6069 now at Percy Main on the 1 today.

Wonder if the Omnicities will be repainted soon - I would just allocate them to the 11 for now as there is enough I think.

(12 Jan 2018, 10:34 pm)S830OFT wrote What ever happened to YJ62 FFB/9133 on Google search it's last company was Go North East. Has it got a private plate or exported abroad or anything, so strange!

Here’s a picture of it in Peterborough last year.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/26024754@N07/34967270373

Chances are it still be with them. This company operates transport of farm workers accross the local area and have a large number of vehicles that can be difficult to track down.

(12 Jan 2018, 10:34 pm)S830OFT wrote What ever happened to YJ62 FFB/9133 on Google search it's last company was Go North East. Has it got a private plate or exported abroad or anything, so strange!

SORNed

9085 has just left Durham on the northbound 0908 X21.

I thought deckers couldn't be used on the X31?, currently on one to Newcastle.

(13 Jan 2018, 2:12 pm)Michael wrote I thought deckers couldn't be used on the X31?, currently on one to Newcastle.

Full-height double-decks (such as Geminis) can't be used on the X30 due to the low bridge in Dunston (though OmniDekkas, being lower in height, can be allocated). The X31 doesn't go via Dunston.

(13 Jan 2018, 2:20 pm)Dan wrote Full-height double-decks (such as Geminis) can't be used on the X30 due to the low bridge in Dunston (though OmniDekkas, being lower in height, can be allocated). The X31 doesn't go via Dunston.

Ohh right.

(12 Jan 2018, 10:35 pm)Tom wrote 6069 now at Percy Main on the 1 today.

Wonder if the Omnicities will be repainted soon - I would just allocate them to the 11 for now as there is enough I think.

Chester-le-Street is now Hybrid-free, with 6070 being the final example to be removed from service this morning. It is now at Saltmeadows Road for repaint, along with 6057, 6067 (arrived 10th January) and 6068 (arrived 9th January). They still have 3962/65 in service today, on the 21, but these should promptly follow suit once 6331 enters service (delivered yesterday, to be branded on Tuesday).

Percy Main now have 10 Hybrids in total (6056/59-66/69), with an 11th now branded and ready for collection on Monday (6058).

In terms of OmniCitys, 5251 is now at Stanley as already noted (allowing 3889 to be withdrawn at Stanley) and 5262 is now at Saltmeadows Road. Should be painted on Monday or Tuesday all being well, then transferred to Washington afterwards.

The first four L94s have now been withdrawn from service at Percy Main too - these are 4954, 4955, 4970 and 5203. 4955 and 5203 are likely to be sold for scrap, but 4954 has just been through MOT with the view of selling on as a runner.

(13 Jan 2018, 3:37 pm)Dan wrote The first four L94s have now been withdrawn from service at Percy Main too - these are 4954, 4955, 4970 and 5203. 4955 and 5203 are likely to be sold for scrap, but 4954 has just been through MOT with the view of selling on as a runner.

In terms of vehicles being sold on do you have any idea what the plan is for 7077 and 7092-97 - in particular what's happening with 7096 as on the GNE allocation it's listed as being 'Not in Service' as opposed to 'Withdrawn'?

Thanks, Peter

(13 Jan 2018, 4:00 pm)peter wrote In terms of vehicles being sold on do you have any idea what the plan is for 7077 and 7092-97 - in particular what's happening with 7096 as on the GNE allocation it's listed as being 'Not in Service' as opposed to 'Withdrawn'?

Thanks, Peter

7077/92/93 were all withdrawn in early October - have updated our fleet lists to reflect 7092/93 being withdrawn also, as we only had 7077 as being withdrawn. I believe there was some interest in the preservation circles to save 7077; but nothing so far on the Panthers to my knowledge, and I think one of them has been stripped of a few parts now so looking like that one could be scrapped, though I think this would be a very last resort for Go North East as the Panthers will still have some book value on them.

