Happy New Year!

Well 2016 will see us introduce a new type to the fleet here in the North East... A handful of Optare Tempo's are due to transfer from the Yorkshire fleet. They currently operate from Castleford depot on service 189 between Wakefield, Castleford and Leeds.

(02 Jan 2016, 6:50 am)tyresmoke wrote Well 2016 will see us introduce a new type to the fleet here in the North East... A handful of Optare Tempo's are due to transfer from the Yorkshire fleet. They currently operate from Castleford depot on service 189 between Wakefield, Castleford and Leeds.

Where will they be allocated or is it top secret?

(02 Jan 2016, 6:50 am)tyresmoke wrote Well 2016 will see us introduce a new type to the fleet here in the North East... A handful of Optare Tempo's are due to transfer from the Yorkshire fleet. They currently operate from Castleford depot on service 189 between Wakefield, Castleford and Leeds.

And so is GNE......Streetdecks.  This year is going to be full of surprises!

(02 Jan 2016, 6:50 am)tyresmoke wrote Well 2016 will see us introduce a new type to the fleet here in the North East... A handful of Optare Tempo's are due to transfer from the Yorkshire fleet. They currently operate from Castleford depot on service 189 between Wakefield, Castleford and Leeds.

Wonder how many examples we'll get and where they will go? I'm going to guess that the ALX300's will be withdrawn when the Tempo's Arrive. The remaining Cadets are likely to be living on borrowed time.

I heard from a friend living down Leeds that those Tempo's were due to be converted to MAX specification. Might not be true but I just thought I might throw it in there.

(02 Jan 2016, 11:08 am)S813 FVK wrote I heard from a friend living down Leeds that those Tempo's were due to be converted to MAX specification. Might not be true but I just thought I might throw it in there.

That was the original plan. They are now being replaced by new deckers to MAX spec in the Yorkshire fleet.

Arriva have 2 Natwest B7 now.

First ANE bus I see in 2016.......MPD 1800 and no working rear destination.

(02 Jan 2016, 11:46 am)citaro5284 wrote First ANE bus I see in 2016.......MPD 1800 and no working rear destination.

1774 is the same.

Not seen or heard of 7486/7 since they transferred across to Stockton ?

(02 Jan 2016, 12:46 pm)scania driver wrote Not seen or heard of 7486/7 since they transferred across to Stockton ?

They are currently lined up across the dead row in Stockton depot

(02 Jan 2016, 12:49 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote They are currently lined up across the dead row in Stockton depot

Not moved since we got them!
Worth mentioning that 1906 & 1909 are now withdrawn as they're not DDA friendly.
Our dead corner is now looking rather full!

(02 Jan 2016, 2:04 pm)tyresmoke wrote Not moved since we got them!
Worth mentioning that 1906 & 1909 are now withdrawn as they're not DDA friendly.
Our dead corner is now looking rather full!

What about 1912, 1914 and 1916? According to our fleet lists, these haven't yet been modified to become DDA-compliant?

(02 Jan 2016, 2:06 pm)Dan wrote What about 1912, 1914 and 1916? According to our fleet lists, these haven't yet been modified to become DDA-compliant?

1912 I think died a few weeks back.
1914 returned to service following DDA modification on the 21st December. 1916 is also now DDA.

(02 Jan 2016, 11:10 am)Kuyoyo wrote That was the original plan. They are now being replaced by new deckers to MAX spec in the Yorkshire fleet.

Are any new deckers rumoured to be arriving in the North East this year?

(02 Jan 2016, 8:09 am)Jimmi wrote Wonder how many examples we'll get and where they will go? I'm going to guess that the ALX300's will be withdrawn when the Tempo's Arrive. The remaining Cadets are likely to be living on borrowed time.

i would think that the ALX300'S may get cascaded as spare buses

(02 Jan 2016, 2:10 pm)Kuyoyo wrote 1912 I think died a few weeks back.
1914 returned to service following DDA modification on the 21st December. 1916 is also now DDA.

My condolences to it's family.

(02 Jan 2016, 5:02 pm)R852 PRG wrote My condolences to it's family.

You have a nerve....when 4852 went to the scrap yard, you were in tears!

(02 Jan 2016, 11:46 am)citaro5284 wrote First ANE bus I see in 2016.......MPD 1800 and no working rear destination.

(02 Jan 2016, 12:07 pm)DanPicken wrote 1774 is the same.

Thanks, will pass that onto the person I know once I see him again.

(02 Jan 2016, 6:50 am)tyresmoke wrote Well 2016 will see us introduce a new type to the fleet here in the North East... A handful of Optare Tempo's are due to transfer from the Yorkshire fleet. They currently operate from Castleford depot on service 189 between Wakefield, Castleford and Leeds.

Would be good to see Tempos go to Darlington for use on X26 which has suffered  with reliability problems since conversion to Max Scanias The Scanias could then go back to Teeside or Northumberland  The changes to X26 do not appear to have worked well but management might disagree and there are frequent comments on the facebook site

(03 Jan 2016, 11:24 am)upt50k wrote Would be good to see Tempos go to Darlington for use on X26 which has suffered  with reliability problems since conversion to Max Scanias The Scanias could then go back to Teeside or Northumberland  The changes to X26 do not appear to have worked well but management might disagree and there are frequent comments on the facebook site

Everytime I've been in Darlington or Richmond there seems to have been a lot of late running on the X26/X27 with the service often running in twos at times, don't really know why this happens. Those Omnicitys seem totally shot as most them have been subjected to some tough routes, particularly the ones that were based at Redcar for the 63 and then later the 93/X93, the examples being blasted down the A66 on the X66/X67 probably aren't doing any good for them either. Would be nice to have them at Darlington but I don't think it is going to happen, think they'll go to either Teesside or Tyneside.

