Despite our buses no longer being garaged there, unless otherwise stated, all trips depart from the front car park at Stagecoach’s Stockton Depot, in Hill Street East, just off the Church Road dip. There is usually more than enough on-street parking available for Sunday departures. Members and friends are welcome on all of these outings. Full details for each event will be posted nearer to the date and further events may be added. Each outing is subject to the usual provisos about (1) the listed event going ahead as planned, (2) vehicle availability, (3) sufficient members intending to travel, (4) developments with Covid (5) etc., etc.
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Sunday 4th May 2025 – NEBPT Metrocentre Bus and Coach Show – The NEBPT have confirmed Sunday 4th May as the date for their ever popular 2025 Bus & Coach Show at the Metrocentre. Free event entry and bus rides. Our planned departure time from the depot will be 0830 with 223.
Sunday 18th May 2025 – Great Central Railway Heritage Bus Rally and Running Day at Quorn and Woodhouse station. A chance to visit one of Britain’s iconic preserved railways. Free event entry and bus rides with normal fares for both steam and diesel trains. A generous provision of refreshments outlets as well. 0600 departure with 223.
Sunday 1st June 2025 – Classic Car Rally at the Middleton Railway in Leeds. A visit to the World’s oldest continuously operated railway. Classic cars, nostalgic steam hauled trains and sales stalls. Free event entry with £10 Adult and £5 Child Day Rover train tickets. 0730 departure with 106.
Sunday 8th June 2025 – East Yorkshire Thoroughbred Car Club’s 55th East Coast Run at Sewerby Fields, Bridlington. Free entry to the EYTCC’s flagship event, with a variety of heritage motor vehicles, private and commercial, on display. 0800 departure with 223.
Tuesday 24th June 2025 – Evening excursion instead of our normal indoor meeting.
Saturday 19th July 2025 – Aycliffe & District BPT’s Summer Gala Open Day, celebrating the 45th Anniversary of their founding. 0900 departure with 99.
Sunday 20th July 2025 – South Yorkshire Transport Trust Open Day at their Eastwood facility in Rotherham. Our annual opportunity to see progress with 544, together with a great selection of idiosyncratic South Yorkshire buses. 0700 departure with either 106 or 223.
Sunday 27th July 2025 – Sandtoft Gathering at the Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum. The TBM’s biggest event of the year with a large number of visiting vehicles and the trolleybuses being rotated through the day to give ample opportunity to ride on many of the museum’s collection. Sales stalls and refreshments as well. We will be able to offer a small discount on the admission charges of £14.40 (Adult), £12 (Concession) and £6.50 (Child). 0645 departure with 223.
Tuesday 29th July 2025 – Evening excursion instead of our normal indoor meeting.
Sunday 10th August 2025 – Northern National Restoration Group’s Open Day at their Philadelphia Depot.
Saturday 16th August 2025 – Aycliffe & District BPT’s Annual Rally at the Great Aycliffe Council Offices. 0900 departure with 106.
Sunday 17th August 2025 – Northumberland Classic and Performance Motor Show at Tynedale Park rugby club grounds, Corbridge. A display of classic cars, kit cars, custom cars, modern classics, motorcycles, light commercials and classic 4×4’s. 12.50 (Adult) and £5 (Child) admission charges apply. 0745 departure.
Bank Holiday Monday 25th August 2025 – NEBPT’s Seaburn Historic vehicle Display. 0845 departure with 223.
Sunday 14th September 2025 – Visit to the South Yorkshire Transport Museum’s Running Day at Aldwarke, Rotherham. Home to around 50 cars and buses (and even a tramcar body), some museum owned and some privately owned and in various stages of restoration. Also, displays of transport memorabilia. Admission charges apply, £7 (Adlut), £5 (concessions). Accompanied children are free. 0730 departure with 223 or 106.
