(03 Feb 2023, 4:06 pm)BFK wrote This was on loan for the day due to high VOR along with 686.

Why did Washington need to loan Deptford Buses when they've got multiple Graphite Solo SR's and X-Lines X20 Citaros parked up doing nothing and have done so for months.

(07 Feb 2023, 8:07 pm)Malarkey wrote Why did Washington need to loan Deptford Buses when they've got multiple Graphite Solo SR's and X-Lines X20 Citaros parked up doing nothing and have done so for months.

Because those buses are mothballed and are not being safety inspected.

For them to be reinstated (as 676 and 677 were), they’d need to return to service and undergo full safety inspection. That would take longer than going to Washington for a bus (or vice versa).

If the buses were to be used, they would need to be maintained, adding yet more cost to a business which is clearly in turnaround under a new director team.


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DFDs sailing boat sailing about on the 94 today

5368 is on the 60 - or is there a couple of journeys on the 60 operated by Washington like that one journey on the 265 which was from Chester?

(14 Feb 2023, 5:13 pm)F114TML wrote 5368 is on the 60 - or is there a couple of journeys on the 60 operated by Washington like that one journey on the 265 which was from Chester?

On loan to Sunderland as there short again apparently

(14 Feb 2023, 5:54 pm)Aaron21 wrote On loan to Sunderland as there short again apparently

Both 676 and 677 have been in service today so I think there is a shortage as they are meant to be mothballed.

(14 Feb 2023, 5:13 pm)F114TML wrote 5368 is on the 60 - or is there a couple of journeys on the 60 operated by Washington like that one journey on the 265 which was from Chester?

Washington used to run a single 60 journey Sunderland to Parkside just after lockdown.

(14 Feb 2023, 6:14 pm)nova347 wrote Both 676 and 677 have been in service today so I think there is a shortage as they are meant to be mothballed.

I believe there are a few Streetlites VOR at Deptford so 676/7 have been brought back into use temporarily. The Citaro appears to be back at Washington.

(15 Feb 2023, 3:14 pm)missedbus wrote I believe there are a few Streetlites VOR at Deptford so 676/7 have been brought back into use temporarily. The Citaro appears to be back at Washington.

5371 (Drifter) has been off for a while getting a new engine. 

5431 has been on since Nov 26th. 5432 has been off since Jan 30th (Both Prince Bishops)

And though this isn't Deptford there's 5407 a Consett Country Ranger off since 5th December

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5425 a Deptford allocated corporate streetlite did the 23:15 78 journeys to Chester-Le-Street and it ran, as usual, NIS to Hownsgill getting there just before midnight, it replaced 5408 which arrived at Sunderland on time. But by at least 6:30 in the morning 5425 was back at Deptford. Like did an engineer take it down and swap it for 5408?

Taking rare Allocation to the extreme. 5499 YH66 VMO seen on the 327 this morning

https://flic.kr/p/2ohuVek

6086 on 20A yesterday

(18 Feb 2023, 10:52 am)Aaron21 wrote Taking rare Allocation to the extreme. 5499 YH66 VMO seen on the 327 this morning

https://flic.kr/p/2ohuVek

There was a DFS Omni Decker on East Gateshead Orbit 51/52 on Friday.

(19 Feb 2023, 5:43 pm)Expresslink wrote There was a DFS Omni Decker on East Gateshead Orbit 51/52 on Friday.

They have been transferred to Riverside and will appear on any of its routes that don't enter the CAZ.

(20 Feb 2023, 1:45 am)missedbus wrote They have been transferred to Riverside and will appear on any of its routes that don't enter the CAZ.

Technically they should only be used on 2x scholars boards until 2x E400 enter service.


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Pffft, 6127 out on the EG Loop, didnt realise GNE still had any 03 reg Omnidekkas,making it 20 year old, GNE's oldest vehicle?

(21 Feb 2023, 12:02 pm)V514DFT wrote Pffft, 6127 out on the EG Loop, didnt realise GNE still had any 03 reg Omnidekkas,makimg the 20 year old, GNE's oldest vehicle?

Presumably covering for the branded decker that was on the X10.

(21 Feb 2023, 12:02 pm)V514DFT wrote Pffft, 6127 out on the EG Loop, didnt realise GNE still had any 03 reg Omnidekkas,makimg the 20 year old, GNE's oldest vehicle?

seems to be the norm now for any old crap on the 93 again, particularly on a w/e or during school hols, with loop buses frequently being used to cover 10s and x10s most days

More than likely

(22 Feb 2023, 7:05 am)xpm wrote seems to be the norm now for any old crap on the 93 again, particularly on a w/e or during school hols, with loop buses frequently being used to cover 10s and x10s most days

Only route they can dump old Decker's on at Riverside if I'm right avoiding the LEZ, well unless you want to create a new open top bus by the end of the day.