In terms of the Scanias, there's little to no interest from buyers for these. Go North East have placed a few adverts in trade press magazines now but don't think it's really struck any interest. It's a struggle to shift former NatEx coaches to start with as they have so many miles on the clock, but the Scania chassis'd examples aren't amazingly common (compared to Volvos) so no surprise that there's so little interest really. They're dotted around the patch at the moment:

• 7094 - withdrawn at Chester-le-Street, if I recall correctly
  
• 7095 - withdrawn at Saltmeadows Road
  
• 7096 - withdrawn at Chester-le-Street, if I recall correctly
  
• 7097 - loaned to Go South Coast earlier this week, possibly going to remain down there for some time, as I think it's covering for a coach in their fleet which had sustained accident damage, and they're assessing whether it's cost-effective to repair.
  
• 7098 - still going strong in Driver Training and acts as a further Special Events Fleet coach when required
  
• 7099-7102 - still going strong at Hexham on scholars contracts
  

Any update on when the first of 6149 - 61 will arrive from Blackburn?

Are the Citaro's on track to be done by the 28th January?

(13 Jan 2018, 3:37 pm)Dan wrote Chester-le-Street is now Hybrid-free, with 6070 being the final example to be removed from service this morning. It is now at Saltmeadows Road for repaint, along with 6057, 6067 (arrived 10th January) and 6068 (arrived 9th January). They still have 3962/65 in service today, on the 21, but these should promptly follow suit once 6331 enters service (delivered yesterday, to be branded on Tuesday).

Percy Main now have 10 Hybrids in total (6056/59-66/69), with an 11th now branded and ready for collection on Monday (6058).

In terms of OmniCitys, 5251 is now at Stanley as already noted (allowing 3889 to be withdrawn at Stanley) and 5262 is now at Saltmeadows Road. Should be painted on Monday or Tuesday all being well, then transferred to Washington afterwards.

The first four L94s have now been withdrawn from service at Percy Main too - these are 4954, 4955, 4970 and 5203. 4955 and 5203 are likely to be sold for scrap, but 4954 has just been through MOT with the view of selling on as a runner.

Cheers, got them quite quickly!

(13 Jan 2018, 3:37 pm)Dan wrote Chester-le-Street is now Hybrid-free, with 6070 being the final example to be removed from service this morning. It is now at Saltmeadows Road for repaint, along with 6057, 6067 (arrived 10th January) and 6068 (arrived 9th January). They still have 3962/65 in service today, on the 21, but these should promptly follow suit once 6331 enters service (delivered yesterday, to be branded on Tuesday).

Percy Main now have 10 Hybrids in total (6056/59-66/69), with an 11th now branded and ready for collection on Monday (6058).

In terms of OmniCitys, 5251 is now at Stanley as already noted (allowing 3889 to be withdrawn at Stanley) and 5262 is now at Saltmeadows Road. Should be painted on Monday or Tuesday all being well, then transferred to Washington afterwards.

The first four L94s have now been withdrawn from service at Percy Main too - these are 4954, 4955, 4970 and 5203. 4955 and 5203 are likely to be sold for scrap, but 4954 has just been through MOT with the view of selling on as a runner.

Has 4970 gone to riverside?

(14 Jan 2018, 11:38 am)Jordan2104 wrote Has 4970 gone to riverside?

According to Dan's post... its been withdrawn.



With 5305 back at Deptford until the 28th January, which service will it be allocated to?

(14 Jan 2018, 12:50 pm)Michael wrote According to Dan's post... its been withdrawn.



With 5305 back at Deptford until the 28th January, which service will it be allocated to?

Service 35 i’d assume. I expect that the allocation changes will come into effect on the 28th along with the service changes.

(14 Jan 2018, 1:06 pm)Simmy wrote Service 35 i’d assume. I expect that the allocation changes will come into effect on the 28th along with the service changes.

Was just wondering as it seems the 35 is using most of 5325-5336 atm, so probables that service or the 9.

so 5203 is the first 52** series solar to be withdrawn from service

(14 Jan 2018, 1:20 pm)V514DFT wrote so 5203 is the first 52** series solar to be withdrawn from service

Ye, wonder how many more Solar's will be withdrawn after the 28th January? (we know that the Waggonway/Blue Arrows Scania's will be withdrawn).

