(14 Aug 2022, 11:44 pm)Rapidsnap wrote To be honest 646 isn't spending much time on the road at Percy Main either. Only time I've managed to photo it when it has been parked at the front of the depot. As usual with a Do not Use cover on the steering wheel. https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2266917957

Mind it's keeping 6998 good company since that has been off the road since late May. https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2244055679

646 was last in service 18th July where it was replaced at around 13:30, but before then it was last fully out/at all 24 June.

(14 Aug 2022, 11:44 pm)Rapidsnap wrote To be honest 646 isn't spending much time on the road at Percy Main either. Only time I've managed to photo it when it has been parked at the front of the depot. As usual with a Do not Use cover on the steering wheel. https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2266917957

Mind it's keeping 6998 good company since that has been off the road since late May. https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2244055679

Those Venture Solo's seem to be struggling quite a bit, first 646 off for god knows how long and since then has only been out 9 days, 643 was out from 18th March to 3rd August and now 644 looks as though it might be in for a long stint off road. 

While on the topic of Solo's does anyone know what happened to 693 and 718? Neither have tracked since March.

(14 Aug 2022, 11:52 pm)peter wrote Those Venture Solo's seem to be struggling quite a bit, first 646 off for god knows how long and since then has only been out 9 days, 643 was out from 18th March to 3rd August and now 644 looks as though it might be in for a long stint off road. 

While on the topic of Solo's does anyone know what happened to 693 and 718? Neither have tracked since March.

They probably have been withdrawn from service. Same with 724/5

6064 in service in Scarborough:

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

A poorly 6347 being towed in by Alpha tonight

Sent from my SM-G990B using Tapatalk

(26 Aug 2022, 7:21 pm)Tiger5105 wrote A poorly 6347 being towed in by Alpha tonight

Sent from my SM-G990B using Tapatalk

Broke down on the 16A to Stanley, broke down just leaving Durham. 

I wonder why GNE don't invest in one of these again as it seems like Alpha are just jumping from recovery to recovery.

(26 Aug 2022, 7:42 pm)Unber43 wrote Broke down on the 16A to Stanley, broke down just leaving Durham. 

I wonder why GNE don't invest in one of these again as it seems like Alpha are just jumping from recovery to recovery.

Wonder why Arriva and Stagecoach do not invest in one either......

(26 Aug 2022, 7:52 pm)citaro5284 wrote Wonder why Arriva and Stagecoach do not invest in one either......

I thought GNE did own one (1001 maybe?) - or is it long gone?

Out of interest is that E400 (6347) particularly less reliable than the rest of the batch?  I've taken oodles of photos of the rest but took forever to get that one - so wondered if it was off the road more, or just one of those things where certain vehicles seem to be bogey buses when it comes to trying to get photos!

(26 Aug 2022, 8:10 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote I thought GNE did own one (1001 maybe?) - or is it long gone?

Out of interest is that E400 (6347) particularly less reliable than the rest of the batch?  I've taken oodles of photos of the rest but took forever to get that one - so wondered if it was off the road more, or just one of those things where certain vehicles seem to be bogey buses when it comes to trying to get photos!

From May 24th its been off according to Bus Times around 30 days if not longer. So it does seems so, where as 6346 has been off 3 days over the same period

Been trying to catch up on recent(ish) disposals can anyone confirm any of the following? Apols if any of these have been answered already elsewhere:

All of the following have been off since late July/early Aug - are they officailly withdrawn following the service changes, or some of them just vor?
646
650
652
723
725
7157
8297
8301

5373 and 5463 have been off since then too but presume they are both just vor?

Then there's these few been off since Jan or March - withdrawn?
718
6060
7108
7110
7111

Finally 6901-19, are these being retained, or will they be replaced by some of the incoming deckers?

(27 Aug 2022, 9:04 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Been trying to catch up on recent(ish) disposals can anyone confirm any of the following?  Apols if any of these have been answered already elsewhere:

All of the following have been off since late July/early Aug - are they officailly withdrawn following the service changes, or some of them just vor?
646
650
652
723
725
7157
8297
8301

5373 and 5463 have been off since then too but presume they are both just vor?

Then there's these few been off since Jan or March - withdrawn?
718
6060
7108
7110
7111

Finally 6901-19, are these being retained, or will they be replaced by some of the incoming deckers?

6901-19 will be retained until at least after Metro Flow work is completed, I'd say.

7157 doesn't see much use. Mainly scholars work and private hires - it now has a ticket machine though so if its out it should track.

I'm sure 5373 was parked in the dead corner ar Deptford before I went on my holidays a few weeks back.

