Hi there,

I was thinking just now, there are a lot of things in our community that we don't always think about....not so much personal issues, but just those little, almost insignificant things that you don't always think about.

Just to kick off a conversation, how does everyone say fleet numbers? I know some people, for example, would say 8243 as 'eight two four three', while I would say 'eighty two forty three'. This is purely from spending so much time talking to drivers, etc., and I've just picked it up like another language! I would feel kind of stupid if I pronounced a fleet number in the single digit format, how about others?

I just figured a thread like this would be useful to discuss how different people go about doing their hobby.

Marcus

I'd say eighty two forty three.

I'd say eighty two forty three.

Me too.

With Stagecoach fleet numbers, I say 'twenty seven five oh six'.

Me too.

With Stagecoach fleet numbers, I say 'twenty seven five oh six'.

Good man - me not being a Stagecoach expert (god, this is coming from the person who saw two or three MANs on the 100 and made a note on his iPod and still forgot what they were!) I just tend to do what you do.

It's the same with trains, if it was 91113 or 43263 I would say 'ninety one one one three' and 'forty three two six three'.

I just do the same as GNE with Arriva, as it's four digits.

Although long gone, I am sure a lot of the older members will remember the 777.

Did you call it the 'seven, seven, seven' or the 'three sevens'?

Although long gone, I am sure a lot of the older members will remember the 777.

Did you call it the 'seven, seven, seven' or the 'three sevens'?

Was either rather three sevens, or the sevens for me.

Also the 194/294. Used to get referred to as either the 'one nine' or 'two nine'. No mention of the 4.

Although long gone, I am sure a lot of the older members will remember the 777.

Did you call it the 'seven, seven, seven' or the 'three sevens'?

I would say it's the same with scholars, it's always the 'eight eight five', never the 'eight hundred and eighty five'!

Moving on, and just really random and out of the bag, what is everyone's favourite depot? Obviously spanning across all three major operators, to make it equal. For GNE mine would be Chester, while for Arriva it would probably be Belmont or the late Waddington Street depot. As for Stagecoach, which I rarely use at all, I would probably go for Slatyford or Walkergate.

I would say it's the same with scholars, it's always the 'eight eight five', never the 'eight hundred and eighty five'!

Moving on, and just really random and out of the bag, what is everyone's favourite depot? Obviously spanning across all three major operators, to make it equal. For GNE mine would be Chester, while for Arriva it would probably be Belmont or the late Waddington Street depot. As for Stagecoach, which I rarely use at all, I would probably go for Slatyford or Walkergate.

Probably Stagecoach's Wheatsheaf depot in Sunderland. I'm not convinced that Arriva or GNE have any control over their individual depots, as it always comes across as each depot management team, are running it how they want to run it. More so with Arriva than GNE mind. 

Probably Stagecoach's Wheatsheaf depot in Sunderland. I'm not convinced that Arriva or GNE have any control over their individual depots, as it always comes across as each depot management team, are running it how they want to run it. More so with Arriva than GNE mind. 

Yes I agree - Percy Main and Blyth come to mind.
Also, Arriva seem to reject buses unlike GNE.

Yes I agree - Percy Main and Blyth come to mind.
Also, Arriva seem to reject buses unlike GNE.

You've gotta love their allocations though, don't know too much about GNE but I gather they're Blyth's equivalent?
If I'm honest I see the rejection of buses as a good thing, any issues should therefore be rectified with the vehicle if this i why it was rejected.

You've gotta love their allocations though, don't know too much about GNE but I gather they're Blyth's equivalent?
If I'm honest I see the rejection of buses as a good thing, any issues should therefore be rectified with the vehicle if this i why it was rejected.

Yeah they are quite pathetic at allocations too.

You've gotta love their allocations though, don't know too much about GNE but I gather they're Blyth's equivalent?
If I'm honest I see the rejection of buses as a good thing, any issues should therefore be rectified with the vehicle if this i why it was rejected.

Do you not think that ultimately it undermines the senior management team? If a vehicle isn't to standard, then it should be repaired at the earliest opportunity. Whether that be pre or post transfer. Different depots shouldn't have different standards as to what is acceptable, therefore the fact a transfer is happening should be trivial.

Do you not think that ultimately it undermines the senior management team? If a vehicle isn't to standard, then it should be repaired at the earliest opportunity. Whether that be pre or post transfer. Different depots shouldn't have different standards as to what is acceptable, therefore the fact a transfer is happening should be trivial.

Yeah I agree with that completely, I just think that if one depot hasn't noticed something, or hasn't checked something on a vehicle and the receiving depot do, they have more than enough reason to reject the vehicle,especially if they know they will be unable to rely on it in service. I think if a depot does reject a vehicle, not only will it make sure the vehicle is looked at, it should make the maintenance at another depot to a higher standard as well, so that as you said all depots have the same standard.