Sunday 26th October 2025 – Lincolnshire Vintage Vehicle Society’s Special Open Day at the Lincolnshire Road Transport Museum, North Hykeham, Lincoln. A visit to one of the oldest preservation societies in the UK, established in 1959. Their own collection comprises over 60 cars, coaches, vans, fire appliances, motor cycles and bikes but there will also be visiting vehicles and sales stalls. Free admission and rides although, as a wholly volunteer organisation, donations will always be appreciated. 0630 departure with 223.
Sunday 3rd November 2025 – Our traditional season closer, the Twilight Running Event at the Keighley Bus Museum. The bus services are free but admission charges apply for access to the museum itself. 0730 departure and using 106 so that we benefit automatically from her status as a “Historic vehicle”, and are thereby exempt from the £50 Bradford CAZ charge otherwise payable to travel through Shipley.
Please keep a look out for updates on our website and Facebook pages and also in our next Newsletter No.204 which will be published before the end of April.
In addition, we aim to display 99 at a number of Charity events around the area. during the season. However, these will not be a part of the formal rally programme. Details will be posted nearer to the dates in case you wish to support these events yourself.
Previous Events Attended
Sunday 20th March 2022 – Manchester Museum of Transport’s Spring Spectacular. We travelled with Rob Hughes in his Strathtay Leopard, leaving Stockton Depot at 0700. With refreshment stops en route, a great time was had by all.
Sunday 17th April 2022 saw us return to the Cumbria Easter Rally at Kirkby Stephen for 106’s first rally outing since June 2019. 106 performed very well on the day, including two runs on the Brough to Kirkby Stephen shuttle service, although avoiding the demanding hill between Kirkby Stephen East and West stations! Untypically summery weather made for a very successful start to what we hope will be a full rally season in 2022.
Sunday 1st May 2022 – Workington Transport Heritage Trust – Leyland National 50th Anniversary event. We travelled in newly repaired Olympian 223, M223SVN, for only her third rally since her restoration in 2020! A long but very worthwhile day, departing from Stockton Depot at 0655, picking up at Feethams in Darlington en route and arriving at Whitehaven at 1010. Given the length of the journey, we had a comfort stop at the Rheged Discovery Centre, each way. One of the most unusual service areas anywhere!
Saturday 7th May 2022 – Our sales stall was at the MBF Show at Wawn Street Salvation Army Hall in South Shields.
Saturday 14th May 2022 – We took 99 to the Aycliffe & District BPT’s Darlington Running Day, involving the recreation of two former Darlington Corporation bus routes. We provided free rides on the 2B Salters Lane Circular (at 1200 and 1400) and on the 4 to Branksome at 1115, 1245 and 1445. Both services operated non-stop with start and finish in the open air Market, where the buses were on display between runs.
Sunday 15th May 2022 – NEBPT – MetroCentre Bus and Coach Show. We attended possibly the biggest preserved (and current) bus gathering in the Northeast and hopefully provided a surprise by turning up with three buses, 99, 106 and 223. Between that and our best day ever on the sales stall, a great day out.
Saturday 28th May 2022 – Northern National Restoration Group Depot Bash. A delightful day out to the NNRG’s Open Day at their depot in the Grade II listed, former Sunderland & District Electric Tramways Power Station in Philadelphia. It is a fascinating building in itself and lies next to the one-time SDO Depot. The NNRG’s resident vehicles were augmented by Graeme Scarlett’s and Rob Hughes’s Leopards and our own H106 and 223. Seven of the resident and visiting buses ran trips to the Herrington Country Park roundabout, next to Penshaw Monument (and further!). A lovely relaxed event was rounded off by a cavalcade followed by a photo session in the former SDO forecourt.
Sunday 5th June 2022 – HCVS – Tees Tyne Run with H106. A very enjoyable event, cruising through County Durham and over the Northern Spire Bridge in Sunderland to get from Stockton to South Shields. A great atmosphere with friendly waves from spectators and bystanders as the cavalcade passed.
