(01 Mar 2016, 8:20 pm)Jimmi wrote We must be less fussy in the Darlington area, we don't tend to go on rants if a Solo ends up on the X66/X67 which is the same as StreetLite's appearing on the X21/X22 which has been mentioned repeatedly almost every day for the last fortnight.

To be honest, it's a Scania operated route, they are destined to fail, so it's a given! They are getting bad again, heaters failing during this cold snap is the worst but problems with electrics, doors and suspension are common as well. But, at least they'll never be fitted with EconoSpeed.

(01 Mar 2016, 8:34 pm)MrPottski wrote To be honest, it's a Scania operated route, they are destined to fail, so it's a given! They are getting bad again, heaters failing during this cold snap is the worst but problems with electrics, doors and suspension are common as well. But, at least they'll never be fitted with EconoSpeed.

Been hearing non favourable things about that in the last week or so.

(01 Mar 2016, 7:36 pm)GX03 SVC wrote I might have seen 1580 and 1581. Whatever I saw would have been the 1520ish from Regent Centre as I found 1580 on the X21 in Stakeford later on.

All I can remember is the number plate was either an A or a H...lol

'EEA' would be 1579, not 1580

(01 Mar 2016, 8:20 pm)Jimmi wrote We must be less fussy in the Darlington area, we don't tend to go on rants if a Solo ends up on the X66/X67 which is the same as StreetLite's appearing on the X21/X22 which has been mentioned repeatedly almost every day for the last fortnight.

This is exactly the problem though, StreetLites have been appearing pretty much every day on the X21/22. And as this is a 'Rare & Odd Workings' thread, it's what should be mentioned...

(01 Mar 2016, 9:12 pm)mb134 wrote 'EEA' would be 1579, not 1580

I know, I can't remember if it was 79 or 81 I saw pulling out of regent centre earlier. 80 passed me in Stakeford later on.

(01 Mar 2016, 9:14 pm)GX03 SVC wrote I know, I can't remember if it was 79 or 81 I saw pulling out of regent centre earlier. 80 passed me in Stakeford later on.

Ah, which way was it going through Regent Centre?

I passed 1581 in Bedlington Station at 16:15, heading towards Newbiggin on an X21

(01 Mar 2016, 9:24 pm)mb134 wrote Ah, which way was it going through Regent Centre?

I passed 1581 in Bedlington Station at 16:15, heading towards Newbiggin on an X21

It was toon bound, that's the one!

(01 Mar 2016, 8:36 pm)Jimmi wrote Been hearing non favourable things about that in the last week or so.

Don't get me started! We had Pulsars randomly dropping to a maximum of 10mph when it was first fitted. One happened on the A1M  

(01 Mar 2016, 10:44 pm)tyresmoke wrote Don't get me started! We had Pulsars randomly dropping to a maximum of 10mph when it was first fitted. One happened on the A1M  

Does it work the same on every vehicle that it is fitted to? Some E400's (same batch) seem far quicker off the mark than others?

Any idea how effective it actually is?

(01 Mar 2016, 10:50 pm)mb134 wrote Does it work the same on every vehicle that it is fitted to? Some E400's (same batch) seem far quicker off the mark than others?

Any idea how effective it actually is?

It should do yes - after all it's only electronically limiting the amount of throttle you can have. If buses are slow in the first place then they're not going to improve with it fitted.

Biggest factors as to whether or not the X21 / X22 would get an upgrade would be:

Option 1:
- Availability of Classic E400s.
- Need for spare Sapphire deckers locally or nationally (57 plates)

Option 2:
- Need for spare Sapphire deckers locally or nationally (57 plates)
- Need for more single deck Sapphires locally or nationally

- Option 2 would either mean new MMCs for the X21/X22, 7 goes fully double deck with Ashington keeping 7518 and Belmont / Darlington getting either 7527 or 7528 (one per depot).

Or, the 7 gets 10x E400MMCs, 7534-37 and 40 move to Ashington and work alongside 7522-7528, 7518 and 2x of the best 57 plates with a further 2x being kept as spares meaning only 5x needing moved to another route / depot.

Don't think anything is going to happen this year by the looks of it.

1474 on the 22, today.

(02 Mar 2016, 7:18 am)BusLoverMum wrote 1474 on the 22, today.

Back to the old days

1580 on X21/X22. X21 towards Newbiggin from The Elephant at 0842

7466 on 2. Bedlington Station to Blyth at 0852

1462 on 13A/B
1515 on 1/5/5A/19 left Darlington 12:45 service 1

7402 on 64/64A all day yesterday! As well as 7489.

(02 Mar 2016, 12:56 pm)Cock Robin wrote 7402 on 64/64A all day yesterday! As well as 7489.

(02 Mar 2016, 8:43 am)GX03 SVC wrote 1580 on X21/X22. X21 towards Newbiggin from The Elephant at 0842

If Arriva don't have any plans by next year to replace the 57 plates, Northumberland will end up with one or more of the following:

#emmahignett
#silvermercs
#metroradio
#moovbox
#voithgearboxes
#mrsouter

1560 went onto 63s yesterday (replacing 'lost mileage').

One of Blyth's MAX spares on the 308. Think it was 7607.

(01 Mar 2016, 6:44 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote 7458 should move to ashington as a spare

Why? It's not Sapphire or MAX-featured and it's not as if Blyth's MAX allocations are so good they have no need for it.

4646 on X75/X76.

2816 (Nexus Optare Solo) on the 52.

Late running 1404 was replaced by 1417 on X66/X67 yesterday and went on to replace a defective 1443 on the X12.

1406 on 8.
Frequenta EcoCity on 12/12A.

(02 Mar 2016, 8:52 am)GX03 SVC wrote 7466 on 2. Bedlington Station to Blyth at 0852

Still on there this afternoon, surely they have something more suitable? Or they could have sorted out a loan from Ashington/Jesmond?

1491 is now on 17a

(02 Mar 2016, 2:47 pm)Jimmi wrote 1406 on 8.
Frequenta EcoCity on 12/12A.

4801 is the said EcoCity, will be tight with the road works around hurworth thought as its tight in a pulsar

2853 on X66/X67

I am now going to be stricter towards Arriva so:
2801 55
4664 43/44/45
306 bus on 43/44/45
7446 on X18
ALX400 on X15