Newcastle is fast becoming a popular destination for cruise ships to visit, both to start/finish cruise voyages and also visiting in the middle of cruises from other destinations, indeed 2015 will see a visit from Dutch and German cruise ships. 2016 will see lots more one day visits, including Disney Cruise Line!

For us bus/coach enthusiasts - it also offers the opportunity to see fleets of coaches in use on transfers from/to the cruises and of course the day excursions on the one day visits. I know I went to Newcastle last year when MSC Cruises visited and no less than 50 coaches were in use that day.

See below for a list of 2015 visits... I'll try and add more detail in further posts if I hear of additions to the list.
Turnaround = finish of one cruise, and start of another (ie based at Newcastle)
Day Visit = visiting in the middle of a voyage from another port

June 2015
Thu 18 (0800-1800) Turnaround
Marco Polo (800 pax) - Cruise & Maritime Voyages

July 2015
Wed 01 (am-pm) Day Visit
Balmoral (1340 pax) - Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Sun 05 (0800-1700) Day Visit
MS Eurodam (1850 pax) - Holland America Line

Sat 18 (am-pm) Day Visit
Boudicca (880 pax) - Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Thu 23 (0800-2100) Day Visit
Marina (1258 pax) - Oceania Cruises

Sun 26 (xx-pm) Start
Boudicca (880 pax) - Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

August 2015
Sun 02 (am-pm) Turnaround
Boudicca (880 pax) - Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Fri 07 (0800-2000) Day Visit
Artania (1122 pax) - Phoenix Reisen

Wed 19 (0800-2100) Day Visit
Seven Seas Voyager (708 pax) - Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Sat 29 (am-pm) Turnaround
Boudicca (880 pax) - Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

September 2015
Fri 11 (am-pm) Turnaround
Boudicca (880 pax) - Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Sun 20 (am-pm) Turnaround
Boudicca (880 pax) - Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

October 2015
Tue 06 (am-pm) Turnaround
Boudicca (880 pax) - Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Sat 17 (am-pm) Turnaround
Boudicca (880 pax) - Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

November 2015
Sun 01 (am-pm) Turnaround
Boudicca (880 pax) - Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Tue 17 (am-xx) Finish
Boudicca (880 pax) - Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

I hope it is okay to start this thread....

I just watched a video called 'Trainspotter Moments, Episode 9.5: Mayhem at Manors', now if you watch the full video you will see that these idiots are running around on the platform when there is on coming trains, they are even trying to pick up a bottle of coca-cola which has fell on the tracks!

The are obviously oblivious to the possible dangers of doing all of this.

Running around like headless chickens on an un-manned station is always a bad idea when you would quite easily injure yourself, and especially when there is an oncoming Voyager.

They are then trying to collect a bottle of coca-cola which has fell onto the tracks with the legs of a tripod! One of the spotters points out that there is a double yellow going Northbound, but there is a red signal southbound. Do they not realize that just because the signal is red it doesn't mean that there is not a train coming! A train can still come along the tracks but it has to stop at the red signal because of danger ahead. The obviously don't realzie that the signal near Heaton TMD is yellow and a train might be passing!

So please take a couple of moments to watch the video which I have just mentioned and then read the Network Rail's Railway Enthusiast Guide to Trainspotting for your own safety.



Network Rail's Railway Enthusiast's Guide to Safe Trainspotting

Thanks

I was down my Dads earlier and I was having look through the takeaway menus and I noticed a leaflet for a Car Show this weekend in the Gateshead Area.

The Event will be held down at Team Valley at the Gateshead Skills Academy on Saturday 13th June (10am to 4pm) and is Free to Attend.

The following will be there:

• Hosted by - Metro Radios Steve & Karen
  
• Show up & Shine - Prizes for the best cars
  
• F1 Car Simulator - Set the fastest lap in a full size F1 Car.
  
• Rolling Road - Full power torque readout and decibel check - £20
  
• Live Painting - Interactive Car Painting Sessions
  
• Course Specialists - Will be on hand to talk about various Motor Vehicle Courses and Apprenticeships on offer, and types of Careers available
  

I couldnt remember where all the posts were about Wrightbus still building Volvo B9TL Wright Gemini 2s or not and if any Dealer Stock remained, appears that perhaps they are as one is shown in the following link and is Dealer Stock.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/81709772@N07/18613020035/

A quick bit of news from here is DAF SB3000 YJ03PHA has been re-registered 8099UA, while VDL SB4000 YJ05PVU has been re-registered 54RHN. Added to the fleet is tri-axle Van Hool K3CBK

Cochranes Coaches K3 CBK by Roy's UK Buses & Coaches, on Flickr

New for GEM Travel is Mercedes Vario YX06DXP as seen on their Facebook page

I'm particually interested in the Nexus Area Maps page, unfortunatly the 000webhost.com page comes up..... if anyone could provide a link to the Washington and Houghton-Le-Spring Area Maps from 2006 onwards that would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Yet another new operator turned up, based in Durham the current fleet seems to stand at:
G50VVM Mercedes Vario
M22NEC (BU03OUF) Mercedes Touro
BIG8788 Van Hool double deck
B12RRT Volvo B12RT

Seem to be related to TM Travel in Durham, as well as them being 'friendly' with David Dove Travel and Pygalls Coaches who all seem to work together

Recent purchase here is Neoplan Skyliner BIG8902 from Snowdons

Also Neoplan Starliner K6PYG has been re-registered S14TMT and repainted all over white

I enjoyed today's event, seen a few familiar faces. Dan (very briefly), Gary Devlin, Bazza and Dan Picken.

GNE turned up complete with the brilliant Pat Armstrong!

The stalls were good also, got a bunch of photos off Chris Thompson and loads of old timetables off another stall including 77, Original Prince Bishops, Fab56 and Laser!

I left a happy chappy!