Sunday 19th June 2022 – NEBPT – Durham (Howlands) Fathers Day Classic Vehicle Display – departing Stockton Depot at 0900. We took 99, H106 and 223 and all three operated two trips each on the revised shuttle service. Particularly nice to have David Hunter travelling with us again.
Sunday 26th June 2022 – Preston Park Vintage Fire Engine Rally – We departed from Stockton Depot at 0900, parked up at Preston Park and set up the sales stall, only to have the event cancelled due to safety concerns related to the strong winds forecast.
Sunday 17th July 2022 – NEBPT/Beamish Living Museum – Beamish Bus Bonanza. We took 99, 106 and 223 again. 99 and 106 needed to travel ahead with the main party following on 223, at 0830 from Stockton Depot. Our passengers all benefitted from the very generous concession of free admission to the Museum. 223 operated 4 trips on the hourly external shuttle service to Chester-le-Street. Between them, 99 and 106 were kept busy for much of the day on the internal shuttle service which, for the Bus Bonanza, saw buses almost entirely replacing the normal internal tram service. Another great out-turn on the sales stall.
Sunday 24th July 2022 – South Yorkshire Transport Trust – Eastwood (Rotherham) Open Day and Running Day. As well as seeing a choice display of vehicles not so familiar to us, we also had a chance to have at look at progress with 544. 90 miles to travel so we set off early from Stockton Depot at 0700. 223 operated the 1340 journey on the free shuttle service to Rotherham Interchange and Clifton Park. Afterwards, we were given a very detailed walk through the further work necessary on 544.
Sunday 31st July 2022 – NEBPT – Bishop Auckland : Buses Through The Ages. A first time for us at this growing NEBPT event. We took 106 and 223, leaving Stockton Depot at 0900 and had a great time despite the atrocious weather early doors.
Sunday 14th August 2022 – NEBPT – Whitley Bay Classic Vehicle Display. What was not to like about the idea of a seaside day out on The Links at Whitley Bay in the weather forecast for this weekend? In the event it was only possible to take 106. leaving Stockton Depot at 0845 for a full day out north of the Tyne.
Although keenly anticipated given its iconic setting, Sunday 21st August 2022’s Vintage Bus Display at Locomotion (Shildon) sadly fell a little short of our always high expectations of it, this year. We arrived late because of difficulties getting our buses out of the Depot and further delays fuelling en route. A combination of this and other issues during the day then depressed our takings. We had not preselected our sales stock, so the usual and necessary limitations on space at the museum, meant that we were unable to fully unload 106. As a result it was not practical for her to run shuttle journeys. 223 developed a suspension problem and thus only operated a single journey. With only 2 tables allocated, sales revenue was well down on previous years, a first for this season’s rallies. Yet again, 99 acquitted herself well, though!
A real team effort by our guys-with-spanners and our drivers, to have all 3 runners available again, for the NEBPT’s Seaburn Classic Vehicle Rally on Bank Holiday Monday 29th August 2022 and to have each run at least one of the 5 shuttle journeys we operated. Also, yet another great effort to produce a bumper result on the sales stall. A truly great day out and the total of 41 buses attending was a fitting reward for the effort the NEBPT put into their comprehensive program of rallies across the Northeast which we all get so much enjoyment from.
Such a shame that the absolutely foul weather got in the way of the JPCMotorsports Classics at The Farm event on Saturday 24th September 2022. By the time the heavy rain finally stopped, most folk would already have abandoned any plans to attend, thereby missing a fascinating gathering and depriving the charity of the hoped-for funds. We did enjoy the day though. Great craic with some lovely, friendly folk there, making plenty of visits to 99 on her “private” hard-standing. We also had an extended visit by James Connaughton, the eponymous JPC, who seemed to enjoy his visit despite sadly, not quite being able to get into 99’s cab. Many thanks to Andy Rasmussen for passing on the invitation to attend a great event.