There's been a correctly branded sapphire streetlite on the 22 today <thud>

Tempted to put it in rare and odd workings.

Anyone able to confirm what's on the X12 shuttle today?
Should be 1764 - transferred yesterday to Jesmond

(04 Jan 2016, 1:10 pm)tyresmoke wrote Anyone able to confirm what's on the X12 shuttle today?
Should be 1764 - transferred yesterday to Jesmond

yes it was planned as a spare although it was meant to be 1773

A couple of things? What is it with this "dead corner" thing? Tyresmoke has commented that the one at Stockton is quite full and I remember when I was based at Redcar passing the long (and embarrassing) line of cripples parked against the depot fence. The words "driven to destruction then abandonded" spring to mind. The other point is that with the Scanias that now seem to causing problems on the Darlington routes. These are essentially a good vehicle and lovely to drive when maintained and operated correctly. Trouble is these that seem to causing the issues started their lives at Dormanstown / Redcar, were thrashed, often mercilessly, on service 63. Then they were shifted to be the mainstay on the X93/93, which we know is a demanding route with what used to ridiculous end to end timings. Given the history of maintainance issues that used to blight this depot I guess that contributed? Now they have moved again to probably similarly demanding routes with punishing schedules. One does wonder ?

(04 Jan 2016, 1:10 pm)tyresmoke wrote Anyone able to confirm what's on the X12 shuttle today?
Should be 1764 - transferred yesterday to Jesmond

'Tis indeed 1764.

018 by emdjt42, on Flickr

(04 Jan 2016, 1:56 pm)scania driver wrote A couple of things? What is it with this "dead corner" thing? Tyresmoke has commented that the one at Stockton is quite full and I remember when I was based at Redcar passing the long (and embarrassing) line of cripples parked against the depot fence. The words "driven to destruction then abandonded" spring to mind. The other point is that with the Scanias that now seem to causing problems on the Darlington routes. These are essentially a good vehicle and lovely to drive when maintained and operated correctly. Trouble is these that seem to causing the issues started their lives at Dormanstown / Redcar, were thrashed, often mercilessly, on service 63. Then they were shifted to be the mainstay on the X93/93, which we know is a demanding route with what used to ridiculous end to end timings. Given the history of maintainance issues that used to blight this depot I guess that contributed? Now they have moved again to probably similarly demanding routes with punishing schedules. One does wonder ?

The X26/X27 seemed to manage with the Solos. That suggests the vehicles are not fit for the route, rather than 'demanding schedules'.

I wonder if Arriva will do something in May, which is the next Darlington change date.

(04 Jan 2016, 1:56 pm)scania driver wrote A couple of things? What is it with this "dead corner" thing? Tyresmoke has commented that the one at Stockton is quite full and I remember when I was based at Redcar passing the long (and embarrassing) line of cripples parked against the depot fence. The words "driven to destruction then abandonded" spring to mind. The other point is that with the Scanias that now seem to causing problems on the Darlington routes. These are essentially a good vehicle and lovely to drive when maintained and operated correctly. Trouble is these that seem to causing the issues started their lives at Dormanstown / Redcar, were thrashed, often mercilessly, on service 63. Then they were shifted to be the mainstay on the X93/93, which we know is a demanding route with what used to ridiculous end to end timings. Given the history of maintainance issues that used to blight this depot I guess that contributed? Now they have moved again to probably similarly demanding routes with punishing schedules. One does wonder ?

It's where we park all of our disused buses haha! Ours is rather full now...
I think it's down to the price of scrap falling through the floor that it's just not worth selling them at the moment.

I agree with you on the problems with the Scanias, they're a very high maintenance bus and clearly if you don't look after them from new then years down the line you will end up with problem after problem. Clearly Darlington are finding this out now, and they've spent a small fortune on them I believe. Being at Durham, Redcar and Darlington since new doesn't help and like you say being thrashed on 63s and then given an even harder life on the X93 carrying loads that they clearly weren't designed to handle nor should have had to. Thank god someone with some sense saw to that issue a few years back.

There seems to be a number of time keeping issues with the X26/X27 and I never understood why it was reduced to every 20 mins a few years ago when every 15 mins suited it fine, giving a clock face timetable at all parts of the two routes rather than the awkward 20/40 min split we have at present. Hopefully this can be sorted out soon otherwise we risk competition from various parties.

(04 Jan 2016, 7:37 pm)tyresmoke wrote It's where we park all of our disused buses haha! Ours is rather full now...
I think it's down to the price of scrap falling through the floor that it's just not worth selling them at the moment.

I agree with you on the problems with the Scanias, they're a very high maintenance bus and clearly if you don't look after them from new then years down the line you will end up with problem after problem. Clearly Darlington are finding this out now, and they've spent a small fortune on them I believe. Being at Durham, Redcar and Darlington since new doesn't help and like you say being thrashed on 63s and then given an even harder life on the X93 carrying loads that they clearly weren't designed to handle nor should have had to. Thank god someone with some sense saw to that issue a few years back.

There seems to be a number of time keeping issues with the X26/X27 and I never understood why it was reduced to every 20 mins a few years ago when every 15 mins suited it fine, giving a clock face timetable at all parts of the two routes rather than the awkward 20/40 min split we have at present. Hopefully this can be sorted out soon otherwise we risk competition from various parties.

Speaking of poor maintenance of the scanias 4644 broke down outside of tubwell row office at 17:30 this afternoon/evening