(31 Jul 2013, 3:56 pm)BJ10VUS wrote Solo SR on the 27X again - managing to display it properly!

Also, the blinds on the M1 have been reprogrammed on some of the vehicles to display 'Houghton le Sp' on front and rear displays with 'Houghton' on the side. This is instead of the previous 'Houghton le Spring' front and rear with 'Houghton' on the side.

Bazza has a pic of the said solo sr which is 627 and was showing

27X Heworth

via Victoria Road

In our dreams!

Happened on more than one occasion. See another example on the Q2 here.
Imagine the fine...

(31 Jul 2013, 7:31 pm)gtomlinson wrote PS, was browsing and came across this on Bazza90 (all photo credit to him) and was wondering...how did GNE get away with this one?! (assuming its not a mocked up shot)

It might have been an extra for the Evolution Festival? Depends on the date though.
Also, those Caetanos are luxury compared to the Prestiges on the 28

(31 Jul 2013, 7:38 pm)BJ10VUS wrote

(31 Jul 2013, 7:31 pm)gtomlinson wrote PS, was browsing and came across this on Bazza90 (all photo credit to him) and was wondering...how did GNE get away with this one?! (assuming its not a mocked up shot)

It might have been an extra for the Evolution Festival? Depends on the date though.
Also, those Caetanos are luxury compared to the Prestiges on the 28

Example I gave is on 15/06, rather than 03/06 or 04/06 when Evo2012 was on.
"There was two X9 & X10 buses on the Q1 and the Q2 aswell !" - comment from the one I gave.

EDIT: Olympic torch

(31 Jul 2013, 7:45 pm)Daniel wrote Example I gave is on 15/06, rather than 03/06 or 04/06 when Evo2012 was on.
"There was two X9 & X10 buses on the Q1 and the Q2 aswell !" - comment from the one I gave.

Oh well. Still, the Versa's are still more reliable than those space ship electric things Stagecoach used to use on the 'Quaylink' services. I mean, they were alright - but that's when they weren't bursting in to flames

I wish they still had Openline. Did the Caetano's suffer mechanically? I can't imagine they are anymore unreliable than the Waggonway DAF's (which suffered another 2 failures today)

I was trying to work out the vehicle history of the 28 group back to the mid 90s when I started using the service more (including 728/09/33) and came up with (I might have missed some)

Leyland National Mk2 - Bristol VR - Handybus - Olympian - Metrobus - Spectra - Delta - Omnicity (for about 2 months before they went to Swift) - Caetano - SPD - DAF

(31 Jul 2013, 7:48 pm)BJ10VUS wrote Oh well. Still, the Versa's are still more reliable than those space ship electric things Stagecoach used to use on the 'Quaylink' services. I mean, they were alright - but that's when they weren't bursting in to flames

I liked the novelty factor of them at first but then trying to climb Dean and Grey Street was awkward. It was a novel concept and a brave idea at a time when public spending was free and easy. I think they'd have been absolutely perfect for Metrocentre S1 duties just to keep one alive!

Preservation anyone?

(31 Jul 2013, 4:21 pm)Andreos1 wrote Curious one tonight. A Pronto decker running NIS upto the roundabout at Pelton/Perkinsville. Changed to a 34 whilst stuck in traffic and picked up the route from Pelton towards Waldridge Park.
Not aware of any short workings, only other suggestion is that there has been a breakdown of some sort. Either way, the folk of Ouston and Urpeth Grange are getting wet waiting for the next service

Likely a breakdown and given him another bus to run light to pick up service with.

(31 Jul 2013, 7:12 pm)Daniel wrote

(31 Jul 2013, 7:05 pm)Michael wrote What im confused i ment will GNE will have enough buses when the DAFs MOTs run out

I think Adam misunderstood. Likelihood of GNE drafting in vehicles from ANE/SNE/Indeps is almost impossible (never say never!)
Like I say, vehicle transfers will have to take place for w/c 19th August to accommodate for the loss of the DAFs.

Apologies, I thought you were talking about Metro Replacement, until I re=read the post after I posted my reply.

Nevertheless I have drawn up a few fleet changes to cover the DAF's and I have also went through my fleet list and picked out all the spare Deckers for Metro Replacement.

