I've just seen a lynx pass my house with the fleetnumber 1026, with quite a few passengers on. How many Buses are preserved?
Quote from: Dylan4579 on December 14, 2013, 11:07:36 AM
I've just seen a lynx pass my house with the fleetnumber 1026, with quite a few passengers on. How many Buses are preserved?
Do you mean this 1026
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51828484@N07/10102462474/
Leyland National, not a Lynx.
Also WM buses that are preserved are -
3225 based at Yardley Wood
Metrobuses (I'm sure there are more)
2912 'D912 NDA'
2759 'D957 NDA'
2811 'B811 AOP'
2685 'A685 UOE'
3057 'F57 XOF'
3053 'F53 XOF'
2989 'E989 VUK'
8110 'A110 WVP'
There are also a few Mk1 Metrobuses preserved, not too sure which but I do know
2001 'BOK 1V'
7007 'BOM 7V'
Lynxs
1292 and 1266. There may be a third one as well
Yeah it was in dudley at around 11:50 with 245E DUDLEY showing on the rollers
1026 is on a tour of the West Midlands today. I was invited to go on it, but unfortunately work got in the way :-(
Quote from: John on December 14, 2013, 02:20:18 PM
Quote from: Dylan4579 on December 14, 2013, 11:07:36 AM
I've just seen a lynx pass my house with the fleetnumber 1026, with quite a few passengers on. How many Buses are preserved?
Do you mean this 1026
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51828484@N07/10102462474/
Leyland National, not a Lynx.
Also WM buses that are preserved are -
3225 based at Yardley Wood
Metrobuses (I'm sure there are more)
2912 'D912 NDA'
2759 'D957 NDA'
2811 'B811 AOP'
2685 'A685 UOE'
3057 'F57 XOF'
3053 'F53 XOF'
2989 'E989 VUK'
8110 'A110 WVP'
2934 D934NDA
2938 D938NDA
There are also a few Mk1 Metrobuses preserved, not too sure which but I do know
2001 'BOK 1V'
7007 'BOM 7V'
Lynxs
1292 and 1266. There may be a third one as well
Dart/Wright
805 KDZ5805
I think there is also a Sherpa or Ford Transit + a Metrorider
Quote from: domino.99 on December 14, 2013, 02:34:20 PM
Yeah it was in dudley at around 11:50 with 245E DUDLEY showing on the rollers
I saw that aswell but I saw it at 1:50pm with 245E. It was then changed to 74E when it left Dudley
Quote from: John on December 14, 2013, 02:20:18 PM
Quote from: Dylan4579 on December 14, 2013, 11:07:36 AM
I've just seen a lynx pass my house with the fleetnumber 1026, with quite a few passengers on. How many Buses are preserved?
Do you mean this 1026
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51828484@N07/10102462474/
Leyland National, not a Lynx.
Also WM buses that are preserved are -
3225 based at Yardley Wood
Metrobuses (I'm sure there are more)
2912 'D912 NDA'
2759 'D957 NDA'
2811 'B811 AOP'
2685 'A685 UOE'
3057 'F57 XOF'
3053 'F53 XOF'
2989 'E989 VUK'
8110 'A110 WVP'
3065 F65XOF
There are also a few Mk1 Metrobuses preserved, not too sure which but I do know
2001 'BOK 1V'
6832 SDA832S
6835 WDA835T
7007 'BOM 7V'
Lynxs
1292 and 1266. There may be a third one as well
Quote from: Gareth on December 14, 2013, 02:37:56 PM
1026 is on a tour of the West Midlands today. I was invited to go on it, but unfortunately work got in the way :-(
I saw it at around 4 or 5 ish... It was displaying 101 City Centre / Centrebus at Moor Street...
A pal o'mine captured 1026 on camera from the Bartons Arms, where it stopped yesterday afternoon, I'm guessing for refreshment to be taken!
Lynx 1062 still exists AFAIK
Preserved WM Nats there are
1026
1037
1051 (non runner)
1825 (spares only)
1849
1041 was preserved but may now have bitten the dust up north as the owning company ceased trading and the new owner wanted stupid money for it. A complete waste :(
There is a metrorider at Aston Manor, 685.
Is 1849 a DP example?
Quote from: bob on December 15, 2013, 09:55:04 PM
Is 1849 a DP example?
No, it was one of the wheelchair accessible ones, with a wheelchair lift on the n/side
http://www.flickr.com/photos/walsall1955/7846149080/in/photostream/
What is the west midlands fire service leyland
National at de courceys yard it's in yellow
Quote from: Solo1 on December 15, 2013, 10:27:02 PM
What is the west midlands fire service leyland
National at de courceys yard it's in yellow
The same one being discussed, TVP849S
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4058/4581158300_90703cabcc_b.jpg
Other preserved WM Metrobuses
2205 GOG 205W
3063 F63 XOF
3065 F65 XOF
3080 F80 XOF
3088 F88 XOF
2462 NOA 462X
3013 is/was preserved was it not?
Quote from: Liverpool Street on December 16, 2013, 05:38:26 PM
3013 is/was preserved was it not?
As a mobile bar, last I heard.
Its opening windows live on in 2989 I believe.
Quote from: nitromatt1 on December 16, 2013, 05:46:44 PM
Quote from: Liverpool Street on December 16, 2013, 05:38:26 PM
3013 is/was preserved was it not?
As a mobile bar, last I heard.
Its opening windows live on in 2989 I believe.
Nice!
--
http://m.flickr.com/photos/59615439@N03/8096761282/
Note the destination. It might actually happen soon. How did they know?!
Talking of branding... isn't 2811 going into Pershore Road livery?
Yes 2811 is almost complete in its Pershore Road branding. Looks fantastic! :D
Quote from: Gareth on December 16, 2013, 08:06:20 PM
Yes 2811 is almost complete in its Pershore Road branding. Looks fantastic! :D
Any photos?
I've only seen them on the Wythall facebook page. I'll try and post a link.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.627670150622401.1073741833.148791885176899&type=1
Hopefully this link for 2811 will work for facebook users.
That looks very good. Nice to see a Metrobus preserved to one of its later liveries rather than WMPTE
Quote from: Gareth on December 16, 2013, 08:12:59 PM
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.627670150622401.1073741833.148791885176899&type=1
Hopefully this link for 2811 will work for facebook users.
wow!! That takes me back, real high quality job that is
Quote from: John on December 16, 2013, 08:15:34 PM
That looks very good. Nice to see a Metrobus preserved to one of its later liveries rather than WMPTE
I couldn't agree more ;) Can't wait to see 2811 Running with the Pershore Road Branding
Quote from: Gareth on December 16, 2013, 08:12:59 PM
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.627670150622401.1073741833.148791885176899&type=1
Hopefully this link for 2811 will work for facebook users.
2811 looks fantastic they're doing a Great Job :) It will be strange seeing this branding once again the last time I seen this Pershore Road Branding was when I was 9/10 Years Old
I believe 2989s opening windows came from a Fleetline but you probably know more Matt
As for 3013, a waste of a good motor
2811 looks great
Fleetline 4041 is parked by Wolverhampton bus station, it's there till 16:00
Quote from: Ex BC driver on December 21, 2013, 11:52:52 AM
Fleetline 4041 is parked by Wolverhampton bus station, it's there till 16:00
Do you know why?
Quote from: nitromatt1 on December 21, 2013, 11:54:07 AM
Quote from: Ex BC driver on December 21, 2013, 11:52:52 AM
Fleetline 4041 is parked by Wolverhampton bus station, it's there till 16:00
Do you know why?
Raising money for the museum and also air ambulance
MOF225 in Cotteridge today doing the usual
And saw Santa (no idea who it is though) on the 98/X64 over the past couple of days...
Quote from: Liverpool Street on December 21, 2013, 01:54:37 PM
MOF225 in Cotteridge today doing the usual
And saw Santa (no idea who it is though) on the 98/X64 over the past couple of days...