Sunday 2nd October 2022 – The Northern National Restoration Group held another Open Day at their splendid premises in Philadelphia. The NNRG’s buses (and others) are housed in the 1905-built former Power Station for the “District” trams and the local collieries and the building is worth a visit in its own right. We took 99 and 223 and the sales stall and 223 operated one journey on the free Penshaw shuttle service.
Sunday 9th October 2022 – we took 223 to the AVTG’s Skipton event. Set in idyllic surroundings this was a very enjoyable and sizeable event with some 29 buses operating over 70 round trips on 13 services. We operated the 1205 service 210 to Gargrave and the 1440 service 76 to Ilkley.
Sunday 30th October 2022 – 223 transported 11 members to the Dewsbury Bus Museum’s End-of-Season Running Day, running a single trip on the shuttle service between the Museum and Dewsbury Town Centre and Railway Station. A wide-ranging event, featuring buses and coaches dating from 1948 up to 2001 and including a standout appearance in service, by one of the only two surviving Guy Wulfrunians, both of which are under the Museum’s care.
On Wednesday 29th December 2022, six members and friends joined the annual post-Christmas “Bashers Day” trip out, using Explorer North East tickets or National Concessionary passes to tour the region by service bus. Starting in Middlesbrough, the day took in stops at Peterlee, Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, South Shields, Jarrow, North Shields, Wallsend and Newcastle and allowed us to see some of the latest developments in both bus stations and vehicles – plus enjoy some older machinery, too. Perhaps the greatest contrast was transferring at Wallsend from an 18-year-old Scania ‘decker to a new fully electric Yutong single decker. Thank you to those who attended and we hope you enjoyed it.
Sunday 9th April 2023 – 17 of us attended the Cumbria Easter Rally based in Brough and taking in Kirkby Stephen. Unfortunately a relatively minor fault prevented our running 106 but she did see us safely there and back. The usual great time was had by all, in no small part due to the untypically good weather.
Sunday 30th April 2023 – Workington Transport Heritage Trust, LN51 based in Whitehaven. 0700 departure from Stockton Depot and an additional pickup in Darlington, on Feethams, opposite the Dolphin Centre.
Saturday 6th to Monday 8th May 2023 – Beamish Museum Bus and Tramway Event marking 50 years of Beamish’s transport system. To maintain the correct period feel, only 99 attended this 3 day event and as a loan vehicle, not a Group outing.
Also Sunday 7th May 2023 – NEBPT, Metrocentre, North East Bus and Coach Show. 0830 departure.
Saturday 13th May 2023 – We had a smashing day out at the Northern National Restoration Group’s Philadelphia Open Day on Saturday 13th May. The usual intimate collection of buses and coaches which allows time to chat with everybody there. An iconic building as the base and runs out to Penshaw Monument and to Cherster-le-Street, pausing to pay respects to the former Northern Depot in Picktree Lane, now being demolished after more than 100 years of service. An excellent cafeteria at Phili and an impromptu organ recital from the gallery by Craig Smith and Graeme Scarlett. What was not to like?
Sunday 4th June 2023 – Quite a bit different, our outing on Sunday 4th June 2023, to the North Western Vehicle Restoration Trust’s Open Day in Kirkby, Liverpool. Perhaps the longest single-day outing undertaken with our own vehicle, was rewarded with a friendly and enthusiastic reception. Some 55 buses were on outdoor display on a lovely warm, sunny day, around 30 of which ran on various shuttle services around the area and into Liverpool City Centre. Around a further 30 could be seen with varying degrees of accessibility inside the two sheds. Each of the 17 of us who travelled will have their own standout memories but to see, amongst all the “foreign” (to us) buses, two of only 7 Foden-NCs completed, has got to be a highlight. A small display of cars, an excellent collection of sales stalls, a splendid canteen and a disco (!) completed the picture. We did great business on our sales stall, which travelled separately in a hired van.
Sunday 18th June 2023 – NEBPT, Durham Vintage Bus Gathering at Howland Park & Ride site in Durham. A wonderful day out at the NEBPT’s annual Father’s Day Rally in Durham. Glorious sunshine all day, apart from the 25 minutes that we were running with 223! Can’t win them all.
