(11 Dec 2019, 10:17 am)Stanleyone wrote Are those B5s not destined as spares for the X9/X10 being in Xlines spare livery?

(11 Dec 2019, 4:24 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Also, is anyone else having issues with Tapatalk logging them out of the forum constantly?

(11 Dec 2019, 5:16 pm)Jimmi wrote Yes and forum keeps disappearing from things I follow too

(11 Dec 2019, 4:24 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Nice to hear there is still an awkwardly long delay between the last stop announcement and the termination announcement. It's been so long since I've been on a service that has NSA all the way to the last stop.

*Proceeds to not bring up how long it's been since the X21 had NSAs*

Also, is anyone else having issues with Tapatalk logging them out of the forum constantly?

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

(12 Dec 2019, 11:08 pm)S830OFT wrote Has 5214 been withdrawn as it's been removed from the bustimes fleet list?

(12 Dec 2019, 11:08 pm)S830OFT wrote Has 5214 been withdrawn as it's been removed from the bustimes fleet list?

(13 Dec 2019, 6:41 pm)BFK wrote 5214 is stiill at Deptford, however VOR with gearbox failure.

(13 Dec 2019, 11:27 pm)Andreos1 wrote #missingexpurplesolar

Awful vehicles from a passenger perspective. 
Rattly, noisy, dirty, cold, damp - yet they're organising a swansong on Sunday?
Bet the regulars will be gutted

(14 Dec 2019, 9:55 am)missedbus wrote They were good when they were new, nice and smooth, and I used them daily on what was then the 35/35A between Shields and Sunderland. They were a revelation compared with the SPDs and Excels used beforehand, although the enthusiast in me preferred a B7RLE driven hard...
Still, they were the maids of all work before the Citaros arrived, and like an aged popstar whose voice is long gone, they've had their time but deserve a good send-off.

---

Also, 4976 at Deptford is the last bus in service in the traditional 4xxx single deck fleet numbering series as invented in 1975, so that'll be a sort of end of an era there too. 4961-5 hang on as training vehicles of course.

(14 Dec 2019, 2:45 pm)V514DFT wrote Unlike solar 4939 which never saw the light of day,that was a real shame

(14 Dec 2019, 5:44 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Well it did, just never turned a wheel in service, 4939 (NK51OLA) was on display at one of the Bus and Coach shows, then it was damage by fire at Scania in Worksop, don't know if the vehicle itself caught fire or it was a victim of another vehicle catching fire at the time.

(14 Dec 2019, 10:49 pm)busmanT wrote The fire that destroyed 4939 was at Hogarth Coachworks in Birtley, prior to the vehicle being delivered to Go North East (14 October 2001) - I can’t now recall exactly why it was there, but I think on behalf of Scania.

(15 Dec 2019, 1:16 am)Rapidsnap wrote I knew it was something to do with Scania considering they were responible for replacing it, anyway after a little bit of digging, it was as a result of a possible arson attack at Hogarths which according to the article I found said it could be one of those linked to a gang of serial arsonists who were going around at the time.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/3093934.stm

(15 Dec 2019, 1:16 am)Rapidsnap wrote I knew it was something to do with Scania considering they were responible for replacing it, anyway after a little bit of digging, it was as a result of a possible arson attack at Hogarths which according to the article I found said it could be one of those linked to a gang of serial arsonists who were going around at the time.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/3093934.stm

(14 Dec 2019, 8:39 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Either 4954 or 4955 was the replacement vehicle. They did have a Scania on long term loan until the replacement vehicle came, I recall it having Penguins plastered all over the exterior.

(16 Dec 2019, 12:10 pm)Chris 1 wrote Is that why there was only one original 02 plate Scania, with the remainder 2002 examples being 52 plates?

Rapidsnap wroteNope 4949 was part of that batch hence registered in sequence.

Not sure which of 4954 (NL02ZRX) or 4955 (NA02NVL) was meant to be the replacement.

As addition around that time, Scania / Wright did build a handful of Solars to GNE spec interior which mainly ended up with First Group.