I wonder if it was the same driver who dressed up last year on Christmas Eve
2811 now has its Pershore Road Branding Back :)
Here is the link to some photo's on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.650599831662766.1073741835.148791885176899&type=1
Quote from: Nathan on January 18, 2014, 10:17:05 PM
Quote from: Rob H on January 18, 2014, 10:10:00 PM
2811 now has its Pershore Road Branding Back :)
Here is the link to some photo's on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.650599831662766.1073741835.148791885176899&type=1
That looks very nice indeed. If only I could go back in time and ride some metros as Wolverhampton used to be covered with them ;). Thanks for sharing that with us Rob :)
No Worries :) I was only checking for any updates on the Cross Country HST's and there it was on the top of the news feed on facebook so I thought I'd share with you all ;) They've done a fantastic job on her
I remember the 512 Branding on the Metros which was like a peach/pink colour I think wasn't it :)
Yeah, saw those pics on Facebook as well, looking forward to going to Wythall again this yea, only managed once last year (damn work)
I think the via points between the wheels needs to be spread out a bit more, but apart from that, fantastic bit of work.
Quote from: Nathan on January 18, 2014, 10:54:52 PM
It was indeed Rob :) Sadly now a route that sees B7RLE's 99.9% of the time. I do miss the good old days with Metros on the 126 which had a similar livery but in lilac/purple then it gained the circle livery like the Pershore Rd branding and the branding that was also applied on 4575-84 which is sadly gone now 4579 is in for repaint
Bring back the good old days wish I could bring back the circle 900 branding that was applied to 2933-2936 :)
Not NX related, but Midland Red 5545 was going up the Hagley Road out of Birmingham, by Five Ways at 12:30, full of passengers.
Quote from: N94 on May 09, 2014, 05:20:40 PM
Not NX related, but Midland Red 5545 was going up the Hagley Road out of Birmingham, by Five Ways at 12:30, full of passengers.
What type of vehicle is that?
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 06:38:52 PM
Quote from: N94 on May 09, 2014, 05:20:40 PM
Not NX related, but Midland Red 5545 was going up the Hagley Road out of Birmingham, by Five Ways at 12:30, full of passengers.
What type of vehicle is that?
An S16
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 06:38:52 PM
Quote from: N94 on May 09, 2014, 05:20:40 PM
Not NX related, but Midland Red 5545 was going up the Hagley Road out of Birmingham, by Five Ways at 12:30, full of passengers.
What type of vehicle is that?
Its an S16:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48422263@N03/14026947443/in/pool-1972093@N20
Quote from: Nathan on May 09, 2014, 06:43:08 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 06:38:52 PM
Quote from: N94 on May 09, 2014, 05:20:40 PM
Not NX related, but Midland Red 5545 was going up the Hagley Road out of Birmingham, by Five Ways at 12:30, full of passengers.
What type of vehicle is that?
Its an S16:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48422263@N03/14026947443/in/pool-1972093@N20
I'm sure LS will be able to tell us all about them
*mischevious smile*
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 06:50:04 PM
Quote from: Nathan on May 09, 2014, 06:43:08 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 06:38:52 PM
Quote from: N94 on May 09, 2014, 05:20:40 PM
Not NX related, but Midland Red 5545 was going up the Hagley Road out of Birmingham, by Five Ways at 12:30, full of passengers.
What type of vehicle is that?
Its an S16:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48422263@N03/14026947443/in/pool-1972093@N20
I'm sure LS will be able to tell us all about them
*mischevious smile*
Probably one of Midland Red's least successful designs. Most Midland Red buses were well ahead of the competition when launched, but the only 'advance' in the S16 was it was the first 40ft long design, trouble was it was just a stretched S15 so still had a manual gearbox, while D9s and S17s being built at the same time were semi automatic, and the engine was underpowered for the stretched 52 seater.
Quote from: Tony on May 09, 2014, 06:58:34 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 06:50:04 PM
Quote from: Nathan on May 09, 2014, 06:43:08 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 06:38:52 PM
Quote from: N94 on May 09, 2014, 05:20:40 PM
Not NX related, but Midland Red 5545 was going up the Hagley Road out of Birmingham, by Five Ways at 12:30, full of passengers.
What type of vehicle is that?
Its an S16:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48422263@N03/14026947443/in/pool-1972093@N20
I'm sure LS will be able to tell us all about them
*mischevious smile*
Probably one of Midland Red's least successful designs. Most Midland Red buses were well ahead of the competition when launched, but the only 'advance' in the S16 was it was the first 40ft long design, trouble was it was just a stretched S15 so still had a manual gearbox, while D9s and S17s being built at the same time were semi automatic, and the engine was underpowered for the stretched 52 seater.
Ah right. Whenever I think of semi-auto transmissions, I think of the flappy paddle gears you get in modern Ferraris and the like - but I wouldn't imagine the computing was available back then.... so how did semi-auto transmissions in buses work?
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 07:06:13 PM
Quote from: Tony on May 09, 2014, 06:58:34 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 06:50:04 PM
Quote from: Nathan on May 09, 2014, 06:43:08 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 06:38:52 PM
Quote from: N94 on May 09, 2014, 05:20:40 PM
Not NX related, but Midland Red 5545 was going up the Hagley Road out of Birmingham, by Five Ways at 12:30, full of passengers.
What type of vehicle is that?
Its an S16:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48422263@N03/14026947443/in/pool-1972093@N20
I'm sure LS will be able to tell us all about them
*mischevious smile*
Probably one of Midland Red's least successful designs. Most Midland Red buses were well ahead of the competition when launched, but the only 'advance' in the S16 was it was the first 40ft long design, trouble was it was just a stretched S15 so still had a manual gearbox, while D9s and S17s being built at the same time were semi automatic, and the engine was underpowered for the stretched 52 seater.
Ah right. Whenever I think of semi-auto transmissions, I think of the flappy paddle gears you get in modern Ferraris and the like - but I wouldn't imagine the computing was available back then.... so how did semi-auto transmissions in buses work?
The first bus gearboxes classed as semi-automatic for licensing were the pre-selecter gearboxes which were first produced in the 1930s
Most Birmingham Standards including surviving 3225 and LT RTs had these where you select the next gear via a changer, either a steering column selector or a normal type gear stick, then when you actually want it to change you press the gear change pedal on the floor similar to a clutch, but not one.
Two Coventry engineers then invented an epicyclic gearbox that didn't require the pedal and just changed off the selector. These two brilliant engineers then formed the company which became Self-Changing Gears (SCG) who made most of the semi-automatic gearboxes fitted to buses for many years.
The current 'floppy-paddle' gearboxes work on exactly the same priciple, just more sophisticated that Mr Wilson & Mr Siddeley invented in the 1950s
Hi tony am I right in thinking the SCG box was the one that had the characteristic whine in top gear in the fleetline andeven louder Iin the VRT? But not in Atlanteans?
Quote from: bob on May 09, 2014, 08:23:39 PM
Hi tony am I right in thinking the SCG box was the one that had the characteristic whine in top gear in the fleetline andeven louder Iin the VRT? But not in Atlanteans?
SCG was definately the one in local Fleetlines
It was definitely in the Vr's too and the national bus company ones. Walsall' s VR'S were quite unreliable weren't they? In comparison to the Fleetlines? I think Ailsa's had SCG boxes too. I cannot imagine the noise passengers had to endure on those things! Especially on the aston expressway
Quote from: bob on May 09, 2014, 10:43:02 PM
It was definitely in the Vr's too and the national bus company ones. Walsall' s VR'S were quite unreliable weren't they? In comparison to the Fleetlines? I think Ailsa's had SCG boxes too. I cannot imagine the noise passengers had to endure on those things! Especially on the aston expressway
I think I've seen Ailsas with both SCG and Voith automatic gearboxes
Yeah thats right, Cardiff's and Merseyside pte ones had voiths. Theres a video of a merseybus one on YouTube. Sounds like a DAF Sb200. Very noisy.
The WMPTE ones didnt have them though.
Fleetlines, Bristol VRs and REs, BMMO D9s and S17-S23s and a few other types (including semi-auto AEC Reliances) normally had SCG "epicyclic" gearboxes.
