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Topics - Coventry Transport Dude

#1
I've just been looking through the photo's of the "TWM" Volvo B10L's on the West Midlands Buses In Photographs site and i've often wondered why / how 1427 has survived so long and is still standing at Pensnett a number of years after its sister vehicles from the fleet had all been taken away to be scrapped !  Some fortunately do survive as Driver Trainers, but 1427 is still in her original "TWM" livery and just seems to have been abandoned ?  It's really good to know that this Bus is still around and having seen the immaculate restoration work done on privately preserved Mercedes 1707, so as to get it back into its original livery, would National Express ever possibly consider doing something similar with 1427 and adding it to the heritage fleet ???  National Express have been great and pleasantly surprised me by adding 4125 to what i hope will be their ever growing heritage fleet and its repaint back into her original guise looks superb, but a single decker preserved by the company and painted in a similar guise to 4125, would certainly be a nice addition to what is becoming a brilliant heritage fleet that the company is fast putting together !!!! (Would love to shake the hand of the person or persons, who instigated the forming of this fleet, as it's truly brilliant what has / is being done there !).

Does anyone have any idea at all please what condition the Engine and Chassis are in on 1427, as if they're both hopefully OK, then other than repairing its dented panels and giving her a good clean and a fresh coat of paint, you could well have a nice preservation candidate there !!! (A nice survivor from the "TWM" era and still basically in original condition, give or take a few dents here and there ?).
#2
I've probably left it a bit late really to start this topic about the 43** numbered Dennis Tridents, as their time here on the streets of Coventry is quickly running out now ?  As Tony Hunter has already mentioned, the schools breaking up and also the PVR of the company dropping by over 100 vehicles, will no-doubt be what sadly causes them to all go ?  Anyway folks, Spot 'em, Jot 'em and Photograph 'em while you still can !!!  I myself managed to see (and photograph) a good number of them in Town this afternoon and the 43**'s seen were:

4362 - 18/18A
4370 - 18
4371 - 21
4372 - (Out Of Service) Standing outside at the top end of the yard at Wheatley Street Garage.
4373 - 6
4374 - 10
4375 - 4
4376 - 6A
4378 - 6
4380 - 6
4381 - 10
4395 - 6
4396 - 16A

4358, 4379, 4398 and 4399 were nowhere to be seen today (must have all been in the Garage ?), although i fortunately managed to capture those four Buses a few weeks back ! (Hopefully not for the last time ???).
#3
With half of Coventry's Dennis Tridents from the 4203 - 4224 batch now withdrawn (a couple due to fire damage !), this leaves just 11 of that particular batch left in service now (4209, 4210, 4211, 4212, 4217, 4218, 4219, 4220, 4221, 4222 & 4223), plus the two transfers as well (4144 & 4190).  Most of them must have been in the Garage today, as all i saw out on the road this afternoon were: 4211 (4), 4212 (16), 4217 (16), 4218 (4) and 4219 (18).  I did see 4190 in the yard at Wheatley Street, but it was being driven down and into the Garage by a Mechanic !  Withdrawn 4207 and burnt out 4203 are still standing outside in the yard, up at the Swanswell end of the Garage.

It's always nice to see any of these 17 year old Tridents out on the road (still earning their keep !) and if possible, to go for a trip on them as well while i've still got a chance to ??? (And taking plenty of photo's of them in the process !!!lol).
#4
At just before 4.30pm this afternoon at the Arena Tesco Bus Hub, i unfortunately saw Coventry Heritage liveried Dennis Trident 4453 damage all its N/S lower panels, when it caught the front O/S corner of "ARRIVA" Wright Streetlight 3316 (FJ64 EUD).  To see 4453 pull off from its stop (on the 4 route !), quickly swing 'round 180 degrees (in order to leave the Bus Hub) and then to hear this crunching sound, wasn't exactly a pleasant experience, especially as that Bus is a personal favourite of mine ! (Only because of the livery it's in mind you !!!lol).  On realizing what he'd done, the Driver then pulled up alongside the loading bay for Tesco's Home Delivery Service and just sat there with his hazard lights on, while he phoned the Garage !  I'd only just photographed the Bus less than 2 minutes beforehand (which included a close-up shot to of the soon to be damaged "NATIONAL EXPRESS COVENTRY" logo on its N/S panels !), but i certainly didn't expect to be photographing those same panels again so soon afterwards, complete with all its ripples and long deep scratches on them ???  After exchanging details with the Arriva Driver, 4453 was only standing around for about 20 - 25 minutes, before being driven back down to Wheatley Street Garage !

My only concern now is, that after the damaged panels have been replaced, will it still have them repainted in Red (hopefully it will !), or will it be the end of the Heritage Livery for 4453 and straight off to the Paint Shop she goes ??? (Her livery was painted over 6 years ago now !).
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