Durham (Framwellgate Moor?) and GNE Durham and Newcastle. There has been loads of changes since then.

Was quite fun actually having two operators doing the same service but was annoying at the same time as I don't think GNE accepted Arriva tickets. Think my first rides on GNE Prestige's were on evening 723s.

(07 Jun 2015, 8:18 am)MrPottski wrote I do think the mighty Darlo gets a bad time on here. Yes, the town centre is a pain to get photos in, but some of the journeys operated are cracking, with some of the best scenery around. Mind you, it's been a while since I've been to any of the other regions bus stations, interchanges or random collection of badly placed bus stops as a passenger so maybe I'm being deluded!

(07 Jun 2015, 3:06 pm)Jimmi wrote There is also children spraying water pistols at passing vehicles on Prebend Row which is incredibly stupid and dangerous.

(07 Jun 2015, 2:49 pm)Jimmi wrote Now I remember why I have taken a strong disliking to Darlington recently, it was because I was ran down by a cyclist on a previous vist. The same has just happened again only this time I was walking up a hill while he came down hurtling very quickly towards me at speed and knocked me down and almost smashing the camera in the process.

Also I have just been threatened by three chavs saying they are going to ****ING SMACK US. Not the first time I've this either.

So I retract all statements about Darlington being great, it isn't, I am sick of being threatened by people here so now I am now in the position once again where I am thinking I just don't want to do this anymore I am getting nothing but grief at the moment and I am starting to feel that is not worth the time and stress anymore.

(07 Jun 2015, 2:49 pm)Jimmi wrote Now I remember why I have taken a strong disliking to Darlington recently, it was because I was ran down by a cyclist on a previous vist. The same has just happened again only this time I was walking up a hill while he came down hurtling very quickly towards me at speed and knocked me down and almost smashing the camera in the process.

Also I have just been threatened by three chavs saying they are going to ****ING SMACK US. Not the first time I've this either.

So I retract all statements about Darlington being great, it isn't, I am sick of being threatened by people here so now I am now in the position once again where I am thinking I just don't want to do this anymore I am getting nothing but grief at the moment and I am starting to feel that is not worth the time and stress anymore.

(07 Jun 2015, 3:06 pm)Jimmi wrote There is also children spraying water pistols at passing vehicles on Prebend Row which is incredibly stupid and dangerous.

(07 Jun 2015, 3:19 pm)aureolin wrote It's pointless giving up on what you're doing, all because of a couple of idiots. I've never had any bother in Darlington, but I've not really strayed away from the centre. 

As I do when I'm anywhere. I keep my wits about me and put my camera away if sense any bother.


They can count themselves lucky. I remember being on the bus in Washington, and you'd usually get an ambush of waterbombs as it passed through a bus link! 

(07 Jun 2015, 3:29 pm)Jimmi wrote ... taking photographs in (even Ashington!) ...

(07 Jun 2015, 3:29 pm)Jimmi wrote These incidents happened in the town centre and I had just taken photos at the times so still had the camera round my neck.

Annoyingly it seems like I am getting hassle everytime I go to Darlington these days although I am not having problems anywhere else it seems to be exclusively in Darlington Town Centre, I had one minor incident in Bishop Auckland Bus Station but that one was not too bad. It's amazing when you see some of the dumps I have been taking photographs in (even Ashington!) and have no bother but I always have issues in Darlington Town Centre especially on Sundays.

I do often put the camera away when I suspect there may be problems normally but had just taken photos at the time so had no time to hide the camera.

Annoyingly I could do with observing more Dales and District services for photos and I need a photo of peak time only Proctors service 610R which replaced the X59 recently.

(07 Jun 2015, 4:18 pm)MrPottski wrote Get yourself on an X26/7 at Darlington, have a little toddle down to Richmond and get the 610R there. It's a lovely place, been there today myself actually, and you'll get no hassle at all. Was quite surprised to see the 831 Dalesbus now operated by Arriva Yorkshire pull into the car park where I was.

(07 Jun 2015, 4:39 pm)Jimmi wrote Anyone else having problems uploading photos to Flickr this afternoon?

All mine are coming up as timed out.

(07 Jun 2015, 4:39 pm)Jimmi wrote Anyone else having problems uploading photos to Flickr this afternoon?

All mine are coming up as timed out.

(07 Jun 2015, 5:59 pm)Davie wrote I had that problem a couple of nights ago