This collection contains photos of 4708, whilst in service with Go North East and subsequent operators.

If anyone has any photos of FTN708W which they would like to add to this collection, please contact me via my e-mail address at Jonothanruddick@yahoo.co.uk. Any additions would be gratefully received.

FTN708W was collected from her former owner's premises in Kent on Monday 26th November 2007. These photographs show her collection and subsequent journey back to the North East, with a few pit stops along the way. The total journey took around 8 hours and we travelled nearly 350 miles back! 4708 performed brilliantly throughout the journey.

This collection shows a number of photos taken shortly after 4708 entered preservation. She was taken for a drive out around the North East, in specific Consett and Gateshead. A few photos show 4708, whilst in Consett Bus Station for a quick photo stop.

This collection documents some of the initial restoration work, which has begun on the exterior body work of the bus. It is planned to re-install a roof pod, along with replacing the after market tail lights with original lucas light units.

This collection shows restoration work beginning on the interior of the bus. The seating of the bus was quite badly care worn and a replacement set of National Bus Company, Autumn Gold 'Waspy' seating has since been installed, with various seats being reupholstered and replaced.

This collection shows an update on the restoration of 4708, which has had a number of repairs carried out. A number of mechanical faults were discovered with the air system, which prevented the gear box from initiating. New parts, including an unloader valve have been replaced and the gears are now picking up.
A replacement pod has now been fitted to the roof, along with internal ceiling panels, to go with this. The Britax rear lights have been changed and the original Lucas lights have been reinstalled.

During the summer, further work has been carried out on the body work of 4708. This has involved general tidying of the bodywork and replacing some additional fibreglass panels. Work on the interior has also been carried out with replacement ceiling panels and coving panels being replaced. The opportunity arose for 4708 to be taken out of the storage shed and it was possible for a quick photo shoot to take place with sister vehicle 4710 FTN710W.

During the past couple of months, work has continued on FTN708W. During the mid life overhaul, a replacement fibreglass front dome had been fitted by Go North East. This resulted in the distinctive black corner panels being lost. New panels have been sourced, and these have now been professionally fitted to the dome.
Work has also begun on the N/S/F wheel arch which is badly corroded. Unfortunatley once the outter panels have been removed, this has revealed that the problem is much worse than first thought. The structural pillar has cracked, causing damage to the lower stress panels. This will require some extensive work to repair this, and has unfortunaley put the project back some considerable time.

Work has continued throughout the winter on 4708 , to try and repair a structurtal fault which we discovered in December 2008. When carrying out general repairs to the vehicle, we discovered that there was clearly a considerable amount of rot, which had developed in and around the front nearside wheel arch. Removing the outter steel panels, revealed that 3 of the structural pillars behind were totally rotten, and that most of the pillars below the waistrail were cracked and were almost non existant. This had the conseaquence that the front nearside of the bus had dropped by around 10mm, having the knock on effect of the stress panel splitting under the pressure and weight of the body. It was time to stand back and have a good think about whether or not to continue with the restoration or make the devastating decision to scrap the bus.

The decision was made to push on with the restoration, despite the hugh amount of work that was now going to be needed, just to get the bus structurally sound. By christmas, the nearside of 4708 had been completely stripped down to the framework, with part of the interior removed to allow access to the frame.

Over the next couple of months, a replacement wheel arch, stress panel and pillars were fabricated and were fitted to 4708. The bodywork was re-jigged and is now back to normal. The rot was not only confined to the wheel arch, but it was found that the DiPTAC step had also suffered badly. This has been removed and a replacement cradle and surround fitted.

At the current time work has moved onto putting everything back together. It is envisaged that the nearside will be repanelled within the coming months.

Structural work has continued over the past few months. The nearside front wheel arch has been completed and work is underway repanelling the nearside with new steel panels. Work has recently begun on repairing the nearside rear wheelarch. At the current time the wheelarch has been completely stripped back to the framework.

The nearside wheelarch stress panel has been completed and has been fitted. The accident damaged pillar/panels have been removed and new items fitted. Work has also started on replacing the three corroded steel window pans. With the windows now removed, new fibreglass items will be fitted, when replacement window rubbers are sourced.

