(23 Jun 2014, 7:37 pm)tyresmoke wrote Presumably they've been pretty successful in the Nexus contracts then?

Yes, 7 new misc works starting in September.

(23 Jun 2014, 7:39 pm)andy1977 wrote Yes, 7 new misc works starting in September.

Cool cheers - need yet more space in the depot! lol

(23 Jun 2014, 5:55 pm)andy1977 wrote One of the 3 buses (R6, R7 or K2 STX) will be kept to operate school contracts, the other 2 are going the journey.
Today's arival is the 1st of 8 double deckers that will be brought in to operate Misc. Works form Nexus starting in September.

If this is happening then im probably suggesting that K2 will be kept as that is the newest bus out of the 3. If thats the 1st of 8, then there will be no where to keep them so im thinking that all 3 olympians will have to be withdrawn + B10 (which is sitting there doing nothing) and possibly a few others to create enough room at the bottom of the depot.

(23 Jun 2014, 8:12 pm)Robert wrote If this is happening then im probably suggesting that K2 will be kept as that is the newest bus out of the 3. If thats the 1st of 8, then there will be no where to keep them so im thinking that all 3 olympians will have to be withdrawn + B10 (which is sitting there doing nothing) and possibly a few others to create enough room at the bottom of the depot.

K2 is a P reg vehicle, R6 and R7 are R reg so 1 year newer than K2.

It's definitely happening, contracts were signed off today.

Of the Olympians, one has to stay to cover commitments with Durham County Council. The Leyland (B10) has been out of acrion for a couple of years now and is unlikely to ever run as a working vehicle again. Currently one of the Olympians stays in a depot at Byker and one of the B7L deckers stays at Sunderland. I think you will find this arrangment will continue/be expanded upon. Pure stupidity running vehicles that do 4-5 mpg's all the way back to Stanley when sub depots are available nearer to where they will be working.

(23 Jun 2014, 8:44 pm)andy1977 wrote K2 is a P reg vehicle, R6 and R7 are R reg so 1 year newer than K2.

It's definitely happening, contracts were signed off today.

Of the Olympians, one has to stay to cover commitments with Durham County Council. The Leyland (B10) has been out of acrion for a couple of years now and is unlikely to ever run as a working vehicle again. Currently one of the Olympians stays in a depot at Byker and one of the B7L deckers stays at Sunderland. I think you will find this arrangment will continue/be expanded upon. Pure stupidity running vehicles that do 4-5 mpg's all the way back to Stanley when sub depots are available nearer to where they will be working.

Woah i think you are missing the point. Not all of the new deckers will be stored at outstations. When going past the depot, i also seem to notice all 3 olympians parked up there so unless it has a job up here after its job down at Byker then im not quite sure what you mean.

Going back to the registrations:

Just because the vehicle has an R at the beginning of its personalised registration it doesnt mean that thats its actual registration starts with that letter (They are both Irish so, in this case will be hard to tell as im not used to Irish Registrations so, for example, S2 and S4 STX, they my have the letter S at the beginning but we (or most of us) know that they are actually a V reg vehicle and by their looks and style inside, R6 and R7 do, to me, look like the elder vehicles.

R6/R7 Olympians are 1998 models whereas K2 is a late 1996 (P-reg)

(23 Jun 2014, 9:17 pm)Robert wrote Woah i think you are missing the point. Not all of the ew deckers will be stored at outstations. When going past the depot, i also seem to notice all 3 olympians parked up there so unless it has a job up here after its job down at Byker then im not quite sure what you mean.

Going back to the registrations:

Just because the vehicle has an R at the beginning of its personalised registration it doesnt mean that thats its actual registration starts with that letter (They are both Irish so, in this case will be hard to tell as im not used to Irish Registrations so, for example, S2 and S4 STX, they my have the letter S at the beginning but we (or most of us) know that they are actually a V reg vehicle and by their looks and style inside, R6 and R7 do, to me, look like the elder vehicles.

With the red numbers, you can put an older plate on a vehicle, but you can't put a newer plate on it. Ie. The newest number plate a 1998 decker could carry would be a R plate, but it could carry an A plate.
From the log books, they were built in 1998 and registered in the UK in 2009.
K2 is a 1997 registeted vehicle.

The 3rd olympian ends up back in the depot between works as the driver has other duties at the moment that sometimes require him to come back to the depot.

