STOCKTON DARLINGTON MIDDLESBROUGH DURHAM

Probably my earliest start of the year and perhaps the longest trip so far but a wonderfully sunny and dare I say warm day although there was ice on the van windscreen when I got up. A straightforward journey with no roadworks other than the M6 around Wigan which is going SMART motorway - didn't they say there would be no more of these stupid lethal  ideas. Anyway pleased to find Stockton gave 3 hours free in municipal car parks. Plenty about first thing, lots in Stagecoach new livery. Although route brandings come and go nothing by way of new buses but I did catch some school services by luck.

Next it was on to Darlington, very much my old stomping ground when I had a day job. I remember one winter I commuted back and forth from home to Darlo. There was not a cloud in the sky to be seen. It was soon time to skip back to Middlesbrough. The light is never great in sunny weather, its always a bit into the sun but hoping it will look ok, much busier all round than last years lock down pandemic visit, I've no idea what we were thinking then but certainly not that another year would go by under the draconian restrictions for people.

Next was our last stop of the day and the most interesting and colourful at Durham. THe old bus station is being rebuilt. The road outside is one way at the moment and buses stop the length of it. Chaos reigns really, not the best temporary bus arrangement I've see but guess its a hard place to find space. Here are some Durham shots taken this afternoon. Editing tomorrow, clips perhaps on Youtube before tomorrow night.

A surprise was a sudden hoot and steam on the viaduct, I believe it could have been LNER K1 62055 on its way to Carlisle, after about 30 minutes of passing through a few lads with cameras headed back to the car parks with the heavy duty equipment.