(26 Aug 2014, 6:26 pm)aureolin wrote I do have another one for you though 6073 appears to have lost it's front coloured number on the destination screen. Noticed it around 4pm whilst working the 10 to Newcastle, just displaying a standard orange number instead.

You are correct. The vehicle was involved in an accident and the destination was damaged, so a normal blind was fitted to get the bus back on the road and until such time a new colour blind can be bought and fitted.

(26 Aug 2014, 6:29 pm)citaro5284 wrote You are correct. The vehicle was involved in an accident and the destination was damaged, so a normal blind was fitted to get the bus back on the road and until such time a new colour blind can be bought and fitted.

And how long has it been like that for now?

Its also lost its 'TEN' thing going from light cluster to cluster from the same incident.

(26 Aug 2014, 6:30 pm)Robert wrote And how long has it been like that for now?

Quite a while, but it is not a priority.

(26 Aug 2014, 6:29 pm)citaro5284 wrote You are correct. The vehicle was involved in an accident and the destination was damaged, so a normal blind was fitted to get the bus back on the road and until such time a new colour blind can be bought and fitted.

Plenty of coloured displays in the red deckers, that are not set up to show the colour, that could easily be switched over, plus 4846 also still has a coloured display, as do 4842 and 4845.

(26 Aug 2014, 6:57 pm)park5354 wrote Plenty of coloured displays in the red deckers, that are not set up to show the colour, that could easily be switched over, plus 4846 also still has a coloured display, as do 4842 and 4845.

I know, already told engineering but......

(26 Aug 2014, 6:57 pm)park5354 wrote Plenty of coloured displays in the red deckers, that are not set up to show the colour, that could easily be switched over, plus 4846 also still has a coloured display, as do 4842 and 4845.

(26 Aug 2014, 6:59 pm)citaro5284 wrote I know, already told engineering but......

easier said than done, with Riverside.........

(26 Aug 2014, 6:57 pm)park5354 wrote Plenty of coloured displays in the red deckers, that are not set up to show the colour, that could easily be switched over, plus 4846 also still has a coloured display, as do 4842 and 4845.

4944 has a coloured display that never shows any coloured number.

(26 Aug 2014, 7:01 pm)minibus1474 wrote 4944 has a coloured display that never shows any coloured number.

Does 4966 have one as well?

(26 Aug 2014, 7:01 pm)minibus1474 wrote 4944 has a coloured display that never shows any coloured number.

Strange, did whilst at Chester............

Go North East: 4944 / NK51OLH by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

(26 Aug 2014, 7:03 pm)citaro5284 wrote Does 4966 have one as well?

Yes, and Riverside have that one set up properly!

Go North East: 4966 / NL52WVX by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

(26 Aug 2014, 6:57 pm)park5354 wrote Plenty of coloured displays in the red deckers, that are not set up to show the colour, that could easily be switched over, plus 4846 also still has a coloured display, as do 4842 and 4845.

4837-4846 (then 4906 + 4909 only) were given these coloured displays. 4907 and 4908 were like 4900. Kept their flipdots but unlike 4900 gained coloured displays when they were repainted then rebranded into the new Diamond livery (second livery worn by the renowns, obviously not the new livery as in, livery worn by the citaros. Just to avoid confusion).

(26 Aug 2014, 9:57 am)Dan wrote This will provide Percy Main with an additional Euro 5 vehicle for the contracts they gained from Saltmeadows. It has been VOR so has been unable to be transferred.

This has consequently released MPD 548 from Percy Main to be repainted at Saltmeadows, into corporate livery.

MPD 548 will not return to Percy Main after this repaint, and will instead transfer to Deptford Depot, where I am told it will release a DAF SB120 to Chester-le-Street for use on service 71.

(26 Aug 2014, 9:31 pm)Dan wrote This has consequently released MPD 548 from Percy Main to be repainted at Saltmeadows, into corporate livery.

MPD 548 will not return to Percy Main after this repaint, and will instead transfer to Deptford Depot, where I am told it will release a DAF SB120 to Chester-le-Street for use on service 71.

Has 9120 returned to Evobus yet? In theory it should be gone now as its the start of the working week.

(26 Aug 2014, 9:33 pm)Robert wrote Has 9120 returned to Evobus yet? In theory it should be gone now as its the start of the working week.

I have not heard anything about 9120, I'm afraid.

(26 Aug 2014, 9:31 pm)Dan wrote This has consequently released MPD 548 from Percy Main to be repainted at Saltmeadows, into corporate livery.

MPD 548 will not return to Percy Main after this repaint, and will instead transfer to Deptford Depot, where I am told it will release a DAF SB120 to Chester-le-Street for use on service 71.

Oh dear. Wonder how they will cope on the 71?

(26 Aug 2014, 9:34 pm)Tom wrote Oh dear. Wonder how they will cope on the 71?

What were we saying about smaller vehicles on service 71 just a few weeks back? Slightly bigger than an MPD, but still another decrease in vehicle size. Just call me Mystic Meg! ;-)

Deptford's examples aren't too bad compared to the ones at Riverside. They have been allocated to work which is a lot more strenuous at Deptford, that's for sure, and service 71 should be a walk in the park.

Service 71 is currently allocated two Volvo B10BLEs, and obviously Chester-le-Street isn't going to gain two additional spare vehicles. Could this be the start of the withdrawal of some of the oldest Volvo B10BLEs in the fleet at Chester?

(26 Aug 2014, 9:38 pm)Dan wrote What were we saying about smaller vehicles on service 71 just a few weeks back? Slightly bigger than an MPD, but still another decrease in vehicle size. Just call me Mystic Meg! ;-)

Deptford's examples aren't too bad compared to the ones at Riverside. They have been allocated to work which is a lot more strenuous at Deptford, that's for sure, and service 71 should be a walk in the park.