Do you not think that ultimately it undermines the senior management team? If a vehicle isn't to standard, then it should be repaired at the earliest opportunity. Whether that be pre or post transfer. Different depots shouldn't have different standards as to what is acceptable, therefore the fact a transfer is happening should be trivial.

I see what you're saying, and to an extent I agree.  The standard should be uniform across the company.

Flip side is though, if you're an engineering manager at depot A, and you receive a vehicle that isn't to standard from depot B, would you be happy spending your budget on fixing it? 

Just to keep this thread going - if you, as an individual, had to preserve a bus - what would it be and why. Give reasons, etc.

For me, while I would love to go for a B10BLE or a DAF, would definitely be a single deck rather than a decker, I'd honestly like to preserve an ALX300, for myself. From Stagecoach, I've just always loved them! - I know there are a few in the preservation world already, like.

However, if it had to be a decker, I'd go for a Palatine 1 or 2, it would have to be an Olympian of sorts.

Anyone else?

If one of Stagecoach North East's MAN ALX300s are preserved in the future, I think it would most likely be 22480 (T480 BNL) as apparently a lot of money has been spent on that vehicle over the years - which is why it is 1 of 2 non-DDA ALX300s left in service at Slatyford.

I'm really glad that Plaxton Prestige bodied VOLVO B10BLE 21104 has been preserved, but I would have also liked to see one of the ALX300 bodied ones preserved as well. I would also like to see the last ALX200 standing, 33101 (R101 KRG), preserved as well as that has only got 20 days left in service before its tax runs out.

Oh yeah, forgot about 33101! I am right in thinking that was first low-floor vehicle in the fleet, yes? I thought that was long gone!

I can name somebody who would like to see 33101 make it into the next life.

I honestly thought quite a few ALX300s had made it into preservation (obviously, I mean all around the country). Would the Tyne & Wear Bus Preservation Group not be interested in maybe taking one in?

22480 (T480 BNL):

• Exterior
  
• Drivers Cab
  
• Interior (From the Front)
  
• Interior (From the Back)
  

Images owned by Flickr user "mdw9121" - who I think is a friend of Sean Blair, who owns Ex-Stagecoach NE Volvo B10B/Alexander Strider 21002 (M902 DRG) and who is a member of the Tyne & Wear Bus Preservation Group.

Didn't realise it was that good! Looks like it's certainly been given some TLC!

Do you think any of them would be interested in preserving it?

I don't know, but I do hope that it does get preserved.

Would be nice to see one make it past the scrapman, like!

following on from early thread posts...

Now you see, this is how i pronounce fleet numbers:
4 digits (example: 8243) - eighty two forty three
3 digits (example: 524) - five two four
5 digits (example: 27051) two seven oh five one

same applies with service numbers:
2 digits (example: 43) - forty three
3 digits variation 1 (example: 130) - one thirty
3 digits variation 2 (example: 131) - one three one
3 digits variation 3 (example: 100) - one hundred

for express services or services with a prefix or suffix, take the 2 digit rule and add the letter sound in front or at the end

following on from early thread posts...

Now you see, this is how i pronounce fleet numbers:
4 digits (example: 8243) - eighty two forty three
3 digits (example: 524) - five two four
5 digits (example: 27051) two seven oh five one

same applies with service numbers:
2 digits (example: 43) - forty three
3 digits variation 1 (example: 130) - one thirty
3 digits variation 2 (example: 131) - one three one
3 digits variation 3 (example: 100) - one hundred

for express services or services with a prefix or suffix, take the 2 digit rule and add the letter sound in front or at the end

I'm exactly the same. I've got to be honest, when I started this thread, I thought there weren't going to be so many who pronounced the fleet numbers like me. Suppose I'm just a bit self-conscious.

Just to keep this thread going - if you, as an individual, had to preserve a bus - what would it be and why. Give reasons, etc.

For me, while I would love to go for a B10BLE or a DAF, would definitely be a single deck rather than a decker, I'd honestly like to preserve an ALX300, for myself. From Stagecoach, I've just always loved them! - I know there are a few in the preservation world already, like.

However, if it had to be a decker, I'd go for a Palatine 1 or 2, it would have to be an Olympian of sorts.

Anyone else?

Would have loved to have seen one of Arriva's M-FTY or P-CCU Olympians preserved, as I spent most of my childhood on those. Amazing machines...

Would have loved to have seen one of Arriva's M-FTY or P-CCU Olympians preserved, as I spent most of my childhood on those. Amazing machines...