Leyland semi autos generally had "pneumocyclic" gearboxes, which used a larger gear lever affair, usually mounted on a separate pedestal. Leyland Nationals and Olympians, however, had what I think were electric gearboxes, closer to the SCG model.
I think WMPTE's Ailsas were initially automatic but converted to semi-autos at a young age - can anyone confirm?
Towards the end of the 1970s and early 1980s, as automatic gearboxes became more reliable and smoother, they became more common in Leyland Atlanteans and other types, but they were rare in Fleetlines and VRs. WMPTE kept to SCGs in Fleetlines right up to the end.
In answer to the question about Walsall's VRs, they seemed to perform OK but the Walsall area was not as arduous as Birmingham. They were pleasant buses to ride on, with good sound effects from the exhaust and gave a smoother ride at speed than Fleetlines. I believe there were very expensive to overhaul, and that led to shorter lives. For city work, the Fleetline was better.
I remember reading that eventually all the wolverhampton VRs were got rid of and transferred to walsall ( surviving examples that werent withdrawn/sold ) around 1983.
Were there ever any voith atlantean buses ?
Quote from: bob on May 10, 2014, 12:10:09 PM
I remember reading that eventually all the wolverhampton VRs were got rid of and transferred to walsall ( surviving examples that werent withdrawn/sold ) around 1983.
Were there ever any voith atlantean buses ?
You are right about the Wolverhampton VRs, Bob.
There were some Voith Atlanteans. South Yorkshire PTE had quite a few, and some of them ran in Birmingham after they were purchased by Smiths/Your Bus in the early 1990s.
Just out of interest were they UET-S ? I remember green bus having one in cannock and initially sounding like a voith.Think Iit got converted to pneumocyclic after wards tho
I cant imagine what a voith atlantean would sound like to travel on ( I only saw/heard the green bus one in passing at cannock bus station in 1994)
I think the Your Bus ones were V reg - but I'm not sure. I didn't travel on one, but they sounded strange from the outside.
But then I did grow up with Fleetlines, D9s and even the odd S16!
Quote from: Justin Tyme on May 10, 2014, 05:57:24 PM
I think the Your Bus ones were V reg - but I'm not sure. I didn't travel on one, but they sounded strange from the outside.
But then I did grow up with Fleetlines, D9s and even the odd S16!
Think Your Bus had CWG-V registered Atlanteans, possibly a mixture of the Roe and Alexander bodied ones. Having grown up in Sheffield and travelled on these all the time as a child they were fantastic buses but did make some odd noises compared to other Atlanteans. CWG696V was looking very nice in preserved SYPTE livery at the Rotherham open day today. Also, the Gemini painted in SYPTE brown and cream looked really good.
I always thought the sliding vent window put in the rear upper deck looked very odd on south Yorkshire buses. Made alexander ones look ugly especially
Quote from: Cheese on May 10, 2014, 06:18:04 PM
Quote from: Justin Tyme on May 10, 2014, 05:57:24 PM
I think the Your Bus ones were V reg - but I'm not sure. I didn't travel on one, but they sounded strange from the outside.
But then I did grow up with Fleetlines, D9s and even the odd S16!
Think Your Bus had CWG-V registered Atlanteans, possibly a mixture of the Roe and Alexander bodied ones. Having grown up in Sheffield and travelled on these all the time as a child they were fantastic buses but did make some odd noises compared to other Atlanteans. CWG696V was looking very nice in preserved SYPTE livery at the Rotherham open day today. Also, the Gemini painted in SYPTE brown and cream looked really good.
Yes they had Alexander bodied CWG688V, CWG698V, CWG703V, CWG706V and Roe bodied CWG745V, CWG751V, CWG761V, CWG770V.
Quote from: Tony on May 09, 2014, 07:18:36 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 07:06:13 PM
Quote from: Tony on May 09, 2014, 06:58:34 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 06:50:04 PM
Quote from: Nathan on May 09, 2014, 06:43:08 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 06:38:52 PM
Quote from: N94 on May 09, 2014, 05:20:40 PM
Not NX related, but Midland Red 5545 was going up the Hagley Road out of Birmingham, by Five Ways at 12:30, full of passengers.
What type of vehicle is that?
Its an S16:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48422263@N03/14026947443/in/pool-1972093@N20
I'm sure LS will be able to tell us all about them
*mischevious smile*
Probably one of Midland Red's least successful designs. Most Midland Red buses were well ahead of the competition when launched, but the only 'advance' in the S16 was it was the first 40ft long design, trouble was it was just a stretched S15 so still had a manual gearbox, while D9s and S17s being built at the same time were semi automatic, and the engine was underpowered for the stretched 52 seater.
Ah right. Whenever I think of semi-auto transmissions, I think of the flappy paddle gears you get in modern Ferraris and the like - but I wouldn't imagine the computing was available back then.... so how did semi-auto transmissions in buses work?
The first bus gearboxes classed as semi-automatic for licensing were the pre-selecter gearboxes which were first produced in the 1930s
Most Birmingham Standards including surviving 3225 and LT RTs had these where you select the next gear via a changer, either a steering column selector or a normal type gear stick, then when you actually want it to change you press the gear change pedal on the floor similar to a clutch, but not one.
Two Coventry engineers then invented an epicyclic gearbox that didn't require the pedal and just changed off the selector. These two brilliant engineers then formed the company which became Self-Changing Gears (SCG) who made most of the semi-automatic gearboxes fitted to buses for many years.
The current 'floppy-paddle' gearboxes work on exactly the same priciple, just more sophisticated that Mr Wilson & Mr Siddeley invented in the 1950s
Tony, were the Routemaster gearboxes unique, weren't you able to use it as a normal gearbox or select it to drive automatically!
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 11, 2014, 08:53:13 PM
Quote from: Tony on May 09, 2014, 07:18:36 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 07:06:13 PM
Quote from: Tony on May 09, 2014, 06:58:34 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 06:50:04 PM
Quote from: Nathan on May 09, 2014, 06:43:08 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 06:38:52 PM
Quote from: N94 on May 09, 2014, 05:20:40 PM
Not NX related, but Midland Red 5545 was going up the Hagley Road out of Birmingham, by Five Ways at 12:30, full of passengers.
What type of vehicle is that?
Its an S16:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48422263@N03/14026947443/in/pool-1972093@N20
I'm sure LS will be able to tell us all about them
*mischevious smile*
Probably one of Midland Red's least successful designs. Most Midland Red buses were well ahead of the competition when launched, but the only 'advance' in the S16 was it was the first 40ft long design, trouble was it was just a stretched S15 so still had a manual gearbox, while D9s and S17s being built at the same time were semi automatic, and the engine was underpowered for the stretched 52 seater.
Ah right. Whenever I think of semi-auto transmissions, I think of the flappy paddle gears you get in modern Ferraris and the like - but I wouldn't imagine the computing was available back then.... so how did semi-auto transmissions in buses work?
The first bus gearboxes classed as semi-automatic for licensing were the pre-selecter gearboxes which were first produced in the 1930s
Most Birmingham Standards including surviving 3225 and LT RTs had these where you select the next gear via a changer, either a steering column selector or a normal type gear stick, then when you actually want it to change you press the gear change pedal on the floor similar to a clutch, but not one.
Two Coventry engineers then invented an epicyclic gearbox that didn't require the pedal and just changed off the selector. These two brilliant engineers then formed the company which became Self-Changing Gears (SCG) who made most of the semi-automatic gearboxes fitted to buses for many years.
The current 'floppy-paddle' gearboxes work on exactly the same priciple, just more sophisticated that Mr Wilson & Mr Siddeley invented in the 1950s
Tony, were the Routemaster gearboxes unique, weren't you able to use it as a normal gearbox or select it to drive automatically!
Not unique, I believe some Leyland Nationals & Lynx may have also had the same feature. The Routemaster wasn't a 'normal' gearbox, it was semi-automatic
London specified automatics on most of its deliveries from the 1950s, so the Swifts / Merlins and the DMS Fleetlines had that feature - you just left the gear lever in top and the bus would start in second and change up and down automatically. Now with a Fleetline the worst thing you can do to the transmission is start in second and change gear with the accelerator pedal held down, but that's exactly what LTs vehicles were designed to do. Then they wondered why the gearboxes only lasted a year! The first thing new operators of DMS Fleetlines did was to remove the automatic facility - WMPTE included.