So here is my changes to cover for the DAF's

Waggonway DAF's 4983 to 4987 to be Withdrawn
Metrolink Wright Solars 4956 to 4961 – Washington to Chester le Street for 28/28A

OK Expressway Wright Solars 5229 to 5233 to Saltmeadows for Repaint before Heading to Washington on Temp Cover on the M1 till Citaros Arrive before heading to Hexham for New Service X84

Lambton Worm DAF's 4862 to 4866 to be Withdrawn
Metrolink Wright Solars 4962 to 4966 – Washington to Chester le Street – After Citaros Arrive for the M1, Until then the 34/34A will use Northern Spares from Chester le Street Depot.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Metro Replacement for 26 Days in August - Spare Double Decker in GNE Fleet

Chester le Street
East Lancs Loynes – 3803/4/59 – 3893 to 3869 – 3873 and 3877 to 3879
Plaxton President - 3885 to 3889 and 6019/22 and 25
East Lancs Vyking – 3983
Volvo Olympian Palatine 2 – 3821/22 and 25

Depford
East Lancs Vyking – 3973 and 3977 to 3982
Plaxton President – 6018/20

Gateshead
Volvo Olympian Palatine 2 – 3826/27 and 33
Wright Gemini – 3964
East Lancs Vyking – 3967 to 3976

Percy Main
Volvo Olympian Palatine 2 – 3815 to 3820
East Lancs Loyne – 3858/61/62 and 3870/71 and 3880

Stanley
East Lancs Loynes – 3801/02 and 3862/63 and 3872 to 3876
Volvo Olympian Palatine 2 – 3814 and 3823/24 and 3828 to 3832
Plaxton President 6008 to 6017 and 6030/31/32/36 and 6042

Washington
Plaxton President – 6011/13 and 6027/28/29 and 6032 and 6049 to 6055

Winlaton
Volvo Olympian Palatine 2 – 3811 to 3813
East Lancs Vyking – 3966/69
Plaxton President – 6023/25 and 6039

I would say Chester le Street and Stanley would be the Top 2 to provide buses, with Percy Main allocating the rest, Can't see Washington and Winlaton etc sending buses for Metro Replacement

Can CLS afford the spare deckers? There's an awful lot of red deckers out and about on the Angel lately (unless they are using the chance to get maintenance done)

GNE only require the 7 deckers to operate X901 with, hence the various Northern deckers fitted with luggage racks recently.

We have to consider that all double deckers within the fleet aren't actually 'spare'. Some are allocated on a daily basis to certain services.
Even if they aren't officially allocated to the service, some depots seem to have problems allocating certain vehicles to certain services so they all end up out anyway (big flashy sign saying 'WASHINGTON' should be appearing in your minds, everyone!)
Those that aren't actually in service could be VOR. 3979 is just one example of that being so. Was it six Bishop Solars VOR someone mentioned the other day? If so, imagine all other vehicles Deptford have VOR... Deptford will literally have every single double decker out, I imagine. They don't have that many to begin with. I imagine a fair proportion of their "Northern" singles will be out too.

Well on Monday there was less than 6 Solars on the 20 with 1 on the 35 and 4 Spd's were also on the 20

Are there vehicles planned for the X7? I for one are hoping there is some sort of new buses planned, the Renowns aren't coping the route. Northern spares, yes okay. Quick, reliable, fast, express service, they ain't. There is constant break downs, which if they are not careful will put passengers off- I for one will sometimes just use the 60 if going Sunderland-Seaham if the X7 is more than 8-10 minutes late despite the X7 been 15 minutes quicker and I can't be the only one and again in Peterlee people will prefer the X9 to the X7 because the buses are bit more 'up class' to use a better term. So it will impact loadings if problems continue.

I would like to see the X7 get the 4 Solars from the OK1, then this new Hexham service (is it confirmed, was there a VOSA registration?) get spare Solars that are lying about, but I personally can't see this Hexham service lasting anyways (personal opinion). I mean once the StreetLites arrive Deptford have 5 Versas 'spare', wonder where they'll end up? Could any service end up the soon 'spare' Washington street Shuttle MPDs?

Do we have a date when Streetlites, Ciatro's and Versas are due?