Sunday 23rd July 2023 – South Yorkshire Transport Trust, Annual Open Day at Eastwood, Rotherham. The reality of the weather forecaster’s blue splurge over the middle of the country on Sunday was continuous rain (often torrential), all the way from Stockton to Rotherham for the SYTT Open Day. And back! However, much of what is to be seen is indoors so the rain did little to spoil our enjoyment. We were also treated to a “guided tour” of progress on L544. Many thanks to everybody involved but particularly to Ade Beadnell and Tony Walshaw for sharing the 192 miles of driving in often atrocious conditions.
Sunday 30th July 2023 – Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum Gathering. We were blessed with fairly clear skies for a change to the recent norm! We also enjoyed a prime parking position for the whole of the day at Sandtoft. A great show put on by the Trolleybus Museum and a good day for us with the stall and two very enjoyable scenic runs on the Isle of Axholme tour. Thanks to the 14 members and friends who endured the brutally early start and straight-through 2hr15min journey, to travel with us for a day out at a very different venue from our norm.
Saturday 19th August 2023 – Aycliffe Bus Museum, Running Day and Display at the Great Aycillfe Town Council office site, School Aycliffe Lane, Newton Aycliffe. Depart Stockton Depot at 0815.
Bank Holiday Monday 28th August 2023 – NEBPT, Seaburn Historic Vehicle Display. 0845 departure.
Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September 2023 – Beamish Museum, Autumn Transport Gala To maintain the correct period feel, only 99 will attend this 2 day event and as an exhibit/loan vehicle, and not as a Group outing.
Sunday 24th September 2023 – Dewsbury Bus Museum, Autumn Open Day. 0745 departure.
99 was at Beamish again on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th October, running on the Museum’s internal circuit. She did not return to Teesside overnight so this was not part of the Group’s Rally Programme.
Sunday 8th October 2023 – Aire Valley Transport Group, Annual Yorkshire Dales Running Day at Skipton.
Saturday 28th October 2023 – Northern National Restoration Group’s Philadelphia Open Day delivered the usual intimate collection of buses and coaches which allowed time to chat with everybody there. An iconic building as the base, a great cafeteria and free services to sample the buses attending.
Sunday 31st March 2024 – Cumbria Easter Rally (Kirkby Stephen) Our traditional season opener was blessed with sunny, if not actually warm(!) weather and gave the usual chance to meet up with old friends and to enjoy a magnificent gathering of buses, some familiar and some not so familiar in wonderful, scenic surroundings. We also picked up in Darlington, opposite the Dolphin Centre at 0825.
Sunday 5th May 2024 – NEBPT Metrocentre Rally – The usual extensive offering of entrants and a frequent shuttle service around Whickham and Swalwell to give opportunities to sample the vehicles on offer. A great day notwithstanding the unfortunate afternoon deluge!
Sunday 26th May 2024 – NNRG Open Day at Philadelphia – Another welcome opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of the NNRG. The usual friendly rally with an interesting collection of vehicles on display, both resident and visiting, and with excellent refreshments and entertainment on offer in the NNRG’s iconic home building. Another great day at Phili despite the typical British Bank Holiday weather for most of the day.
Saturday & Sunday 29th & 30th June 2024 – 99 took part in Beamish Museum’s Fares Please event. She stayed at the Museum overnight so this was not a Group outing but did provide a chance for members and the public to see her working in the unique surroundings of the museum.
Sunday 21st July 2024 – SYTT Running and Open Day at Eastwood, Rotherham – 0700 departure. As well as seeing a choice display of vehicles not so familiar to us, we had a chance to see the further progress with 544.
Sunday 28th July 2024 – Sandtoft Gathering – Sadly, this intended trip had to be cancelled because of further problems with 223, which developed during the outing to Rotherham.