With some of the Coaster Omnicities going on the 11, I think they should be repainted retaining the Coaster brand rather than being branded Blue Arrow.

(14 Jan 2018, 2:23 pm)Malarkey wrote With some of the Coaster Omnicities going on the 11, I think they should be repainted retaining the Coaster brand rather than being branded Blue Arrow.

I don't like the Blue Arrow brand, but I don't think it would be suitable for Coaster - doesn't really go near the coast other than Whitley Bay whereas the 1 goes to Whitley Bay, Cullercoats, Tynemouth.

(14 Jan 2018, 2:23 pm)Malarkey wrote With some of the Coaster Omnicities going on the 11, I think they should be repainted retaining the Coaster brand rather than being branded Blue Arrow.

So both the 1 and 11 as Coaster?

(14 Jan 2018, 3:42 pm)citaro5284 wrote So both the 1 and 11 as Coaster?

Yes

Riverside are gaining 710-14, so I suggest the following :-

705 from Peterlee, repainted into GNE Corporate, as Metrocentre mini spare.

635/6 to Riverside, for 33. When Hexham need them, 4932/33 could be used on 33.

637/638 to Peterlee as replacements for 635/6.
639 to Peterlee as replacement for 705.

633 to Deptford for 516.
634 to Deptford as replacement for 639.

626 stay at Riverside as spare for 13/Asda bus.

4899 should be withdrawn, being replaced by 4954.

It seems odd that 5329 was out and about testing stop announcements for the 8/78, when its a Deptford bus.

---

(14 Jan 2018, 5:36 pm)park5354 wrote Riverside are gaining 710-14, so I suggest the following :-

705 from Peterlee, repainted into GNE Corporate, as Metrocentre mini spare.

635/6 to Riverside, for 33.  When Hexham need them, 4932/33 could be used on 33.

637/638 to Peterlee as replacements for 635/6.
639 to Peterlee as replacement for 705.

633 to Deptford for 516.
634 to Deptford as replacement for 639.

626 stay at Riverside as spare for 13/Asda bus.

4899 should be withdrawn, being replaced by 4954.

4954 has been withdrawn.

[quote="Michael" pid='212735' dateline='1515958921']
It seems odd that 5329 was out and about testing stop announcements for the 8/78, when its a Deptford bus.

---

I'm guessing it's incase a Chester bus breaksdown closer to Deptford

(14 Jan 2018, 7:42 pm)Michael wrote It seems odd that 5329 was out and about testing stop announcements for the 8/78, when its a Deptford bus.

Chester-le-Street still have quite a high Streetlite PVR on a Sunday, so it may have been a case that there were none available and being the only single decks with that NSA system based there would give them no choice but to source a bus from another depot. 

Perhaps the available Streetlites (if there were any spare) were overlooked for employee convenience? It would seem a logical thing to do given both vehicle types would show the announcements in exactly the same way.

Either way, it won't have mattered too much, even if it has broken the trend a bit.

(14 Jan 2018, 8:16 pm)S813 FVK wrote Chester-le-Street still have quite a high Streetlite PVR on a Sunday, so it may have been a case that there were none available and being the only single decks with that NSA system based there would give them no choice but to source a bus from another depot. 

Perhaps the available Streetlites (if there were any spare) were overlooked for employee convenience? It would seem a logical thing to do given both vehicle types would show the announcements in exactly the same way.

Either way, it won't have mattered too much, even if it has broken the trend a bit.

Could be that Dan had other things to do at Deptford this morning and has used 5329 to save on mileage instead of travelling to Chester depot to then double back on himself.

(14 Jan 2018, 1:20 pm)V514DFT wrote so 5203 is the first 52** series solar to be withdrawn from service

Not quite. 5233 declared itself withdrawn when it burst into flames last year.

(14 Jan 2018, 9:19 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Not quite. 5233 declared itself withdrawn when it burst into flames last year.

not gonna lie,that one completely slipped my mind