(15 Jul 2015, 8:40 pm)R852 PRG wrote I have to say I really enjoyed my ride on 3813 on the ''Red Kite'' from Consett to Newcastle. None of the silly belt screaming like some of them have, just a pure Volvo was I could hear.
I was quite saddened when I saw that 3825 had been withdrawn, I had that on my scholars for a long time and grew to enjoy it very much. Never got my hands on it again after it migrated to Stanley.
As for 3818, get yourself on an outing over the summer.
I know exactly what you mean about the belt screaming. 3828 had it and just make it sound awful. 3823 had it and it sounded ok. 3822 is the only Olympian left that has it and sounds great.
3825 wasn't the best performer. I don't know what it was like down at Chester-le-Street but it did have a thing for taking a while to change gears. Not brilliant when it was on the run up to a bank meaning it couldn't show its potential because its run up was ruined.