(23 Jun 2014, 9:25 pm)andy1977 wrote With the red numbers, you can put an older plate on a vehicle, but you can't put a newer plate on it. Ie. The newest number plate a 1998 decker could carry would be a R plate, but it could carry an A plate.
From the log books, they were built in 1998 and registered in the UK in 2009.
K2 is a 1997 registeted vehicle.

The 3rd olympian ends up back in the depot between works as the driver has other duties at the moment that sometimes require him to come back to the depot.

3rd Olympian being K2? I know that usually does NDA Scholars work and i know what R6 does but not quite sure what R7 does (thats possibly the bus you are on about then and not K2) although all 3 do go back to depot.

Are you aware of the new buses all being ALX400s? Id like to see some presidents amongst them if im completely honest. I think, although they are rubbish, that it'd be a shame to see the olympians go. It was a shame to see the R--- LGH olympians from GNE go as they went up banks like they weren't even there. Much better in reliability terms.

(24 Jun 2014, 6:30 am)Robert wrote 3rd Olympian being K2? I know that usually does NDA Scholars work and i know what R6 does but not quite sure what R7 does (thats possibly the bus you are on about then and not K2) although all 3 do go back to depot.

Are you aware of the new buses all being ALX400s? Id like to see some presidents amongst them if im completely honest. I think, although they are rubbish, that it'd be a shame to see the olympians go. It was a shame to see the R--- LGH olympians from GNE go as they went up banks like they weren't even there. Much better in reliability terms.

The Olympians have to go as Nexus have decided they want low floor buses on misc works and scholars services from September
I know all new onee will be B7L chassied and they are trying for the ALX400's as having 8 the same makes it easier for the garage staff to maintain.
I will check out exactly which buses stay where at the moment tomorrow and get back to you.

The next B7T deckers should arrive tomorrow afternoon, will post full details and reg numbers tomorrow, but both are ex Go Ahead TFL.

Had the pleasure of riding on a couple of the alx400's going to/from the races yesterday.

Decent enough ride, but the layout and seats were abysmal.

(29 Jun 2014, 9:12 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Had the pleasure of riding on a couple of the alx400's going to/from the races yesterday.

Decent enough ride, but the layout and seats were abysmal.

Was this what they were doing?

I saw two of the ALX400s and one of the ex-Dublin Olympians departing Durham Rail Station full of passengers but I was on the roundabout as they were coming down the bank, so I stood no chance of being able to catch them for a photograph.

(29 Jun 2014, 9:35 am)Dan wrote Was this what they were doing?

I saw two of the ALX400s and one of the ex-Dublin Olympians departing Durham Rail Station full of passengers but I was on the roundabout as they were coming down the bank, so I stood no chance of being able to catch them for a photograph.

Yeah, there were TGM ones out too.
No idea about Durham bus station though.

(29 Jun 2014, 12:45 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Yeah, there were TGM ones out too.
No idea about Durham bus station though.

They were running staff for a couple of companies to and from the races (people working at the races)

One of the new deckers delivered on friday was Volvo B7TL Plaxton President LK03 NHY. It has been bought directly from Go Ahead London but was new to First London. The other bus that arrived with it is down at Gardeners for a repaint. Both are possibly going to undergo a conversion from Dual D[/u]oor to Single Door.

(30 Jun 2014, 4:03 pm)Robert wrote One of the new deckers delivered on friday was Volvo B7TL Plaxton President LK03 NHY. It has been bought directly from Go Ahead London but was new to First London. The other bus that arrived with it is down at Gardeners for a repaint. Both are possibly going to undergo a conversion from Dual Door to Single Door.

Now also at Gardeners for its repaint and possible dual door conversion. Could see the return of the other bus delivered on Friday too.

All the new Plaxton Presidents have been purchased from Ensigne Bus (though they do still carry the go ahead branding), and will be converted to single dooe and upseated to 74 seats. Wheelchair bays will be moved from next to the middle doors to the front doors.
The two that arrived were not the two that should have, the first one broke down with a gearbox problem, and Ensigne swapped it over.

Reg numbers for all 7 Plaxton President B7TL's due over the next few weeks.....
LK03NHY
LK03NJV
LK03NHZ
LK03NJE
LK03NJF
LK03NJX
LK03NJY

All are arriving with dual doors and then going to Gardiners in Spennymoor for conversion to single door. Should all be ready to enter service mid August.