There were some Fleetlines in the Midlands like that - Coventry had some. And the first three Ailsas, 4547-4529, changed automatically.
You couldn't really do it with a National, due to the engine characteristics. London Nationals had a version of the G2 box which had a throttle dip to close the throttle automatically when changing gear, as did Titans and LT Olympians (and GMPTE Atlanteans) but that form of automatic was much better.
Virtually no Lynxes had British gearboxes - WMPTE 1061 - 1066 were unusual in having a Leyland four-speed auto which was virtually unique to them and was not put into production. They were later converted to standard ZF boxes.
Did the automatic fleet lines sound different to the standard product? Ie did they not have the SCG whine ( that was even louder in VRs) that pte fleetlines and nbc REs had?
All Fleetlines had a special version of the Daimatic gearbox where the output shaft came out at the same end as the input shaft, but at right angles to it - it is the right-angle drive that whines in a Fleetline, not the gearbox proper, which is nearly inaudible. Automatics had the same box and sounded the same - London DMSs just started in second and changed up on full throttle. The CAV automatic, fitted to 3905 (I think) and one of two others had a throttle dip that closed the throttle for a smooth change - just like the Titan and others. Trouble was it soon went out of adjustment and the gearbox would go into neutral with the throttle wide open, or the opposite would happen - the throttle would close with the gear still engaged, causing a jerk backwards. Happy days! The CAVs were soon removed.
Quote from: Stevo on June 04, 2014, 05:45:19 PM
Automatics had the same box and sounded the same - London DMSs just started in second and changed up on full throttle.
No wonder they broke down so often!!
Quote from: don on June 04, 2014, 11:50:09 PM
Quote from: Stevo on June 04, 2014, 05:45:19 PM
Automatics had the same box and sounded the same - London DMSs just started in second and changed up on full throttle.
Ah London Transport - great in many ways, and loved by most - but fancy re-designing elements of a highly successful vehicle thereby making them grossly unreliable!! Not the only example IIRC - didn't they have a batch of AEC Reliances which they re-designed - which also became grossly unreliable (RC class)?
I know they had to do a lot to get the unions to allow people to drive their buses (such as raising the driver position of a Fleetline so the driver was almost at horse bus level - touching the lower deck ceiling almost) - I'm surprised they didn't have to fit them with offside sliding doors!! But much of the tinkering seemed to be engineering and beaurocracy led.
There must have been a vast amount of public money wasted in those far off days!
Midland Red Leopard 'JHA 234L' was on the Chester Road this morning. Came up to Orphanage Rd Island, and did a U-turn back towards the Bagot. It then parked up opposite Pype Hayes Park
The new edition of Bus and Coach Preservation magazine has features on Midland Red S22 5905 and WMT Metrobus 3057 if any one is interested. :)
Quote from: D10 on June 07, 2014, 09:11:59 PM
The new edition of Bus and Coach Preservation magazine has features on Midland Red S22 5905 and WMT Metrobus 3057 if any one is interested. :)
Was the S22 that mix between a bus & a coach? Sure we had 5908 & 5911 at Stourbridge.
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on June 07, 2014, 09:37:37 PM
Was the S22 that mix between a bus & a coach? Sure we had 5908 & 5911 at Stourbridge.
You are right - they were dual-purpose vehicles.
According to the website http://midlandred.net/history/wmpte.shtml (http://midlandred.net/history/wmpte.shtml), 5908 was transferred from Midland Red to WMPTE in December 1973 at Harts Hill, transferred to Stourbridge in June 1976 and withdrawn in June 1978. 5911 was transferred in 1973 at Stourbridge and was withdrawn from there in April 1979. 5910 was also at Stourbridge in December 1973 and was withdrawn in April 1979.
This site has some good stuff for those of us who can remember the 1970's.
West Bromwich Corporation Daimler CVG5 (Number-Plate FEA 156) passed me on the Cannock Rd near the Scotlands this morning.
Quote from: Nathan on June 07, 2014, 10:11:56 PM
West Bromwich Corporation Daimler CVG5 (Number-Plate FEA 156) passed me on the Cannock Rd near the Scotlands this morning.
Passed me on stafford road by falkland street coach park at around 9:10am with Dudley.on the side destination
Quote from: Roy on June 07, 2014, 10:06:26 PM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on June 07, 2014, 09:37:37 PM
Was the S22 that mix between a bus & a coach? Sure we had 5908 & 5911 at Stourbridge.
You are right - they were dual-purpose vehicles.
According to the website http://midlandred.net/history/wmpte.shtml (http://midlandred.net/history/wmpte.shtml), 5908 was transferred from Midland Red to WMPTE in December 1973 at Harts Hill, transferred to Stourbridge in June 1976 and withdrawn in June 1978. 5911 was transferred in 1973 at Stourbridge and was withdrawn from there in April 1979. 5910 was also at Stourbridge in December 1973 and was withdrawn in April 1979.
This site has some good stuff for those of us who can remember the 1970's.
Thanks Roy, that is a brilliant site and brings back some memories, have to say the s22s & s23s looked better in Midland Red livery, the WMPTE livery din't suit them and to me made them look shabby!
Towards the end of their life the Midland Red and WMPTE looked shabby these are mainly Stourbridge buses
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dofartshavelumps/13129383873/in/set-72157631077349924
My grandad told me that a double decker in "West Bromwich Corporation Colours" past him on the Cannock Rd in Wolverhampton at the weekend
A Red double decker passed through Sheldon about 10-15 minutes ago heading towards Birmingham couldn't tell which type of vehicle it was or if it had any other colour besides the red as I seen it from my front door.
This past me in Lichfield St in Wolverhampton a few Sundays back:
http://wmbusphotos.com/preserved/twm1037.html
I regularly pass tiles r us on Dudley rd east in the yard on the left is a mark one metrobus in wmpte colours looking a bit sorry , does any one know its story , it appears to have been restored in the past .
Quote from: 2900 on June 25, 2014, 11:37:35 PM
I regularly pass tiles r us on Dudley rd east in the yard on the left is a mark one metrobus in wmpte colours looking a bit sorry , does any one know its story , it appears to have been restored in the past .
It's 6832 SDA832S
More info in the thread below:
http://wmbusphotos.com/forum/index.php?topic=2845.0
Thanks for pointing me to the relevant thread, so sad to read about Ron and his collection of old skool buses. Get well soon chap. Loved driving the mark one metrobuses up and down Portland road.
Quote from: 2900 on June 25, 2014, 11:57:19 PM
Thanks for pointing me to the relevant thread, so sad to read about Ron and his collection of old skool buses. Get well soon chap. Loved driving the mark one metrobuses up and down Portland road.
Didn't they drive you nuts with the folding doors slamming every time they were opened?
Were you at Hockley garage 5 years prior to its closure? It's a shame that it had to close.... it always seemed similar to Quinton I assume both being ex BCT garages
I transferred a couple of years before closure , the doors slamming open I just thought it was part of the charm of these old deckers , some had really smooth brakes , gearboxes and strong engines, ok they smelt bad when it was wet. 2090 I remember as a fast one and I think it was 2003 felt like the gearbox was gona drop out at any time. Each one had its own personality no two were ever the same.
Quote from: 2900 on June 26, 2014, 12:27:42 AM
I transferred a couple of years before closure , the doors slamming open I just thought it was part of the charm of these old deckers , some had really smooth brakes , gearboxes and strong engines, ok they smelt bad when it was wet. 2090 I remember as a fast one and I think it was 2003 felt like the gearbox was gona drop out at any time. Each one had its own personality no two were ever the same.
I remember the jolt of the gear changes on the MK1's. Were the Lynx's still at Hockley when you started there?
