RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - January 2019
(11 Feb 2019, 9:48 pm)R838PRG wrote Notice that fleet numbers are generally not re-used but this uses a 9xxx series number used when a batch of Leyland Olympians were on loan from Ensign in c2006. In this case 9079 (C79CHM).
Go North East's electronic records in back-office systems unfortunately don't go that far back, which is why it's been allocated that fleet number.
Alas; it's becoming increasingly difficult to avoid re-using the fleet numbers - the 9xxx series fleet numbers were very sporadically allocated in years gone by and the acquisition of OK Motor Services made things even more messy back in the '90s. Electronic records of historic fleet numbers like this are very hard to come by (generally speaking only being available on paper!)
The only photo I can find of a Cxx CHM Olympian in Go North East's fleet is below - this one being 9050. Presumably the batch were acquired in/around August 2005 due to contract awards from the new academic year? Goes to show how standards have improved since then; with 6901 - 6941 all being fitted with electronic LED destination displays (for those that weren't already), CCTV, radio systems, low bridge warning devices, etc.
9050 C50 CHM by
mcwmetrobus2001, on Flickr
The use of fleet number 9079 back in 2006 for the Leyland Olympian you refer to was the second time 9079 had been allocated. A paper record that was sent to me earlier noted that, in April 1995, East Lancs bodied Leyland Leopard LBO79X was re-numbered as 9079 on acquisition from OK Motor Services. So this will actually be the third reincarnation of 9079 now..!
Untitled by
Chris Roberts, on Flickr