Service 71 is currently allocated two Volvo B10BLEs, and obviously Chester-le-Street isn't going to gain two additional spare vehicles. Could this be the start of the withdrawal of some of the oldest Volvo B10BLEs in the fleet at Chester?

The oldest B10BLEs in the fleet is 4896, 4906-4909 which are from 2000. Possibly displace 1 to Riverside to get rid of a 1998 example? (or any other depot with 1998 Renowns.

I say they're the oldest as i presume 4850-4855 will be displaced by whatever is bought for the Lime (if it does receive an investment which is highly likely)

(26 Aug 2014, 9:41 pm)Robert wrote The oldest B10BLEs in the fleet are 4906-4909 which are from 2000. Possibly displace 1 to Riverside to get rid of a 1998 example? (or any other depot with 1998 Renowns.

There's me thinking that there was still some left at Chester that were new in 1998..?

(26 Aug 2014, 9:42 pm)Dan wrote There's me thinking that there was still some left at Chester that were new in 1998..?

Sorry, edited my post above!

(26 Aug 2014, 9:42 pm)Dan wrote There's me thinking that there was still some left at Chester that were new in 1998..?

Not sure if I'm right here, but I recall seeing an image taken in 1999 in Chester of 4853. Was that batch at Chester back then? Or, was if even a batch back then? One could assume that, seeing as none were branded back then, they were just allocated with ease.

(26 Aug 2014, 9:43 pm)Robert wrote Sorry, edited my post above!

They clearly want to dissolve the brand in readiness for new vehicles arriving later this year for services 8/78... Why else would they repaint 4896-4902 so early?

Why keep five of the oldest buses (which are most likely going to be the most problematic and/or in a worse condition) when you have the chance to get rid of some..?

Funny how I decided against doing the fleet histories for those Limes! All completely coincidental, of course.

(26 Aug 2014, 9:45 pm)Marcus wrote Not sure if I'm right here, but I recall seeing an image taken in 1999 in Chester of 4853. Was that batch at Chester back then? Or, was if even a batch back then? One could assume that, seeing as none were branded back then, they were just allocated with ease.

I believe 4850-4855 (and possibly a few others) were new to Chester back in 1998. They then transferred to Stanley for use on services 765/766 and 775/778. They remained there until they were repainted green for Lime then moved back down to Chester and saw use on mostly service 729.

(26 Aug 2014, 9:50 pm)Robert wrote I believe 4850-4855 (and possibly a few others) were new to Chester back in 1998. They then transferred to Stanley for use on services 765/766 and 775/778. They remained there until they were repainted green for Lime then moved back down to Chester and saw use on mostly service 729.

I think 4850-4855 were at Chester when new. I remember seeing something that said 4845 was new to Chester, not 100% sure though. Quite possibly 4846 as well. I think over the years, 4849 has been on-off at Chester, so possibly also new to Chester?

(26 Aug 2014, 9:53 pm)Marcus wrote I think 4850-4855 were at Chester when new. I remember seeing something that said 4845 was new to Chester, not 100% sure though. Quite possibly 4846 as well. I think over the years, 4849 has been on-off at Chester, so possibly also new to Chester?

Havent got a clue about that batch! Something tells me 4840 was new at Gateshead though. where it remained until it was repainted orange for the Diamond. As it was part of the batch im not sure about, im not 100%.

(26 Aug 2014, 9:58 pm)Robert wrote Havent got a clue about that batch! Something tells me 4840 was new at Gateshead where it remained until it was repainted orange for the Diamond.

I remember reading ages ago that 4912 and 4913 were new to Washington in 2000 (?) for the 194/294. Could be wrong fleet no.'s and wrong services!

(26 Aug 2014, 9:59 pm)Marcus wrote I remember reading ages ago that 4912 and 4913 were new to Washington in 2000 (?) for the 194/294. Could be wrong fleet no.'s and wrong services!

Remember seeing that 4912 and 4913 were at Washington for those services. Dont know if they were new or not, this convo should be over in the 'Bus pasts until January 2003' thread but oh well

(26 Aug 2014, 10:00 pm)Robert wrote Remember seeing that 4912 and 4913 were at Washington for those services. Dont know if they were new or not, this convo should be over in the 'Bus pasts until January 2003' thread but oh well

As stated in that thread, 4912 and the other X9-- WGR renowns entered service at Gateshead.

(26 Aug 2014, 10:00 pm)Robert wrote Remember seeing that 4912 and 4913 were at Washington for those services. Dont know if they were new or not, this convo should be over in the 'Bus pasts until January 2003' thread but oh well

I think 4837-4839 were new to Sunderland Road for some reason. You know when you see something beforehand then forget about it and it's really vague when you try and remember it?

(26 Aug 2014, 9:58 pm)Robert wrote Havent got a clue about that batch! Something tells me 4840 was new at Gateshead though. where it remained until it was repainted orange for the Diamond. As it was part of the batch im not sure about, im not 100%.

4840 was New to Washington Depot with the Rest of the Vehicles which were Previously used on the Diamond before being replaced by Citaros.

4840 on the 294 back in the day when it ran to Harraton. https://flic.kr/p/eyR7xh

(26 Aug 2014, 10:16 pm)aureolin wrote 4840 on the 294 back in the day when it ran to Harraton. https://flic.kr/p/eyR7xh

Since when did the 294 go to Harraton, Could of sworn it was the 293, with the 294 Terminating just up from the Beehive Pub, just off of Blind Lane in Houghton, used to use the Service all the time until around 2004 when visiting my Grandparents.