Panasonic44 wroteQ: Why does SNE keeping running DD on 1 and 22 Newcastle, when its less expenive ro run e.g. single like Alx 300 instead of storing them? 

Not many ppl on them.

Thanks.

I can't comment on the 22, but the 1 has some extremely tight right-angle turnings at the Heaton end of the route which means that the shorter DDs are more suitable, especially if two buses meet at one of these turnings. It is not uncommon for a 1 heading up Debdon Gardens and wanting to turn left into Danby Gardens to meet a bus at the turning coming out the other way. The first bus has to go a short distance past the turning to let the other one out, then reverse to be able to continue on its way. Similar awkward turnings also occur further along the route at either end of both Whitefield Terrace and Second Avenue. It's the reason why the 1 has never regularly featured single-deckers in the 50+ years I have lived on the route. However, I do seem to remember single-deck Scanias being used as extras when the bus war with TWOC was being fought way back when.

For anybody who hasn't nodded off while reading this post -

After last week's timetable changes, the 1 seems to have settled down with a PVR of 4 E400H after a few MMC DDs appeared earlier in the week, although 19674 has also put in an appearance.