North East Buses

https://twitter.com/EasternFirePics/stat...58365?s=20

9 optare Solos are now becoming firefighters

Honestly not a bad idea.
Solos are relatively 'cheap', so for what they're using them for (essentially an office on wheels) they are probably ideal.

i agree, the only thing that would be an issue is probably there speed. And the noise them make going down the A19 is not nice.

(18 Feb 2023, 12:12 pm)Unber43 wrote [ -> ]i agree, the only thing that would be an issue is probably there speed. And the noise them make going down the A19 is not nice.

Given the fact it's for London, I doubt top speed is even a consideration!

(18 Feb 2023, 12:15 pm)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]Given the fact it's for London, I doubt top speed is even a consideration!

Nor the A19!


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It's a shame that they don't need some for fire training, there's 5 at Ashington that would be good for it. Might actually be useful for something.

The Little Rattles on the 19 aren't exactly much better.

Awful buses, least Metrorider's which were as crap had some character.

I must admit, I've always liked a Solo SR, especially the baby ones.

(18 Feb 2023, 10:07 pm)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]I must admit, I've always liked a Solo SR, especially the baby ones.

I just can't stand rattles and Solo's are notorious for them and not in a pleasant way as it's usually metal on metal which is the worst and from every corner. Loads of them seem to have idle vibrations aswell which is as irritating. It's shocking how bad some of them are at GNE for being not even 7 year old.

It's surprising it's not something operators focus on more as nothing is luxury as much you want to put mod cons in when there's massive bangs every 30 seconds from every direction and buses are getting worse lately other than ADL who are consistantly crap. The Enviro 400 MMC's are shockingly bad for being 'rattle proof'.

Obviously they'll blame the roads etc but the 20 year old B7's which Arriva have just withdrawn were pretty much silent given their age.

(18 Feb 2023, 11:23 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]I just can't stand rattles and Solo's are notorious for them and not in a pleasant way as it's usually metal on metal which is the worst and from every corner. Loads of them seem to have idle vibrations aswell which is as irritating. It's shocking how bad some of them are at GNE for being not even 7 year old.

It's surprising it's not something operators focus on more as nothing is luxury as much you want to put mod cons in when there's massive bangs every 30 seconds from every direction and buses are getting worse lately other than ADL who are consistantly crap. The Enviro 400 MMC's are shockingly bad for being 'rattle proof'.

Obviously they'll blame the roads etc but the 20 year old B7's which Arriva have just withdrawn were pretty much silent given their age.

What engines do the Solos use?

I know GNE's Streetlites that have been modified (I remember reading it was the engine mounts replaced?) are so much better for idle vibrations now.

Most Streetdecks I've been on have been rattle free (which admittedly hasn't been that many recently), with the few bad ones nearly always being upstairs with either the panel on the front (for the blind I assume), and the big one at the top of the staircase.

The B5s are probably a bit worse, but I think mostly come from the same problem areas

Nothing new to be honest, over the years various bus types or vehicles based on bus chassis have been used as Mobile Command Centres for various fire brigades. Here are some examples...

Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade - Dennis Dart SLF / ELC (Since replaced by a truck based vehicle) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/magility9/23367349691
Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade - Dennis Dominator / Angleco (Replaced by the Dart SLF, though has been preserved) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/76935272@N05/9805545044
Strathclyde Fire Brigade - Scania K93CRB / Leicester Carriage Builders - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gerrymcl/13467516223
Durham Fire Brigade - Mercedes Benz O814D / Plaxton Cheetah - https://www.flickr.com/photos/magility9/4987910474
Greater Manchester FB - Volvo B6 / N-C Paladin - https://www.flickr.com/photos/golfsierra999/9529375172
London Fire Brigade - Volvo B10M / Spectra (Passed on to other brigades and now with a private firm) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/26024754@N07/5275973802
Northamptonshire FB - Dennis Dart SLF / UVG Urbanstar - https://www.flickr.com/photos/58777216@N06/15158920866/
Buckinghamshire FB - Mercedes Benz OH1416 - Wright Urbanranger - https://www.flickr.com/photos/quicksilve...4942143097
Mid West Wales FB - Transbus Dart SLF / ELC - https://www.flickr.com/photos/16856772@N08/7924357070
Royal Berkshire FB - MAN 11:180 / Leicester Carriage Builders (raiding the ELC parts bin) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/30131135@N04/2846228581
West Sussex FB - Dennis Dart / Leicester Carriage Builders - https://www.flickr.com/photos/british_fi...6068909009
Hampshire FB - Mercedes Benz O814D / Plaxton - https://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewleggott/6059350231
London FB - Ford R1014 / Willowbrook (some of these will have made appearences on Londons Burning) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunny400/45066971474/
Gloucestershire FB - Dennis Dart SLF / ELC - https://www.flickr.com/photos/ga132/22202670552