Never really rode many Arriva Olympians, to be honest. A handful of ALX400s on the X24, one on a really old Olympian down in Hartlepool for the marina a few years ago, and one on the 64 a while back. Quite disappointed in myself, to be honest, they are fantastic machines!

I've not even done so much about GNE's Olympians. I've rode them dozens of times, but the only fleet numbers I can count on my head are 3821, 3822, 3825, 3830, 3831, 3832 & 3833.

Never really rode many Arriva Olympians, to be honest. A handful of ALX400s on the X24, one on a really old Olympian down in Hartlepool for the marina a few years ago, and one on the 64 a while back. Quite disappointed in myself, to be honest, they are fantastic machines!

I've not even done so much about GNE's Olympians. I've rode them dozens of times, but the only fleet numbers I can count on my head are 3821, 3822, 3825, 3830, 3831, 3832 & 3833.

Could it have been one of the ex-GNE Leylands? Think I remember seeing a photo of them down there... They were absolute beasts as well!

I've never been on a GNE Olympian (except 7203/4/5 when they were transferred to Arriva, so technically still not a GNE one as such) but they're all pretty special. In my opinion the Palatine 2 bodywork looks nicer and more modern than some of the current stuff...

Could it have been one of the ex-GNE Leylands? Think I remember seeing a photo of them down there... They were absolute beasts as well!

I've never been on a GNE Olympian (except 7203/4/5 when they were transferred to Arriva, so technically still not a GNE one as such) but they're all pretty special. In my opinion the Palatine 2 bodywork looks nicer and more modern than some of the current stuff...

Not sure. Where is the nearest depot to Hartlepool?

Was about 2007 or 2008, but I just remember sitting at the top upstairs with my parents. The bus was a right old banger, like! Could well have been, are you referring to the ex-Bargain Buses?

Coming back from the marina I remember it was something a bit more modern, may have been a Vyking of sort?

You don't seem like much a GNE person, so if you were to get an X30/X31 (presuming you live in the Newcastle areas?) from Eldon Square, which has a chance as an Palatine 2, then if you were to hover around and see if you could hop on one you may well ride one before they're all slaughtered!

You could do....

#X30 - Newcastle to Stanley
#43 - Stanley to Durham
#15 - Durham to Consett
#X71 - Consett to Newcastle

Something like that?

Just hoping Davey Bowyer sees the mention of ANE Olympians

Just hoping Davey Bowyer sees the mention of ANE Olympians

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Not sure. Where is the nearest depot to Hartlepool?

Was about 2007 or 2008, but I just remember sitting at the top upstairs with my parents. The bus was a right old banger, like! Could well have been, are you referring to the ex-Bargain Buses?

Coming back from the marina I remember it was something a bit more modern, may have been a Vyking of sort?  

You don't seem like much a GNE person, so if you were to get an X30/X31 (presuming you live in the Newcastle areas?) from Eldon Square, which has a chance as an Palatine 2, then if you were to hover around and see if you could hop on one you may well ride one before they're all slaughtered!

You could do....

#X30 - Newcastle to Stanley
#43 - Stanley to Durham
#15 - Durham to Consett
#X71 - Consett to Newcastle

Something like that?

Yeah they were the old Bargain Buses, think they were at Ashington if I recall correctly but I'm sure they sent them down for the Park and Ride for however long it was on, pretty sure they sent 7412 and 7413 down there for it as well? (If this is the Tall Ships we're talking about?)

No not a GNE person at all, as there is only the one service I live anywhere near, I'd love to do something like that just to ride on one again, as I've got no chance with Arriva

Not sure. Where is the nearest depot to Hartlepool?

Was about 2007 or 2008, but I just remember sitting at the top upstairs with my parents. The bus was a right old banger, like! Could well have been, are you referring to the ex-Bargain Buses?

Coming back from the marina I remember it was something a bit more modern, may have been a Vyking of sort?  

You don't seem like much a GNE person, so if you were to get an X30/X31 (presuming you live in the Newcastle areas?) from Eldon Square, which has a chance as an Palatine 2, then if you were to hover around and see if you could hop on one you may well ride one before they're all slaughtered!

You could do....

#X30 - Newcastle to Stanley
#43 - Stanley to Durham
#15 - Durham to Consett
#X71 - Consett to Newcastle

Something like that?

But the chances of getting a Olympian is quite unlikely, your most likely with Presidents on the X30/15/X71, and a Citaro on  the 43.

But the chances of getting a Olympian is quite unlikely, your most likely with Presidents on the X30/15/X71, and a Citaro on  the 43.

But it is possible, isn't it?

But it is possible, isn't it?

Possible, but unlikely.