(22 Feb 2023, 8:41 am)Storx wrote Only route they can dump old Decker's on at Riverside if I'm right avoiding the LEZ, well unless you want to create a new open top bus by the end of the day.

Correct - X66 for single-decks (displacing Green Arrow) and 93/94 for double-decks (displacing Loop).

Should only be short-term until all the ex-London buses arrive.


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Could chuck old deckers on the 51/52 since theyre curtailed at Gateshead atm, unless there is a low bridge on that route somewhere

(22 Feb 2023, 1:01 pm)V514DFT wrote Could chuck old deckers on the 51/52 since theyre curtailed at Gateshead atm, unless there is a low bridge on that route somewhere

No there isn't. Theres been deckers on it before. 

I assume the reason the loops are being used over Orbits are because they're deckers.

(22 Feb 2023, 1:34 pm)Unber43 wrote No there isn't. Theres been deckers on it before. 

I assume the reason the loops are being used over Orbits are because they're deckers.

And because a number of the early morning and late evening journeys on the 51/52 are secured by Nexus, currently with a Euro 6 specification, and the morning/evening boards don’t match up so there’s more than just a couple of boards which need to be Euro 6.


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(22 Feb 2023, 2:57 pm)Dan wrote And because a number of the early morning and late evening journeys on the 51/52 are secured by Nexus, currently with a Euro 6 specification, and the morning/evening boards don’t match up so there’s more than just a couple of boards which need to be Euro 6.


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Ahhhh fair enough

(22 Feb 2023, 2:57 pm)Dan wrote And because a number of the early morning and late evening journeys on the 51/52 are secured by Nexus, currently with a Euro 6 specification, and the morning/evening boards don’t match up so there’s more than just a couple of boards which need to be Euro 6.


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There's a quick fix for that Daniel.

It involves putting the begging bowl away, but it will mean that there's even more flexibility for fleet allocations.

664 on the 60
5376 on the 39
What’s that all about
I also noticed a Peterlee purple on the 60s

(22 Feb 2023, 4:40 pm)Andreos1 wrote There's a quick fix for that Daniel.

It involves putting the begging bowl away, but it will mean that there's even more flexibility for fleet allocations.

In fairness it wouldn't make much difference as you'd just be displacing Streetlites which is no further forward and end up with an old decker on the 51, a Streetlite on the 93 and the Loop Decker on the 57. 

Or we'd have the usual the engineering staff are thick putting singles on the 21 debate again. 

Swings and roundabouts. Speaking on the London Deckers where are they, seem to have took ages to get up here and believe they're withdrawn from London now

(22 Feb 2023, 4:40 pm)Andreos1 wrote There's a quick fix for that Daniel.

It involves putting the begging bowl away, but it will mean that there's even more flexibility for fleet allocations.

No quick fix is required, Andreos.

It’s not an issue for GNE. I was just stating a fact.


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(22 Feb 2023, 4:57 pm)Storx wrote Swings and roundabouts. Speaking on the London Deckers where are they, seem to have took ages to get up here and believe they're withdrawn from London now

ADL E400s

6950 is VOR at Gardiners, undergoing repaint. Should swap for 6945 once complete.

6959 and 6960 are back from London Bus Works (where they were repainted) and are VOR at Riverside, undergoing some mechanical repairs and MOT before entering service. Will allow the withdrawal of DFDS branded 6147/48 once in service, but possible that these may stay in service a little longer to allow some alternative re-allocations instead.

6964 is VOR at Saltmeadows waiting for parts. Will allow 6951 to go to Gardiners for repaint once parts arrive and it is back in service.


Volvo B9s

35 due in total.

6201, 6204, 6225 - 6230 are all in service (6201/4/25 at Percy Main, 6226-30 at Riverside).

6221 has been delivered and requires MOT before entering service.

WVL277/281/301/303 have just come out of service from Go-Ahead London recently - they are all at Thorntons now for single-door conversion and repaint. Had been intended for these to go to Bus & Coach World but were diverted to Thorntons as B&CW have had issues getting VTP5 tests but they are more readily available at Sandy Lane.

WVL286/289/290/291 are just out of service within the last week or so. They will be picked up by Thorntons for repaint and single-door conversion as soon as is possible.

WVL282-285/287/288 are still in service.

The remaining 11 are all at Bus & Coach World in Blackburn for repaint and single-door conversion. As mentioned, test availability has resulted in huge delays to these buses being converted and delivered. It’s expected that 4 or 5 will be delivered by the end of this month though.


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does the bus number disapear with the bus or if 6945 was sold for scrap could anoth bus be brought in and given that number?