Looks like Blyths E400s are struggling today all of 7502-5 have broken down, prehaps those 57 regs should be put on easier work would it not make sense sending 7501-6 to Ashington in trade for 7528-33 as the Ashington E400s are only allocated to scholars and 35s through the week we're as the 57 reg examples are used daily on express work so seems better having the newer ones on express work and older ones on the 35 and Scholars.

(24 May 2023, 11:29 am)EastCoastMXZ1751 wrote Looks like Blyths E400s are struggling today all of 7502-5 have broken down, prehaps those 57 regs should be put on easier work would it not make sense sending 7501-6 to Ashington in trade for 7528-33 as the Ashington E400s are only allocated to scholars and 35s through the week we're as the 57 reg examples are used daily on express work so seems better having the newer ones on express work and older ones on the 35 and Scholars.

Firstly, on paper 7501-6 should be on the 43 which is "easier" than what they're being used on. 

At least 2 of 7527-33 are on the X21/22 most days (as they should be, they make up the vehicle requirements for those services). 

The school buses tend to be whatever is due for planned maintenance checks, you'll notice that it is extremely rare that the same bus does the AM and PM part of the board as it should be on paper. Yesterday both the AM and PM were 72 plate MMCs. 

On days such as today where there's been MMC failures, those E400s are also more than capable of covering a Morpeth express board, which 7501-6 really aren't.

7501-6 will likely be replaced by the new electric deckers that are rumoured in any case, so they shouldn't be at Blyth for too much longer relatively speaking.

Blyth should get 7522, 7524 - 6 and 7553/4 from Walkergate as they are not used on express work whereas the Ashington ones sometimes are, 7501 - 6 should be able to be used on all Walkergate services.

(24 May 2023, 6:28 pm)Arriva7446 wrote Blyth should get 7522, 7524 - 6 and 7553/4 from Walkergate as they are not used on express work whereas the Ashington ones sometimes are, 7501 - 6 should be able to be used on all Walkergate services.

Forgot Walkergate even had them, that'd be better as it standardised the fleets of E400s to:

7501-7/9-Walkergate
7522-27/53-56-Blyth
7527-33-Ashington

The Pulsars at Blyth are just as bad. They're constantly getting allocated on peak runs lately which isn't a pleasant journey.

They need to get arid of them aswell imo.

I'm not usually a fan of ex London stock but a few DB300's to get shot of all the Enviros at Blyth and Walkergate including the newer ones which could go to Darlington / Durham and the Pulsars at Blyth wouldn't go amiss.

I had 7506 on an X10/X11, yesterday.

Despite being 16 year old, it actually drove beautifully.

Smooth brakes, retarder and gearbox. Plenty of power and capable of 60mph.

I wouldn't be surprised if the E400s manage 20 years of service if they're still nice to drive after 16 years.

(02 Jun 2023, 12:19 pm)P814VTY: 7506 is the best out of the NK57 E400s at Blyth. That’s the only one I haven’t had a problem with. wrote I had 7506 on an X10/X11, yesterday.

Despite being 16 year old, it actually drove beautifully.

Smooth brakes, retarder and gearbox. Plenty of power and capable of 60mph.

I wouldn't be surprised if the E400s manage 20 years of service if they're still nice to drive after 16 years.

(02 Jun 2023, 12:19 pm)P814VTY wrote I had 7506 on an X10/X11, yesterday.

Despite being 16 year old, it actually drove beautifully.

Smooth brakes, retarder and gearbox. Plenty of power and capable of 60mph.

I wouldn't be surprised if the E400s manage 20 years of service if they're still nice to drive after 16 years.

Imagine that ones better as it didn't get rat arsed on the X93 same as 7507/7509 which had a relatively easy life also avoiding the X15/X18 like the later examples.

Also good to see the Solo's at Ashington are as reliable as ever. There's 6 there now and still a Pulsar on today.

(02 Jun 2023, 11:25 pm)Storx wrote Imagine that ones better as it didn't get rat arsed on the X93 same as 7507/7509 which had a relatively easy life also avoiding the X15/X18 like the later examples.

7507 was branded for the Coast and Castles for at least a couple of years.

(03 Jun 2023, 9:29 am)mb134 wrote 7507 was branded for the Coast and Castles for at least a couple of years.

Ah didn't realise that one got up there, always thought it was moved for the X21/X22 and replaced one of the Pulsar boards.

(02 Jun 2023, 11:25 pm)Storx wrote Imagine that ones better as it didn't get rat arsed on the X93 same as 7507/7509 which had a relatively easy life also avoiding the X15/X18 like the later examples.

Also good to see the Solo's at Ashington are as reliable as ever. There's 6 there now and still a Pulsar on today.

1542 had replaced 2830 as it was heavily delayed coming in to Ashington

(03 Jun 2023, 4:26 pm)ahorsmanthebus wrote 1542 had replaced 2830 as it was heavily delayed coming in to Ashington

Aye your right it seems to be getting delayed quite often not sure if it's a technical problem as it's been pulled again today.

2854 is VOR aswell now as it's currently sitting near where Whytrig used to be broken down, just passed it.

(02 Jun 2023, 11:25 pm)Storx wrote Imagine that ones better as it didn't get rat arsed on the X93 same as 7507/7509 which had a relatively easy life also avoiding the X15/X18 like the later examples.

Also good to see the Solo's at Ashington are as reliable as ever. There's 6 there now and still a Pulsar on today.

1542 ended up replacing 2830 which didn't come back out after arrival at Ashington, 2854 then collapsed in Seghill at 5pm. 1542 coming to the rescue of the passengers on the following working

(05 Jun 2023, 7:47 am)54APhotography wrote 1542 ended up replacing 2830 which didn't come back out after arrival at Ashington, 2854 then collapsed in Seghill at 5pm. 1542 coming to the rescue of the passengers on the following working

I spotted 2837 broke down yesterday (4th June) around 11:25 at West Monkseaton. They are absolute sheds.