Yes the jolt on some metrobuses were bad , a real nightmare if you were doing a straight through duty all that banging . Passengers would complain don't you know how to change gears son , better go back to the training school . Yes the lynx bus were about in numbers when i started at Hockley garage , there were only two vehicle types there most types of metrobuses and the Lynx. 1312 , 1313 were the good ones , I remember very smooth and fast vehicles 70 mph no problem , most drivers would raise a smile when these came in at our relief point at snow hill . 1296 I think was one of first refurbed lynx,s not bad I thought. When West Bromwich received brand new 0405n,s Hockley received there old lynx,s these were simply awfull sheds should have gone straight to Pvs .
Does any one know the whereabouts of metrobus 3088 it use to where the bct heritage colours at Hockley , colourfull past I remember a new driver taking this bus under Hockley fly over where the cars park and smashing the roof in , when they pulled it out the roof rested on the front seats just as well it was out of service. There used to be major bus jams at Hockley flyover this driver was trying to take a short cut which didn't work out . I did see 3088 on ebay a few years back now appeared to be in good condition.
Quote from: 2900 on June 26, 2014, 09:06:48 AM
Does any one know the whereabouts of metrobus 3088 it use to where the bct heritage colours at Hockley , colourfull past I remember a new driver taking this bus under Hockley fly over where the cars park and smashing the roof in , when they pulled it out the roof rested on the front seats just as well it was out of service. There used to be major bus jams at Hockley flyover this driver was trying to take a short cut which didn't work out . I did see 3088 on ebay a few years back now appeared to be in good condition.
There's a few HY garage photos on here that may be of interest to you/bring back some memories:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/wda2t/page10/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/wda4t/page3/
Thanks winston for the pictures , seeing the drivers mess room brought back memories , I remember the ailsa open top , an ex oldbury garage engineer who became a driver introduced me to this bus , in his words A PROPER BUS engine up front. The charter alexander volvo buses I recall when private charter transferred from miller street , engineers use to say these are real volvos buses with 10 litre engines.
Quote from: 2900 on June 27, 2014, 12:47:20 AM
Thanks winston for the pictures , seeing the drivers mess room brought back memories , I remember the ailsa open top , an ex oldbury garage engineer who became a driver introduced me to this bus , in his words A PROPER BUS engine up front. The charter alexander volvo buses I recall when private charter transferred from miller street , engineers use to say these are real volvos buses with 10 litre engines.
No worries, thought you may have been interested. HY's fleet was even more interesting with the Private Charter department being based there.
Those ex London United 'Airbus' Volvo Olympians did look smart when they were used to upgrade the Private Charter unit, 9 of the same batch are still in use for First Devon & Cornwall @ Camborne
parked outside meadway coaches small heath depot
Coachleasing MCW Metrobus A724UOE (EX TWM 2724)
A Leicester City Transport Leyland seen heading down Lichfield Rd about 08:55 going towards Park Lane.
1266 and 3053 were parked at de courcey Coventry today
1266-https://www.flickr.com/photos/115199517@N06/14771081966/
3053-https://www.flickr.com/photos/115199517@N06/14793656262/
I was quite disappointed to see this preserved Metrobus, POG 605Y, to be repainted in NX red & white livery. It should be left alone with the blue & silver livery and the logo of Travel West Midlands...
https://twitter.com/networkwm/status/517350631544483840
Quote from: P419 EJW on January 23, 2015, 04:10:57 PM
I was quite disappointed to see this preserved Metrobus, POG 605Y, to be repainted in NX red & white livery. It should be left alone with the blue & silver livery and the logo of Travel West Midlands...
https://twitter.com/networkwm/status/517350631544483840
Its not preserved, its own by West Midlands Fire Service who wanted it to have a fresh lick of paint when they bought it
i thought it looked rather smart!!!! wonder what a metro would look like in the new livery lol
Quote from: mranon on January 23, 2015, 08:42:52 PM
i thought it looked rather smart!!!! wonder what a metro would look like in the new livery lol
Just type B786AOC into Flickr, that's the closest you'll ever get and to be fair it would have looked smart if they'd done one in red/white
Quote from: Ashley on January 23, 2015, 08:46:35 PM
Quote from: mranon on January 23, 2015, 08:42:52 PM
i thought it looked rather smart!!!! wonder what a metro would look like in the new livery lol
Just type B786AOC into Flickr, that's the closest you'll ever get and to be fair it would have looked smart if they'd done one in red/white
Or better still, the real thing http://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/media/all-news/2013/the-bus-thats-been-at-the-same-stop-for-four-years/
Is this bus still missing it's running gear
I remember going in that bus before it got repainted.
On my way to Tesco this evening, I saw (what I think to be) a Leyland Atlantean, or Fleetline?
It was dark, but I made out the colours to be yellow and orange - At a first glance, I though it was that yellow 'music bus' -- but it wasn't. Any ideas of who it belongs to, where it was going, etc? Or has anybody seen it too?
Quote from: clayderman on January 31, 2015, 09:46:25 PM
On my way to Tesco this evening, I saw (what I think to be) a Leyland Atlantean, or Fleetline?
It was dark, but I made out the colours to be yellow and orange - At a first glance, I though it was that yellow 'music bus' -- but it wasn't. Any ideas of who it belongs to, where it was going, etc? Or has anybody seen it too?
There used to be a Fleetline painted in Yellow, can't remember if it had orange to. Was a sort of play bus, used to visit a pub up the road from me, if thats any help?
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on January 31, 2015, 09:59:11 PM
Quote from: clayderman on January 31, 2015, 09:46:25 PM
On my way to Tesco this evening, I saw (what I think to be) a Leyland Atlantean, or Fleetline?
It was dark, but I made out the colours to be yellow and orange - At a first glance, I though it was that yellow 'music bus' -- but it wasn't. Any ideas of who it belongs to, where it was going, etc? Or has anybody seen it too?
There used to be a Fleetline painted in Yellow, can't remember if it had orange to. Was a sort of play bus, used to visit a pub up the road from me, if thats any help?
Well, it's definitely reassuring that someone else has a good idea of what I'm on about. But on second thoughts, it was dark, and I couldn't really see, so there might not have been orange...
WMPTE 4041, XON41J seen on the Old Walsall Road travelling towards the Scott Arms at circa 11:45 this morning
Alan
Quote from: wmacb13 on April 18, 2015, 12:01:58 PM
WMPTE 4041, XON41J seen on the Old Walsall Road travelling towards the Scott Arms at circa 11:45 this morning
Alan
Aston Manor own this one dont they?
Getting a run out ready for tomorrow?
Three of Wythalls finest BMMO LD8 4031 WMPTE VR 4413 and Travel West Midlands single deck Fleetline 1956 passed through Kings Heath earlier
Quote from: Westy on April 18, 2015, 12:46:33 PM
Aston Manor own this one dont they?
Getting a run out ready for tomorrow?
Just checked the Aston Manor site and yes, they do have a museum running day tomorrow :)
I overtook 3009 (MOF 9) on the A34 underpass this morning heading out of City, and passed 3002 (LOG 2) on Mill Street, Sutton
Coming back from London this evening, passed green Routemaster CUV 223C on the M25,
West Mids NOA 462X and Oxford FWL 371E on the M40 (just before j7).
Quote from: N94 on April 19, 2015, 07:24:04 PM
Coming back from London this evening, passed green Routemaster CUV 223C on the M25,
West Mids NOA 462X and Oxford FWL 371E on the M40 (just before j7).
Coming from Brooklands, saw them there today, 2462 is my mates.
Leyland Lynx E64 WDT in Chesterfield livery provided a free service from Chesterfield Station to Barrow Hill diesel gala yesterday.
It performed perfectly with 51 of us seated and another 22 standing. Great up the hilly route.
Just seen a preserved vehicle, in the West Bromwich Corporation livery, near Paradise Circus.
Quote from: clayderman on May 04, 2015, 03:39:18 PM
Just seen a preserved vehicle, in the West Bromwich Corporation livery, near Paradise Circus.
I would have been on that! Came from Wythall. They had an operating day today.
Quote from: Gareth on May 04, 2015, 05:01:50 PM
I would have been on that! Came from Wythall. They had an operating day today.
I was on too! it worked the 1500 from Wythall service 750. 8)
Ex Birmingham Guy 2976 worked the 1145 out from City.
