On Saturday 15th May 2021 a bus running day, organised by the Aycliffe & District Bus Preservation Society, was held in Darlington. This was a new event conceived to anticipate the opening up of society following the Covid-19 pandemic. Two preserved buses, owned by the Aycliffe & District Bus Preservation Society, were in attendance. One was a former United single-decker which spent time working the Newton Aycliffe ‘Newtonian’ local services in the early 1980s. The second was a former Darlington Transport double-decker.
A circular route was operated between Darlington town centre and Salters Lane South. This followed most of the former Darlington service 2B route and went out via North Road and Thompson Street East and returned via Haughton Road, Hundens Lane and Yarm Road. The Aycliffe & District Bus Preservation Society bought the double-decker in May 1981 and acquired the ‘Newtonian’ single-decker in November 1984.
The Aycliffe & District Bus Preservation Society’s website is www.aycliffebus.org.uk
Photo: Former Darlington Transport 7 (AHN 451 B) lines up alongside former United Automobile Services Ltd 1452 (NDL 769 G) on West Row, Darlington, as part of the Darlington running day on Saturday 15th May 2021. By Peter Mitchell, courtesy of the Aycliffe & District Bus Preservation Society.
