I've never really experienced any major problems with the Lolynes. Last year, when I used the scholars services back from school (used to get the 21 there), the 885 or 887 (both went from the lower site to the upper site in Chester-le-Street, where I would alight) were often allocated Lolynes. I grew quite fond of them, don't know why. The damp smell prevalent on most of the unrefurbished examples (seems to be a lot less noticeable on the refurbished Tridents) was gradually a smell that became synonymous with the scholars. Don't know if it was all the memories of picking up the Metro papers and helping the other Year 8s defend the back seats downstairs from the little Year 7s, by smashing them to pieces of paper against their heads, but I'll not deny that now I do enjoy it when a Lolyne is kicked up on any service I use.

However, I do know that that are something of trouble-makers mechanically. I'll never forget the time our bus (3875 iirc) came in extremely late, and most of the other buses were about to leave, so once it had pulled into the site, the others were off - as we pulled out: the engine conked out. We were stranded until a replacement came, which was luckily a newly repainted (blue) OmniCity that had just arrived for the 50 from Percy Main (to give you an idea of when this was!).  3875 was always something of a dodgy one, as was 3872 (M-Ticket) and 3878. On the other hand, 3877 and 3879 were also regulars, and were fantastic in my opinion. 3865, a refurbished Lolyne, was another that would appear at least twice a week, making it another that I became a fan of. So, in conclusion, while there was a breakdown at least once a month on any of the 4 scholars services, the Lolynes didn't do so bad for the demanding task of ferrying school children that are trying to break the bus in half with a plank of wood...

I suppose anything made by East Lancs is like marmite; you either love it or you hate it.

(29 Apr 2015, 4:45 pm)Dan wrote Think I'll put my money on red...

How much we betting Mr Graham.

(29 Apr 2015, 4:49 pm)Malarkey wrote How much we betting Mr Graham.

That depends...

Could I say £10, and then if I'm wrong, say "we didn't shake on it"?

(29 Apr 2015, 4:45 pm)Malarkey wrote I wonder what Colour the first one came out of the Paintshop this afternoon was, Will have to have a think to see if I can remember.

Is it like a rainbow? The vengabus is coming 

(29 Apr 2015, 4:45 pm)Dan wrote Volvo Olympian/Northern Counties Palatine 2 3813 (S813 FVK) is just a loan from Riverside to Stanley, which is covering for Dennis Trident/East Lancs Lolyne 3803 (V803 EBR) following its withdrawal.

When a more permanent vehicle becomes available, I think 3813 (S813 FVK) will return to Riverside.

Wasn't 3813 a float vehicle at Riverside though? If so, they can easily cope without it. At least now it has a purpose (to cover for 3803) so they might as well just transfer it back to Stanley.

(29 Apr 2015, 4:51 pm)Dan wrote That depends...

Could I say £10, and then if I'm wrong, say "we didn't shake on it"?

No we cannot.

(29 Apr 2015, 4:55 pm)JP6004 wrote Is it like a rainbow? The vengabus is coming 

Are you Bazza in Disguise.

(29 Apr 2015, 5:00 pm)Malarkey wrote No we cannot.

Forgive me... It appears taking leaves out of certain books has caught on.

(29 Apr 2015, 5:03 pm)Dan wrote Forgive me... It appears taking leaves out of certain books has caught on.

And clearly failed miserably for you, in future leave the taking leaves out of certain books to the elder more wiser bunch like me and citaro5284.

(29 Apr 2015, 5:09 pm)Malarkey wrote And clearly failed miserably for you, in future leave the taking leaves out of certain books to the elder more wiser bunch like me and citaro5284.

hehehehehehe.....stop it Adam.....best joke I have heard this week, nearly choked on my chips there!

(29 Apr 2015, 5:00 pm)Malarkey wrote No we cannot.

Are you Bazza in Disguise.

Noooooooo. Ive got shorter hair

Bazza was hanging round eldon square bus exit around 3pm, no doubt waiting for the max'd up X12.

Answering Michael's request (courtesy of Malarkey):

Unidentified Go North East Ex Brighton & Hove Scania Omnidekkas by North East Malarkey, on Flickr

(29 Apr 2015, 5:12 pm)citaro5284 wrote hehehehehehe.....stop it Adam.....best joke I have heard this week, nearly choked on my chips there!

Just trying to picture NEB without Citaro5284 and his hints, after his unfortunate demise at the hands of a Mccain Oven Chip, anyway moving on rumour has it that there is now some Photos of the Ex Brighton & Hove Omnidekkas on Flickr, I wonder which wise guy put them on there.