I was on 2976 too 😃
Quote from: Gareth on May 04, 2015, 05:01:50 PM
I would have been on that! Came from Wythall. They had an operating day today.
I forgot until i'd checked my flickr... :-\ Completely went out of my head... :D :P Haha!
Saw what I presume was 3225 (only caught a quick glance of it but it looked like the driver was wearing NX uniform) passing through Bearwood on the Hagley Road yesterday
West Bromwich 174 (GEA174) seen just past the Scott Arms turning into Holy Cross church car park at circa 10:50.
Still there at 12:50 when I went past going the other way.
Possibly in attendance at a funeral.
Alan
https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/trident_4609/17816549108/
Fleetline 4613 (JOV 613P) parked up in Dudley Bus Station layby at 15:20
Old Vs New!
Quote from: Nathan on May 23, 2015, 03:21:34 PM
https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/trident_4609/17816549108/
Fleetline 4613 (JOV 613P) parked up in Dudley Bus Station layby at 15:20
Old Vs New!
Passed Burnt Tree at 1535
Quote from: Nathan on May 23, 2015, 03:21:34 PM
https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/trident_4609/17816549108/
Fleetline 4613 (JOV 613P) parked up in Dudley Bus Station layby at 15:20
Old Vs New!
Give me that Fleetline any day of the week!!! What a bus!!
Quote from: Liverpool Street on May 23, 2015, 04:10:42 PM
Give me that Fleetline any day of the week!!! What a bus!!
To true
@Liverpool Street, the Fleetlines IMO were the best buses ever!
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 23, 2015, 04:13:24 PM
To true @Liverpool Street, the Fleetlines IMO were the best buses ever!
These style of fleetline more than the revised dash(FE30AGR) although I would take any fleetline over some of the newer stuff any day of the week. So glad we have so many in preservation. Also nice to see 4613 back on the road after her RTC looking as good as ever
Yes, the Fleetline had to be driven and not aimed! Before I get howls of protest, I accept there wasn't so much traffic on the road then. A magnificent machine though, and, when you got the pedal to the metal, it actually moved. No delays in moving off like there is now.
Quote from: old50niner on May 23, 2015, 04:39:30 PM
Yes, the Fleetline had to be driven and not aimed! Before I get howls of protest, I accept there wasn't so much traffic on the road then. A magnificent machine though, and, when you got the pedal to the metal, it actually moved. No delays in moving off like there is now.
Yes, however there is a lot less potential for driver abuse in a new bus than there is in an old semi-auto Fleetline.
Fleetline.
No delays in moving off? - Yes.
Pedal to the metal? - Keep it there for more than 15 seconds and air would get into the hydraulics!
Driven not aimed? - The steering was either very heavy or drifted all over the road. The wheel had to be repeatedly "flicked" to one side or the other to keep them in line.
Not so much traffic? - In certain parts of the Black Country, there was just as much traffic due to different road layouts and shopping habits. Brierley Hill, Quarry Bank, Cradley Heath, Old Hill and Dudley were constantly choked with traffic and shoppers (no Merry Hill, Russells Hall Hospital, no by passes at Dudley, Cradley Heath, Old Hill or Brierley Hill). The Midland Red based schedules did not help.
Driver abuse? - This is an old turkey that should have been laid to rest years ago. If a driver changes down at too-high revs, it is the engine, not the gearbox that gets wrecked. If a driver flicks gears upwards without pausing, he is only doing what all automatic gearboxes did then and do now (stop and think about it before having a knee-jerk reaction). No automatic control system cured the Daimatic or SCG gearbox life problem. The gearbox, derived from a pre-war design, was simply not developed enough to handle the work. Don't forget, some Midland Red S17s (an 11 metre 6.5ton 52 seat singledecker with SCG gearboxes) subjected to the same "driver abuse" completed their service lives without ever having their gearboxes changed!
Magnificent machine? - No. With constant steering problems, poor suspension, short life brakes (handbrakes needed constant adjustment, rear lining life of 8 -10 weeks, not a quick renewal job), gearbox life 80,000 miles, later improved by a WMPTE modification, they were not strong enough or reliable enough. The Metrobus was far more reliable.
Overall, they were adequate, but should have been developed into a much tougher vehicle by 1968, by which time their weaknesses were well known.
There is a tendency to look at old buses through rose-tinted spectacles. I will mourn the passing of the Optare Spectra and Volvo B7TL President. I did not miss the Fleetline or Metrobus.
However, every bus has its good points. The Fleetlines were fantastic in the snow!!
Quote from: Tiptonian on May 23, 2015, 07:22:47 PM
Fleetline.
No delays in moving off? - Yes.
Pedal to the metal? - Keep it there for more than 15 seconds and air would get into the hydraulics!
Driven not aimed? - The steering was either very heavy or drifted all over the road. The wheel had to be repeatedly "flicked" to one side or the other to keep them in line.
Not so much traffic? - In certain parts of the Black Country, there was just as much traffic due to different road layouts and shopping habits. Brierley Hill, Quarry Bank, Cradley Heath, Old Hill and Dudley were constantly choked with traffic and shoppers (no Merry Hill, Russells Hall Hospital, no by passes at Dudley, Cradley Heath, Old Hill or Brierley Hill). The Midland Red based schedules did not help.
Driver abuse? - This is an old turkey that should have been laid to rest years ago. If a driver changes down at too-high revs, it is the engine, not the gearbox that gets wrecked. If a driver flicks gears upwards without pausing, he is only doing what all automatic gearboxes did then and do now (stop and think about it before having a knee-jerk reaction). No automatic control system cured the Daimatic or SCG gearbox life problem. The gearbox, derived from a pre-war design, was simply not developed enough to handle the work. Don't forget, some Midland Red S17s (an 11 metre 6.5ton 52 seat singledecker with SCG gearboxes) subjected to the same "driver abuse" completed their service lives without ever having their gearboxes changed!
Magnificent machine? - No. With constant steering problems, poor suspension, short life brakes (handbrakes needed constant adjustment, rear lining life of 8 -10 weeks, not a quick renewal job), gearbox life 80,000 miles, later improved by a WMPTE modification, they were not strong enough or reliable enough. The Metrobus was far more reliable.
Overall, they were adequate, but should have been developed into a much tougher vehicle by 1968, by which time their weaknesses were well known.
There is a tendency to look at old buses through rose-tinted spectacles. I will mourn the passing of the Optare Spectra and Volvo B7TL President. I did not miss the Fleetline or Metrobus.
However, every bus has its good points. The Fleetlines were fantastic in the snow!!
Surely, if anythings, Midland Red schedules were a lot less strenuous on buses than the WMPTE ones.
WMPTE derived all of their schedules, quite naturally, from the constituent Corporations and the Midland Red services taken over in 1973. Generally, the latter in the Black Country were timed tighter than all of the Corporations with the exception of Walsall, with which they were on par.
Accelerations in the eighties consisted of the existing schedules with reduced layover times. At one time, this completely wrecked the highly profitable and reliable 245/246 service (Stourbridge-Dudley-Wednesbury, known since tramway days as the D'n'S), and it had to be hastily re-worked. I think hastily in those days was about three months. At one point, the Stourbridge- Birmingham 130 was combined with the Quinton-Birmingham 9, which was to a much slower timing. The Quinton drivers were most displeased when they found out they would have to run to the 130 timings! Years later, West Midlands finally achieved its ambition and closed the last ex BMMO garage (Hartshill). Drivers who found themselves on Corporation work in Wolverhampton and Quinton were heard to say it's like a holiday!
I have not managed to keep up with the many changes in the area since I moved away in 2001, but recent visits to the Black Country seem to show a necessary overall easing (rightly so) in the interests of reliability.
I agree with much of what you say about the Fleetline, but don't understand the comment about air in the hydraulics. Pedal to the metal refers to the accelerator which I thought was purely mechanical. The trouble with the weak gearbox was made worse by the fact that it was driven through a fluid clutch. 'Normal' automatics always drive through a torque convertor which absorbs the shocks of the lower gearchanges but if you read road tests of the 1970s you will see that the extra fuel consumption of a torque convertor wasn't considered a price worth paying. The drivers on 4613 had no trouble achieving good gearchanges but that care was rarely forthcoming in the 70s and 80s.
