1743 and 2092

[wilmotm (Matt Wilmot)]

Just a quick question and a point:
Does 1743 the replacement Merc have a different engine or gearbox or something to the rest of the Merc's in the fleet, it certainly sounds very different indeed and doesn't feel as quick and as smooth.

Also 2092 has recieved a dedication to Mary Steven's in the last couple of days

[Ash]

I remember 1743 when it was at WB i dont think its mechanically different but it does have an extra window on the right side of the bus so 3 opening windows instead of 2. The bus might be getting worn out or being driven conservatively as i suspect the mercs get a bit of a battering with all the inclines around Dudley

[matt904102]

No sorry to disapoint. 1743 is the same as all the other O405s. apart from  an odd registration. Pensnett has the distinction of having the first merc (1515) the last merc (1707) and the demo (1743). We used to have the first and last  Volvo B6s aswell (501 and 683)

[matt904102]

Alot of pensnett mercs have had their side blinds removed. There are a few with 3 track units fitted in the side or back. Don't know where they got them fro m...maybe robbed out of withdrawn Dundee vehicles? I'm told that's where the LED units in the mercs have come from.

[richie]

No sorry to disapoint. 1743 is the same as all the other O405s. apart from  an odd registration. Pensnett has the distinction of having the first merc (1515) the last merc (1707) and the demo (1743). We used to have the first and last  Volvo B6s aswell (501 and 683)

And we had the one that was on the old wage slips was it 506? Only pensnett can run the 247/8 in b6's

[Ash]

No sorry to disapoint. 1743 is the same as all the other O405s. apart from  an odd registration. Pensnett has the distinction of having the first merc (1515) the last merc (1707) and the demo (1743). We used to have the first and last  Volvo B6s aswell (501 and 683)

Also 4 out of the 5 vehicles mentioned have been at WB with 3 orginally being allocated there (501,683 and 1743 WB being their first garage and 1707 transferring with the 120). Quite a few of the mercs and b6le's at PE have come from WB.

[matt904102]

Perfectly true none of them were delivered new to Pensnett. Only 596-605 and 607-618 and the B7s that have come this year.

[Tomjusttom]

Perfectly true none of them were delivered new to Pensnett. Only 596-605 and 607-618 and the B7s that have come this year.

And the reason 606 is missing off that list...it got loaned to london didn't it?

[Ash]

Perfectly true none of them were delivered new to Pensnett. Only 596-605 and 607-618 and the B7s that have come this year.

I find that really suprising that PE only has that many b6le's new to them when you consider how many they operated at one time. I guess travel merry hill back didnt need as many buses as they do today.

[Ashley]

Merry Hill had loads of Mercedes minibuses back in the day but it seems passenger numbers have increased over the last 10 years despite the small amount of investment. Nothing but respect for the B6LEs and Mercs