Sunday 11th August 2024 – Stagecoach Stockton Depot Open Day – 1000 to 1600 – The 2024 Open Day commemorated two notable anniversaries. The first was the thirtieth anniversary of the acquisition of Cleveland Transit by the Stagecoach Group on 15th November 1994. The second was the the 50th Anniversary of Cleveland Transit which came into existence upon the creation of the County of Cleveland on 1st April 1974. Lined up around the depot compound, a variety of buses were on display. These comprised a number of operational vehicles from the current Stagecoach fleet together with a selection of preserved historic buses from the north east of England or with connections to the Stagecoach. Within the Stagecoach offices there was a display of photographs detailing the history of municipal bus operations on Teesside. In addition, through the course of the day there were slideshow presentations recounting the 50-year history of Cleveland Transit. There was an opportunity to have a ride through the Depot bus wash and to have a go at creating a “destination” message to be displayed on one of our buses. The Teesside 500 Group, along with other sales stands, sold a range of models, books, photographs and other transport-related items. Some of the historic buses operated a regular free shuttle bus service between Stockton Depot, Stockton High Street and Middlesbrough Bus Station (Stand 15).
Saturday 17th August 2024 – Aycliffe & District BPT – Annual Running Day at Newton Aycliffe. We attended this delightful event with H106 and 223, departing at 0830 (223) and 0845 (H106).
Sunday 18th August 2024 – Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Open Day at Lathalmond, Fife. – This trip went ahead, using the comfort and practicality of a hired-in coach for the nearly 200 mile journey to Fife. Hopefully, the extent and the sheer fascination of the SVBM’s offering does not need any retelling here. However, we were privileged to be given an exclusive, guided viewing of former Middlesbrough Corporation no.52, XG9304, which is resident at the museum.
Bank Holiday Monday 26th August 2024 – NEBPT Seaburn Rally – The usual great day out at a show which attracts a large entry of PSVs but also includes historic cars, commercials and emergency service vehicles.
Sunday 22nd September 2024 – Dewsbury Bus Museum Autumn Running Day – 0745 departure – Previous events have seen a wide range of buses and coaches dating from 1948 up to 2001 and included a standout appearance in service, by one of the only two surviving Guy Wulfrunians, both of which are under the Museum’s care.
Sunday 13th October 2024 – AVTG Skipton – 0800 departure – Set in idyllic surroundings this is a very enjoyable and sizeable event with, in recent years, around 30 buses operating over 70 round trips on 13 services.
Sunday 27th October 2024 – NNRG Open Day at Philadelphia – 0845 departure. – A further welcome opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of the NNRG. Always a friendly gathering attracting an interesting vehicle entry and with excellent refreshments on offer in an iconic building.
Sunday 3rd November 2024 – Keighley Bus Museum Twilight Running Event – Our final outing of the 2034 season and a welcome return of a popular event with lots of nostalgic travel illuminated by filament bulbs. Also a very civilised later start! 0900 departure from Stockton.
Saturday 28th December 2024 – Once again this year, Jeff Tattersall has kindly agreed to arrange a “Bashers’ Day” over the Christmas period for members and friends. Jeff has chosen a Saturday this time, hopefully to allow more people to attend. Please meet at 09:00 outside the former travel shop in Middlesbrough Bus Station. Either a National Concessionary Travel Pass or an Explorer North East ticket will be needed.
Saturday 12th April 2025 – Aycliffe & District BPS Spring Gala Open Day – Our 2025 season opener involved a 9am departure from the Depot and, as a local event, 99 was given a workout for the day. A welcome opportunity to share a day with our colleagues at Aycliffe and enjoy the Open Day at their excellent premises.
Sunday 20th April 2025 – Kirkby Stephen Rally – An 8am departure saw us on our way for our seasonal Easter outing to Kirkby Stephen. We picked up additionally in Darlington town centre before enjoying untypically beautiful sunshine in Kirkby Stephen, amongst vehicles mostly unfamiliar from our normal Northeast rally programme. A great day out and a useful workout for 106 after her recent difficulties.
(Updated 30/04/25)