Quote from: Tiptonian on May 23, 2015, 07:22:47 PM
Driver abuse? - This is an old turkey that should have been laid to rest years ago. If a driver changes down at too-high revs, it is the engine, not the gearbox that gets wrecked. If a driver flicks gears upwards without pausing, he is only doing what all automatic gearboxes did then and do now (stop and think about it before having a knee-jerk reaction).
You are wrong, plain and simple, and I would suggest that you would do well to learn about what you're attempting to lecture on before decrying everyone else's views on the topic.
A semi-auto uses brake bands and epicyclic gears and absolutely is not intended to be up-shifted with the throttle open. By doing so, you are causing said brake bands - a friction component - to attempt to slow the full force of the engine under load, which does nothing for their longevity and is the exact reason why semi-auto gearboxes can be destroyed in a matter of weeks by continual abuse from poor drivers. Equally when changing down at too high speeds and without attempting to match the engine speed to road speed, the brake bands are what takes the brunt of the shock before it has reached the engine.
A full auto of the Voith or ZF kind does not use brake bands and neither does it use epicyclic gears, and is of a totally different design to a semi-auto. Neither does it utilise fluid coupling between the engine and gearbox, another component easily damaged by poor driving standards in a semi.
A full auto is designed to shift up when under load; a semi-auto of the kind fitted to Fleetlines and so on is not.
I suggest that you speak to someone of a mechanical mindset who has experience of repairing wrecked semi-autos as a result of driver abuse and see what they have to say about your incorrect 'facts'.
Have to agree with Barry 619, was taught to pause in ''neutral'' on upward changes and, give a slight rev in ''neutral on downward changes. Made for much smoother changes. Was good enough to get through the test.
Technically Barry 619 is wrong - Voith, ZF and Allison autos (except automated manuals) use epicyclic or planetary gears which are engaged by some kind of clutch, which is what the brake bands on the Fleetline gearbox are. But the comments about older epicyclic gearboxes and the fluid clutch are spot-on. London Transport in its Merlins, Swifts and Fleetlines arranged for the automatic operation of the gearbox to start in second and to change up under full load - just about the worst treatment you can give to such a transmission! LT got away with it in the RM, but loads were lighter and the transmission kept cooler. I was very glad when the Metrobus came along with its smooth Voith.
You all know too much, I just used to rag it through with no regard for its mechanical components. Often complaints from old dears at the time, 'oh you nearly broke my neck' same old dear who'd give me toffees the week later.
Fleetline accelerator.
The linkage between the accelerator pedal and fuel pump was a simple hydraulic system, as would be found on the brakes of a 1950s /1960s car without servo assistance. There was a small plastic reservoir (which I understand was usually in the cab) for the fluid, a master cylinder under the cab floor, and a slave cylinder mounted on the engine next to the fuel pump. If the bus had been run at full power (sometimes not for very long!), power would tail off due to air either being present in, or leaking into the fluid pipe. If releasing and re-applying the accelerator did not work, the driver would have to reach down and pull the pedal up manually. For some reason, the Leyland engined examples did not suffer in this respect as much as those with Gardner engines.
Gearbox life and barry619.
I do not seek to lecture on this, but to encourage thought and debate on an over-simplification of what happened at the time. Yes, some drivers did treat these devices in an unsympathetic way, but from what I saw, most did not, but with the passage of time, it seems to now be taken as fact that the gearbox problems suffered by the Fleetline and Bristol VRT were all down to driver abuse. This is simply not true. The proof is that many other types of vehicles including Daimler CV, Leyland Titan, Leopard, Atlantean, and various AECs and BMMOs all operated successfully with what was fundamentally the same type of gearbox. No-one would suggest that a driver would change his habits due to a different type of vehicle, so something else must be considered, eg vehicle weight, high temperature environment, under-development of the unit for that vehicle, and even tight scheduling. I would even suggest that most of the fully-automatic systems applied to these gearboxes, including that on the Routemaster, did shift up when under load, and actually made it impossible to match the revs up or down.
I do not pretend to know the internal workings of a Voith or ZF auto. It has been many years since I saw such diagrams, but I do appreciate there are no brake bands. If I recall correctly though, the gearing does not work on a layshaft, so I assume it must have some form of epicyclic gear. I am more than happy to be corrected on this.
barry619, it is your last paragraph that troubles me. It is the inference that driver abuse alone has caused sudden catastrophic failure of gearboxes, which is what I have taken you to mean by "wrecked". Has this frequently been the case? I did speak at length to engineers/mechanics at the time, (yes, I was very nosey!). The consensus was that, while it would help if drivers were more careful, in the end they simply wore out.
Saw London transport green NLE627 near M42 while onboard 6702 900 towards airport 0935
for anyone interested
B6 669 S669VOA is attending Showbus 2015 at Woburn Abbey on 20/09/15
Quote from: nxwmbusfan1999 on August 03, 2015, 11:38:20 AM
for anyone interested
B6 669 S669VOA is attending Showbus 2015 at Woburn Abbey on 20/09/15
I wonder how it will get there.... ;D
Quote from: The Real 4778 on August 03, 2015, 12:25:50 PM
I wonder how it will get there.... ;D
What are you implying?
669 has clocked up nearly 950 faultless miles since leaving NX. Therefore the 90 miles each way to showbus should be a walk in the park!
4001 will be there too, with Walsall 56.
Quote from: Stevo on August 03, 2015, 07:42:18 PM
4001 will be there too, with Walsall 56.
NX are sending at least two buses, maybe 3
4001 R1NEG
has been confirmed for this years showbus 2015
along with metro B811AOP 2811
http://www.showbus.com/entry/entry2015.htm
I think it was on Saturday afternoon, but there was a routemaster traveling up Washwood Heath Road at Saltley. Possibly a JJD-D example. Not seen a Routemaster there since Frontline operated a couple of examples on the 94 in the early 90s
Saw 669 going round Old Square in Brum about 6:45, was quite cool to see a B6 around town I have to admit
A Spectra (must have been 4001, low height) went round Lancaster Circus around 9:30
Quote from: John on August 20, 2015, 10:42:32 AM
A Spectra (must have been 4001, low height) went round Lancaster Circus around 9:30
my mate Ross was taking it for MOT
@John
Just seen and photod 669 on moor st queensway!
Quote from: WMT3000 on October 31, 2015, 03:37:24 PM
Just seen and photod 669 on moor st queensway!
Feel free to share the pic!
if anyone wants a photograph
Metrobus F53XOF 3053 is now at NXWM Miller Street after being transferred from Travel De Courcey's Coventry depot
Metrobus 3053 was parked on Park Street this afternoon in the lay-by by Matthew Boulton Colege, around 1.30pm
Quote from: John on November 20, 2015, 03:16:27 PM
Metrobus 3053 was parked on Park Street this afternoon in the lay-by by Matthew Boulton Colege, around 1.30pm
Just arrived back at Miller Street.
B6LE 620 is now preserved with the 'Wyvern Bus Preservation Group'
Some pictures here
https://www.facebook.com/Wyvernbus/?fref=photo
It's very nice to see all these older NXWM buses getting preserved but still,nobody has preserved a B10L
Quote from: John on December 08, 2015, 02:03:52 PM
B6LE 620 is now preserved with the 'Wyvern Bus Preservation Group'
Some pictures here
https://www.facebook.com/Wyvernbus/?fref=photo
I wonder if it broke down a few minutes into it's journey :P
Quote from: Dylanbusboy45 on December 08, 2015, 03:33:26 PM
It's very nice to see all these older NXWM buses getting preserved but still,nobody has preserved a B10L
One NXWM B10L has been bought for preservation, but if it's not public knowledge then I shan't share any more details!
Good to know one has been preserved
Quote from: D10 on December 08, 2015, 08:39:02 PM
One NXWM B10L has been bought for preservation, but if it's not public knowledge then I shan't share any more details!