(28 Aug 2022, 3:28 pm)morritt89 wrote 7157 doesn't see much use. Mainly scholars work and private hires - it now has a ticket machine though so if its out it should track.

I'm sure 5373 was parked in the dead corner ar Deptford before I went on my holidays a few weeks back.

2/8 60's have been off for around a month, 1 for a week. What else is in the dead corner

Wonder if any are being refurbed

(26 Aug 2022, 8:10 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote I thought GNE did own one (1001 maybe?) - or is it long gone?

Out of interest is that E400 (6347) particularly less reliable than the rest of the batch?  I've taken oodles of photos of the rest but took forever to get that one - so wondered if it was off the road more, or just one of those things where certain vehicles seem to be bogey buses when it comes to trying to get photos!

I know that 1001 was  on display at the open day earlier this year so I'm assuming they still own it.

(30 Aug 2022, 10:06 am)wibblejunior wrote I know that 1001 was  on display at the open day earlier this year so I'm assuming they still own it.

Given the size of their fleet and the area of operation, owning one is basically the same as not owning any.

I'd imagine it's just faster and more convenient to call in Alpha, who specialise in recovering large vehicles, than having their own fleet.

(30 Aug 2022, 10:39 am)streetdeckfan wrote Given the size of their fleet and the area of operation, owning one is basically the same as not owning any.

I'd imagine it's just faster and more convenient to call in Alpha, who specialise in recovering large vehicles, than having their own fleet.

Basically this, also I think the people who operate 1001 are the same people who fix the buses too. So if they need to get stuff back on the road, it's easier to get Alpha in to recover a vehicle than use 1001.

(30 Aug 2022, 11:35 am)deanmachine wrote Basically this, also I think the people who operate 1001 are the same people who fix the buses too. So if they need to get stuff back on the road, it's easier to get Alpha in to recover a vehicle than use 1001.

I'd imagine that would be the case, pretty much every recovery driver I've met is a 'proper' mechanic, and I can't see them hiring anybody with the required stills for them to sit about waiting for a bus to break down.

If I were to take a guess, 1001's main role would be for internal movements rather than for recovery, ie. moving dead vehicles around the depot, or moving them between depots

(30 Aug 2022, 11:35 am)deanmachine wrote Basically this, also I think the people who operate 1001 are the same people who fix the buses too. So if they need to get stuff back on the road, it's easier to get Alpha in to recover a vehicle than use 1001.

It would be interesting to compare the cost/benefit of outsourcing to someone like Alpha vs using internal staff and vehicles like they did in the past.

(30 Aug 2022, 12:24 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I'd imagine that would be the case, pretty much every recovery driver I've met is a 'proper' mechanic, and I can't see them hiring anybody with the required stills for them to sit about waiting for a bus to break down.

If I were to take a guess, 1001's main role would be for internal movements rather than for recovery, ie. moving dead vehicles around the depot, or moving them between depots

Yeah, the only first hand experience I've had with 1001 as a driver was during the Sunderland Tall Ships, where it was used quite heavily to keep the 69** sheds moving, but then it was just in addition to the engineering vans already used.

The recovery truck is parked in Riverside near to the electric charging points. I'm sure it was lurking around South Shields on Great North Run day too when I last worked that.

(30 Aug 2022, 2:07 pm)morritt89 wrote The recovery truck is parked in Riverside near to the electric charging points. I'm sure it was lurking around South Shields on Great North Run day too when I last worked that.

Yes, always used to be a part of the magnificent procession of baggage buses

Think 1001 is used if a bus is causing a issue like blocking traffic, junctions or any other pinch points in the road network. Think only a handful are trained on it too.

1001 has been put on SORN so is likely to limited to moving vehicles within the yard at Riverside.

(01 Sep 2022, 6:12 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote 1001 has been put on SORN so is likely to limited to moving vehicles within the yard at Riverside.

It is being MOT'd and taxed next week.

Which versa's have the tap on tap off system?

(05 Sep 2022, 8:02 pm)Unber43 wrote Which versa's have the tap on tap off system?

The Quaycity ones

(05 Sep 2022, 9:22 pm)Malarkey wrote The Quaycity ones

There's at least one corporate Versa with it as well, not sure if there's more

6334 is currently at Saltmeddows anyone know why?

(08 Sep 2022, 5:53 am)Unber43 wrote 6334 is currently at Saltmeddows anyone know why?

It was on the vehicle lift at Consett last night. Its hardly been used since transferring there as well.

(08 Sep 2022, 6:54 am)Tiger5105 wrote It was on the vehicle lift at Consett last night. Its hardly been used since transferring there as well.

Ah so its back to Consett.