Now that the nearside rear wheel arch has been repaired, we have been able to repanel the outter skin, and fit new parts. The old rotten window pans have been removed from above the wheel arch. There had clearly been a lot of water ingress, and these had rotted away from the inside out. New fibreglass window pans have been fitted in their place. 4708 is now starting to look a little more like a bus again and not just a metal frame.

A selection of photos, which I took in June 2008, whilst at Ripley's Breakers Yard, in Barnsley, purchasing some replacement National 2 parts for 4708.

A selection of photos taken at Ripley's bus Breakers, in Barnsley, on 6th November 2008.

A one off event took place on Sunday 19th July 2009 at Leeds Football Ground. I had the pleasure of travelling to the rally using Lee Garretts beautifully restored MCW Metrobus UTN501Y. The event was very well attended with some fantastic vehicles on display.

The Teeside running day took place at the Transporter Bridge, in Middlesborough, on Sunday 26th April 2009. The event is organised by the 500 Group. This was the first time I have been fortunate enough to attend this event, but im sure that it wont be the last. The event was very well organised, with regular services provided by the attending vehicles. Thankfully the weather was kind to us, and a great day was had by all.

The Annual Metrocentre Bus Rally took place on Sunday 30th April 2006. A good selection of Go North East vehicles were amongst the buses in attendance. Wright Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL NK06JXB was on display having been newly delivered to the company.

On Monday 28th August 2006, The North East Bus Preservation Trust's regular Seaburn bus rally took place. On display were a large selection of preserved vehicles, including a number of Busways and Tyne and Wear PTE vehicles. Also in attendance was former Northern General Leyland National 2 FTN700W, which had recently entered preservation.

The North East Bus Preservation Trust's Whitley Bay Rally took place on Sunday 23rd July 2006, at Bournmouth Gardens, in Whitley Bay. Making its rally debut was newly restored Leyland Atlantean AN68, SCN268S, which has been beautifully restored into South Shields Busways livery.

On Sunday 17th June 2008, The North East Bus Preservation Trust, held it's first Father's day bus rally. This took place at the Durham County Council's Belmont park and ride site. Despite being the first rally at this location, there was a very good attendance of vehicles. Go North East provided several vehicles for the day, including a brand new Mercedes Benz Citaro, Red Arrow, which participated in the free bus services into Durham City.

The annual Gateshead Metrocentre Bus Rally took place on Sunday 6th May 2007. In attendance were a large selection of Go North East vehicles, which were showing off their new brightly coloured route branding liveries.

On Monday 27th August 2007, the Seaburn bus rally took place, organised by the North East Bus Preservation Trust. The day remained largely dry, and attracted a large selection of buses and supporters to the show.

The Whitley Bay bus rally took place on Sunday 22nd July 2007. This collection shows a variety of vehicles which were in attendance, including a number of former Tyne and Wear PTE buses.

This collection contains a selection of photos which were taken at The North East Bus Preservation Trust's, Durham Park and Ride Bus Rally, which took place at the Howland's site, on Sunday 15th June 2008.

This collection shows a variety of vehicles which appeared at this years Metrocentre Bus Rally which took place on Sunday 4th May 2008. There were a number of newly preserved vehicles making their debut, including 4710 FTN710W.

The North East Bus Preservation Trust's Seaburn bus rally took place on Monday 25th August 2008. Despite the less than great weather, there was a good turn out with a great variety of vehicles attending.

Photos taken at The North East Bus Preservation Trust's Annual Whitley Bay bus rally, which took place on Sunday 20th July 2008.

The North East Bus Preservation Trust' Father's Day bus rally took place at Howland's Park and Ride site, Durham on Sunday 21st June 2009.

The annual Metrocentre bus rally took place on Sunday 3rd May 2009. organised by the North East Bus Preservation Trust and sponsored by Go North East. There was a large variety of both preserved and service vehicles on display.

This years annual Seaburn Bus Rally took place on Monday 31st August 2009. Organised by the North East Bus Preservation Trust.

On Sunday 10th June 2007, The Eden bus rally took place in Bishop Auckland, in order to celebrate the 80th Birthday of The Eden Bus Company. On display were a number of Eden buses, along with a good selection of both preserved and service vehicles, from the local area.