(06 Jul 2014, 10:59 am)andy1977 wrote Reg numbers for all 7 Plaxton President B7TL's due over the next few weeks.....
LK03NHY
LK03NJV
LK03NHZ
LK03NJE
LK03NJF
LK03NJX
LK03NJY

All are arriving with dual doors and then going to Gardiners in Spennymoor for conversion to single door. Should all be ready to enter service mid August.

Remaining vehicles will be arriving in our depot tomorrow!

New bus back adverts ... #holidays #coach #value http://t.co/Raf69ys7Bn

Stanley have had adverts placed onto the rear of some Solo's

Also, there was a Merc minibus blinded up for the 708 heading towards Houghton on Saturday morning - presumably on a private hire run.

(06 Jul 2014, 10:59 am)andy1977 wrote Reg numbers for all 7 Plaxton President B7TL's due over the next few weeks.....
LK03NHY
LK03NJV
LK03NHZ
LK03NJE
LK03NJF
LK03NJX
LK03NJY

All are arriving with dual doors and then going to Gardiners in Spennymoor for conversion to single door. Should all be ready to enter service mid August.

At least 3 of these have arrived from Ensign today, all are still in their London liveries. Will have the registrations of them by about 16:30ish.

Edit: These 3 and a fourth actually arrived yesterday, as said earlier.
Registrations are:
LK03 NJY
LK03 NJX
LK03 NHZ
LK03 NJF

This means that the last bus to arrive is LK03 NJE. ALX400 V146 LGC is now in service eventhough it hasn't been repainted yet so the chances are it is either not going to get repainted or will do at a later date.

(14 Jul 2014, 3:06 pm)Robert wrote At least 3 of these have arrived from Ensign today, all are still in their London liveries. Will have the registrations of them by about 16:30ish.

Edit: These 3 and a fourth actually arrived yesterday, as said earlier.
Registrations are:
LK03 NJY
LK03 NJX
LK03 NHZ
LK03 NJF

This means that the last bus to arrive is LK03 NJE. ALX400 V146 LGC is now in service eventhough it hasn't been repainted yet so the chances are it is either not going to get repainted or will do at a later date.

R6, R7 and K2 STX are all going in part exchange for these new deckers. Cant see them getting down to ensign without breaking down!

(15 Jul 2014, 6:38 pm)Robert wrote R6, R7 and K2 STX are all going in part exchange for these new deckers. Cant see them getting down to ensign without breaking down!

They will make it no problem at all. Not any any reliability issues with the 3 old deckers.
They all drive hundreds of miles a week!

(15 Jul 2014, 8:12 pm)andy1977 wrote They will make it no problem at all. Not any any reliability issues with the 3 old deckers.
They all drive hundreds of miles a week!

Well, suppose if 3826 made it down there no bother i cant see why they wont, i doubt they like the sight of a bank though?

(15 Jul 2014, 8:52 pm)Robert wrote Well, suppose if 3826 made it down there no bother i cant see why they wont, i doubt they like the sight of a bank though?

For r6 r7 and k2 banks are no problem...... But worried about the new ones though, think the first bank they have ever seen was when they pulled off the a1 at Chester Le St and had to climb up the hill to Stanley at 10mph! Lol

(16 Jul 2014, 8:28 am)andy1977 wrote For r6 r7 and k2 banks are no problem...... But worried about the new ones though, think the first bank they have ever seen was when they pulled off the a1 at Chester Le St and had to climb up the hill to Stanley at 10mph! Lol

Having rode on some of Go North Easts ex-London Presidents, i think you have every right to be worried...

(16 Jul 2014, 7:38 pm)Robert wrote Having rode on some of Go North Easts ex-London Presidents, i think you have every right to be worried...

Looks like lots of servicing and engine tweaking ahead then.....

*Dont take this post as a fact as at this stage it is just a rumour*

The rumour is that the new B7s will instead be based at the Kingsley's depot rather than Stanley Travels. It will be interesting to see if anybody else has heard of this rumour aswell.

(17 Jul 2014, 7:21 pm)Robert wrote *Dont take this post as a fact as at this stage it is just a rumour*

The rumour is that the new B7s will instead be based at the Kingsley's depot rather than Stanley Travels. It will be interesting to see if anybody else has heard of this rumour aswell.

If true, I'd be surprised if Kingsley's could fit them in to be honest, depending on how many there is of course.

(17 Jul 2014, 7:25 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote If true, I'd be surprised if Kingsley's could fit them in to be honest, depending on how many there is of course.

Apparently after hearing this, some of the drivers are objecting to this suggestion and are saying that they refuse to drive down to Birtley for what they get paid.