There was one case where one fire brigade attempted to convert a former Dennis Dart / Wright Handybus into a utility fire engine, but the idea was quickly scrapped - https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidsbusp...426530641/ and https://www.flickr.com/photos/mank999/3052551948

(18 Feb 2023, 11:23 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]I just can't stand rattles and Solo's are notorious for them and not in a pleasant way as it's usually metal on metal which is the worst and from every corner. Loads of them seem to have idle vibrations aswell which is as irritating. It's shocking how bad some of them are at GNE for being not even 7 year old.

It's surprising it's not something operators focus on more as nothing is luxury as much you want to put mod cons in when there's massive bangs every 30 seconds from every direction and buses are getting worse lately other than ADL who are consistantly crap. The Enviro 400 MMC's are shockingly bad for being 'rattle proof'.

Obviously they'll blame the roads etc but the 20 year old B7's which Arriva have just withdrawn were pretty much silent given their age.

It's amazing that car manufacturers have dedicated teams and departments to eliminate or reduce rattles.
I remember speaking to someone (in a work capacity) working for JLR who said it can often be as simple as moving or adding an extra sticky pad to a certain part of the body. 
Yet the bus manufacturing industry seem to just let it slide.

(19 Feb 2023, 12:23 am)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]What engines do the Solos use?

I know GNE's Streetlites that have been modified (I remember reading it was the engine mounts replaced?) are so much better for idle vibrations now.

Most Streetdecks I've been on have been rattle free (which admittedly hasn't been that many recently), with the few bad ones nearly always being upstairs with either the panel on the front (for the blind I assume), and the big one at the top of the staircase.

The B5s are probably a bit worse, but I think mostly come from the same problem areas

Believe it's
Arriva Solo's: Mercedes Engine / Allison Gearbox
GNE Solo SR's: Daimler Engine / Allison Gearbox

I could be wrong though as I know there's Cummins and Voith examples around aswell.

Aye to be fair most Wright Double Deckers are generally alright, some are bit off lately it's the single deckers which are appalling. Gone down the pot in the last 15 year. Pulsar's aren't particularly much better than Streetlite's either. Yeah the front panel is for the blind though, I can always remember as a kid you could watch the driver's moving the blinds around on the old Cityzen's at Blyth as there was a gap.

(19 Feb 2023, 10:55 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]It's amazing that car manufacturers have dedicated teams and departments to eliminate or reduce rattles.
I remember speaking to someone (in a work capacity) working for JLR who said it can often be as simple as moving or adding an extra sticky pad to a certain part of the body. 
Yet the bus manufacturing industry seem to just let it slide.

Yeah totally agreed, obviously there's always arguments that there's always going to be some because of the miles they do but Optare buses, Streetlites, Pulsars and anything ADL have been rattling since new so they can't really use that excuse. It's the exact same places aswell.

(19 Feb 2023, 11:56 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]Believe it's
Arriva Solo's: Mercedes Engine / Allison Gearbox
GNE Solo SR's: Daimler Engine / Allison Gearbox

I could be wrong though as I know there's Cummins and Voith examples around aswell.

Go North East’s, in the main, are the same as Arriva’s. It’s only the Euro 6 ones (715-717, 725-727) which differ.

The Metrocentre Mini examples, which have since left the fleet, were Cummins-engined.