(29 Apr 2015, 5:32 pm)Robert wrote Answering Michael's request (courtesy of Malarkey):

Unidentified Go North East Ex Brighton & Hove Scania Omnidekkas by North East Malarkey, on Flickr

Dont you just hate when someone steals your moment of Glory, Robert you just had to do that didnt you.

Are all Omnidekkas going to be red to replace Plaxton President Buses? or is it just the one bus only?

(29 Apr 2015, 5:23 pm)JP6004 wrote Noooooooo. Ive got shorter hair

I after youve took your Wig off  

(29 Apr 2015, 5:34 pm)Malarkey wrote Just trying to picture NEB without Citaro5284 and his hints, after his unfortunate demise at the hands of a Mccain Oven Chip, anyway moving on rumour has it that there is now some Photos of the Ex Brighton & Hove Omnidekkas on Flickr, I wonder which wise guy put them on there.

(29 Apr 2015, 5:37 pm)Panasonic44 wrote Are all Omnidekkas going to be red to replace Plaxton President Buses? or is it just the one bus only?

Wait and see, just wait and see. 

Did anyone ever tell you that "Patience is a Virtue".

(29 Apr 2015, 5:37 pm)Malarkey wrote I after youve took your Wig off  

This is true. But i tend to hang round eldon square toilets not the bus station 

(29 Apr 2015, 5:42 pm)JP6004 wrote This is true. But i tend to hang round eldon square toilets not the bus station 

And I bet you dont get stuck in them toilets either 

(29 Apr 2015, 5:44 pm)citaro5284 wrote And I bet you dont get stuck in them toilets either 

If i do its my choice to get stuck 

(29 Apr 2015, 4:14 pm)Robert wrote Something needs doing with the reliability of some of these lolynes at Stanley. The 2 breakdowns in the last 2 weeks have both been lolynes. Please bring on the omnidekkas providing some are for Stanley.

Hahaha....

What about the Pronto's... which have been  averaging 1 breakdowns a day for the last month....

But still no buses to replace them, as the Scanias are going to Stanley and Chester to replace Tridents. 

Why didn't the Scanias go to Crook and the Volvo's go to Stanley!!!!!!

(29 Apr 2015, 5:55 pm)pdiddy wrote Hahaha....

What about the Pronto's... which have been  averaging 1 breakdowns a day for the last month....

But still no buses to replace them, as the Scanias are going to Stanley and Chester to replace Tridents. 

Why didn't the Scanias go to Crook and the Volvo's go to Stanley!!!!!!

At least try and give us a harder question..!

The Presidents seat 65, whereas the Omnidekkas seat 77 (just like a Lolyne!) High capacity vehicles are needed for Stanley's scholars services.

(29 Apr 2015, 5:36 pm)Malarkey wrote Dont you just hate when someone steals your moment of Glory, Robert you just had to do that didnt you.

Sorry. Saw it and thought 'had to'. Kind off guessed it would be coming with your tease earlier  

(29 Apr 2015, 5:42 pm)JP6004 wrote This is true. But i tend to hang round eldon square toilets not the bus station 

That just sounds really pervy.

Does this solve the mystery of which member of NEB went on that cruising forum

(29 Apr 2015, 5:44 pm)citaro5284 wrote And I bet you dont get stuck in them toilets either 

I actually went into those Toilets for the first time today since that erm.....Incident.

(29 Apr 2015, 4:45 pm)Dan wrote Think I'll put my money on red...

Might as well do your bit post confirming this Dan, along with your other wee updates  .

(29 Apr 2015, 5:59 pm)Dan wrote At least try and give us a harder question..!

The Presidents seat 65, whereas the Omnidekkas seat 77 (just like a Lolyne!) High capacity vehicles are needed for Stanley's scholars services.

A front line express service with clapped out 15 year old deckers... and school runs with newer buses.

I think the Tridents could manage to do schools for a couple of hours per day.. where as the Prontos are out 12 hours.

Obviously the management don't care about losing passengers to a rival company!!!!

(29 Apr 2015, 6:42 pm)pdiddy wrote Obviously the management don't care about losing passengers to a rival company!!!!

If that was the case, then surely they'd just put a cancellation into VOSA and close Crook down? Given that that hasn't happened, I think it suggests that they want to continue with their services on that corridor.

(29 Apr 2015, 6:49 pm)aureolin wrote If that was the case, then surely they'd just put a cancellation into VOSA and close Crook down? Given that that hasn't happened, I think it suggests that they want to continue with their services on that corridor.

Fair enough aureolin....  the senior management have admitted Crook has major reliably issues .  So why haven't they done anything about it!