(20 Aug 2015, 3:22 pm)BusLoverMum wrote We were on one of those 21A Omnicities, this morning. Didn't catch which one. Do they all rock from side to side? This one and another I caught last month, had a tendency to rock from side to side when standing - like the tilt mechanism was constantly firing off. I also noticed that, on the stretch between Station Town and the Trimdons, I had to look up and out of the window, or else I felt a bit woozy with being swayed about - big'un was sat at the front but said after we got off that he felt a bit queasy there, too. It was impressive on the A66 stretch approaching Middlesbrough, though. We were overtaking everything, uphill (In stark contrast to the X12 Gemini we got home again).
Yeah that'll be the self levelling valve but the Scanias are great for that.
Know what you mean about the back road between Station Town & Deaf Hill though - used to have fun taking Prestiges down there although you could only do about 40mph as like you say the road is all over the place. Always scope for turning it up a bit more when you were running late (which was quite often the case on the way to Peterlee) - or if you wanted to race the X7 to Wingate as you used to be about 2-3 minutes behind it so if it turned up late we used to sweep up in Wingate!
(20 Aug 2015, 3:30 pm)Dan wrote Yeah, pretty common of the Scanias to rock back and forth when stationary. Some of Go North East's L94s do it too.
I think Go North East's OmniCitys are geared towards being a bit more fuel-efficient and as such don't appear to be as powerful, but some of Arriva's are great once they get going. The late 4663 seemed to be one with an abundance of power on the 685, and 4659 (think that was the one at Jesmond before it moved to Ashington for the X15) was very much the same.
Still think that the OmniCitys are the best performers on the X93 to date - shame they don't have enough seats during the summer months! Volvo B9 is probably the next best thing, though.
The Omnicities were absolutely great and perfectly suited to the X93, shame we didn't have the double deck version (although I'm not a huge fan, the Omnidekka is much better!) as like you say they can't handle the loads. Unless we perhaps we went every 15-20 mins in the summer but the resource cost of that would be tremendous.
4659 I'm sure had a new engine just a few months before it left us. I seem to remember it being very lively when I took it on a 21A (before they became an every day thing!). The one Jesmond had was 4653 though it was swapped for 4663 when Ashington took 53/59 for the X15.
(20 Aug 2015, 3:51 pm)buss14 wrote if 1771 is being written off what will take its place?
Not confirmed it'll be a write off yet but it seems likely. Blyth's minibus PVR drops by 3 next month anyway so I suspect they'll bumble along without it for now. A long term replacement may be needed by Ashington though.
(20 Aug 2015, 6:24 pm)Jimmi wrote That wouldn't surprise me, think it's totally possible that 2503 could maybe transfer back to Darlington replacing 1799 as service U1 will be withdrawn next month which will see Belmont's PVR drop by one and service U1 has been a Solo everytime I've seen it in the last few months.
Speaking of 2503, I saw it on the 49A in Durham yesterday and the front LED screen was only showing the via points where it would normally show its terminus destination and also displayed no service number.
The U1 becomes an unregistered service (not taking fares) until early October when I understand GNE will take over the operation of the service to Ushaw College.
(20 Aug 2015, 8:43 pm)Tom wrote Some of the 08 reg Solos are shocking, especially 2815.
Most of the ones we've got from Darlington and especially from Durham look like they've been through a war zone but they're actually decent to drive (the ones I've had anyway!) - I think 2803 is the quickest one.
(20 Aug 2015, 8:50 pm)mb134 wrote Got a feeling that, if Arriva decide to buy brand new for the 1 and 2, they'd go for ADL E200's?
(20 Aug 2015, 9:01 pm)mb134 wrote What minibuses would these be though? Solos that are already worn out, that will need to be replaced within a few years?
I think we'd need to get another 5 or 6 years out of the Solos yet, disposal around 2020 when they'll be 12 years old which you'd expect from a minibus. New E200s would be nice but I think there would be other routes in front of the 1 and 2?
As for some news as you'd expect (?) from me - both 659 and 664 have now entered service at Durham with 659 being sighted on the 46/48 circuit today (well at least part of the day...)