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(19 Feb 2023, 12:34 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Go North East’s, in the main, are the same as Arriva’s. It’s only the Euro 6 ones (715-717, 725-727) which differ.

The Metrocentre Mini examples, which have since left the fleet, were Cummins-engined.


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Thanks for that, wasn't sure when the Daimler / Merc swap happened.

Optare Solo 602 and as Dan Mentioned 710-714 were the only Cummins engined examples. Always found the cummins examples to be quicker then the Mercedes Powered version.

(18 Feb 2023, 11:23 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]I just can't stand rattles and Solo's are notorious for them and not in a pleasant way as it's usually metal on metal which is the worst and from every corner. Loads of them seem to have idle vibrations aswell which is as irritating. It's shocking how bad some of them are at GNE for being not even 7 year old.

It's surprising it's not something operators focus on more as nothing is luxury as much you want to put mod cons in when there's massive bangs every 30 seconds from every direction and buses are getting worse lately other than ADL who are consistantly crap. The Enviro 400 MMC's are shockingly bad for being 'rattle proof'.

Obviously they'll blame the roads etc but the 20 year old B7's which Arriva have just withdrawn were pretty much silent given their age.

The top places for rattles on the SRs:

The glass/Plastic screens near the front side facing seat bays
Handrails
Panel over the fuse box at the front which seems to quickly warp and rarely sits flush
Loose windows where the bonding has failed at the bottom - a very common issue on the SRs even when relatively new.
Door swivel bearings

(20 Feb 2023, 8:40 am)xpm wrote [ -> ]The top places for rattles on the SRs:

The glass/Plastic screens near the front side facing seat bays
Handrails
Panel over the fuse box at the front which seems to quickly warp and rarely sits flush
Loose windows where the bonding has failed at the bottom - a very common issue on the SRs even when relatively new.
Door swivel bearings

Probably easier to list what doesn't rattle

Just a crap build really but then again it's nothing new with Optare.

(20 Feb 2023, 3:24 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Probably easier to list what doesn't rattle

Just a crap build really but then again it's nothing new with Optare.

At least the Solos look quite nice. 

Can't say the same for the New Optare well Switch Decker

Apologies, but I've changed the title of this thread... every time I saw it, I assumed another one had gone up in flames!

(20 Feb 2023, 3:24 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Probably easier to list what doesn't rattle

Just a crap build really but then again it's nothing new with Optare.

It’s actually quite surprising if you compare/look at the panel movement/shake at idle on the outside of a 61/63 plate vs a 16 plate or newer, the external panels are a lot thinner than the older examples, there is often visible separate vibration between windows and panels particularly when the bottom bonding is shot, I’d also heard of at least one of the 16 plates suffering from chassis issues as early as last year, be amazed if they made it to 10 yrs never mind the 12 book value that is supposedly attached to these.

Doesn't help that a lot of them go down the A19 2-4 times a day.

(20 Feb 2023, 6:13 pm)Unber43 wrote [ -> ]Doesn't help that a lot of them go down the A19 2-4 times a day.

Shouldn't affect them

(18 Feb 2023, 11:55 am)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]Honestly not a bad idea.
Solos are relatively 'cheap', so for what they're using them for (essentially an office on wheels) they are probably ideal.

it will be interesting to see, they carry a lot of extra weight like generators, large screen TVs, a lot more communications equipment compared to a normal fire truck. plus obviously space is needed on the inside for people to work.

(20 Feb 2023, 7:24 pm)toward6931 wrote [ -> ]it will be interesting to see, they carry a lot of extra weight like generators, large screen TVs, a lot more communications equipment compared to a normal fire truck. plus obviously space is needed on the inside for people to work.

Would it really weigh more than a full load of passengers though?

(20 Feb 2023, 8:17 pm)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]Would it really weigh more than a full load of passengers though?

depends on the equipment fit they go for, i would imagine for the London fire brigade they don't need to worry too much about power supplies so may not need such a powerful generator etc. same for communications fit etc. the London WIFI/4/5g  networks are a lot more reliable than say parts of wales or Northumberland so needing portable masts etc shouldn't be a problem.