It's hopefully, although not definitely yet being collected Friday
B10L 7122 (P122 KSL) was donated to Dundee Museum of Transport for preservation some time ago. (It was the first new bus put on the road by NX after their takeover of Tayside Buses in 1997)
1415 joined the ranks of preserved buses today
4044 probably the best president at west brom always smile when it comes my way. I recently drove it still superb to drive, reason for posting here as these presidents time here is ever drawing closer , I thought I,d mention it as candiate for presavation or resale for further use , you won't be disappointed with this one it's a gem. I were in a position to collect buses this would definitely be in it.
Quote from: Tony on December 11, 2015, 05:50:26 PM
1415 joined the ranks of preserved buses today
That's good news.
Had two runs on 693 earlier at AMRTM. Got to say, what a beast! Was fun too with a little band onboard playing Christmas songs.
Just saw 4001 in Walsall.
Quote from: P419 EJW on December 19, 2015, 12:38:16 PM
Just saw 4001 in Walsall.
@P419 EJW they are doing a Christmas tour as one of my mates is involved
Was that you, Tony, that we saw at the wheel of 4462 as we turned into WA on our tour?
Quote from: Stevo on December 19, 2015, 07:15:46 PM
Was that you, Tony, that we saw at the wheel of 4462 as we turned into WA on our tour?
It was
Whilst me and
@Will where on LM 172 211 before Droitwich Spa we spotted 4413 NOB 413N heading towards Worcester displaying 59
Quote from: RS on January 16, 2016, 03:19:29 PM
Whilst me and @Will where on LM 172 211 before Droitwich Spa we spotted 4413 NOB 413M heading towards Worcester displaying 59
@RS it's NOB 413M ;)
Its NOB 413M RS not NOB 413N
Quote from: Will on January 16, 2016, 03:38:54 PM
I just said that....
I didn't see your quote until after I posted mine sorry
Coventry Metrobus 3053 passed along Moor St today at 12:50
Quote from: Dylanbusboy45 on January 23, 2016, 03:38:25 PM
Coventry Metrobus 3053 passed along Moor St today at 12:50
In city this afternoon as well - bus drivers all over it!!
4005 is now at Wythall for spares to keep 4001 going.
1401 now preserved
Great news! Another preserved B10L! It's 1401. ;D
See here (https://www.flickr.com/photos/leebeelee123/26125667966/) for the short video of 1401.
Any body got any idea about metrobuses ?? Down lye cross stour vale rd not far from hansons yard
Seen 3053 on Priory Queensway by B & M about 12:30 today back to original spec albeit in TC livery looking great would of got a photo but she pulled off before I got out of B & M. Not sure why she was out but it was nice to see a MK2A Metrobus back on Birmingham turf even in TC blue
Quote from: Squiz1971 on April 19, 2016, 03:09:47 PM
Seen 3053 on Priory Queensway by B & M about 12:30 today back to original spec albeit in TC livery looking great would of got a photo but she pulled off before I got out of B & M. Not sure why she was out but it was nice to see a MK2A Metrobus back on Birmingham turf even in TC blue
It's based at Miller Street if you want to get a photo there?
Quote from: Michael Bevan on April 19, 2016, 03:23:22 PM
It's based at Miller Street if you want to get a photo there?
I know it mate but seeing 3053 on the road is a better shot to me personally
If anyone is interested former Midland Red West Leyland Lynx G142HNP will be attending the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Bus rally tomorrow. Other buses expected are a few Volvo B10M/Alexander PS, a few Leyland Nationals, a few Bristol REs and WMPTE Ailsa 4527.
Quote from: Dylanbusboy45 on July 09, 2016, 07:21:01 PM
If anyone is interested former Midland Red West Leyland Lynx G142HNP will be attending the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Bus rally tomorrow. Other buses expected are a few Volvo B10M/Alexander PS, a few Leyland Nationals, a few Bristol REs and WMPTE Ailsa 4527.
We will see you and your dad there mate
Quote from: filbus1 on July 09, 2016, 07:53:57 PM
We will see you and your dad there mate
Yes see you there Phil :)
Aston Manor in a few hours time, will have their regular open day.
Of interest will be the appearance, courtesy of Wythall, of ex Walsall Fleetline 56!
So did anyone goto Aston Manor today then?
Quote from: Westy on July 10, 2016, 03:11:41 PM
So did anyone goto Aston Manor today then?
I did. Had a ride on Fleetline 56 too.
Couldn't make it... Had 3 trips oln 4M instead lol
Quote from: Michael Bevan on July 10, 2016, 05:42:49 PM
I did. Had a ride on Fleetline 56 too.
I was on the half 12 back to town.
Quote from: Westy on July 10, 2016, 10:29:53 PM
I was on the half 12 back to town.
Same trip I did. Took some photograph's in Walsall then hopped back on.
Preserved B10L P415EJW 1415 is attending Showbus 2016.
If anyone is looking for an amazing day to travel on West Midlands preserved buses I suggest you attend WMPTE 30 at Wythall on October 9th. According to the most recent issue of Bus & Coach preservation, the following will work in service. Of course some may not turn up etc but a great variety of buses in service:
BCT 2548/2976/2245/3009/3780
Walsall 56/116
Coventry 135
Midland Red West 544
WMPTE 3913/4413/4527/4613/4714/4738/6225/6311/6757/6986/7004
WMT 1026/1037/1266/1956/2912/2989/3057
TWM 598/620/669/693/1401/1707/2811/4001/4002
WMPTE 3663/6600/2496/BCT 3880 will also be in attendance as static
The idea is that the oldest buses start first and the running fleet gets more modern through the day finishing with the low-floor vehicles. Should be very memorable!
Quote from: Stevo on September 01, 2016, 08:21:18 PM
The idea is that the oldest buses start first and the running fleet gets more modern through the day finishing with the low-floor vehicles. Should be very memorable!
Ah right. I will personally have to avoid the first few trips then as I don't have interest in half cabs but I will have something to ride on for the rest of the day
Sunday 9th October Autumn Running Day and WMPTE 30 Event at Wythall Transport Museum.
Link below is all the times of buses and entries.
http://www.wythall.org.uk/octoberbuses.pdf
Lets hope Aston Manor do something too?
Quote from: Westy on October 05, 2016, 07:24:08 PM
Lets hope Aston Manor do something too?
They have an operating day on 16th October, I hope as many as possible turn up to support them.
Quote from: filbus1 on October 05, 2016, 07:42:28 PM
They have an operating day on 16th October, I hope as many as possible turn up to support them.
Didn't seem that much of a crowd at all today, bit of a shame but at the same time they didn't really have much going on today either.
Was however good to see Tracline Metrobus 8110 out and about though
Quote from: Kevin on October 16, 2016, 05:33:43 PM
Didn't seem that much of a crowd at all today, bit of a shame but at the same time they didn't really have much going on today either.
Was however good to see Tracline Metrobus 8110 out and about though
To be honest, I didnt do all the trips today. I only did the Lichfield & got off at Chasewater, as I went from the Heaths down to the main station, then walked all the way to Brownhills & caught a 10 back to Walsall.
1266 just past me on Small Heath Highway.
Quote from: Nathan on October 27, 2016, 02:23:59 PM
1266 just past me on Small Heath Highway.
Would have been due to it just being purchased by the Yardley Wood Bus Club and probably would have been en route to Wythall when you saw it
Quote from: Dylanbusboy45 on October 27, 2016, 03:25:14 PM
Would have been due to it just being purchased by the Yardley Wood Bus Club and probably would have been en route to Wythall when you saw it
It would of been nice to of seen 1266 at Wythall a fortnight ago for the WMT30 event. It will be nice to see her at the Wythall open days next year too
Quote from: Squiz1971 on October 27, 2016, 04:17:35 PM
It would of been nice to of seen 1266 at Wythall a fortnight ago for the WMT30 event. It will be nice to see her at the Wythall open days next year too
I agree it will be nice to see it at more events as you never used to see 1266 very much
Quote from: Dylanbusboy45 on October 27, 2016, 04:21:17 PM
I agree it will be nice to see it at more events as you never used to see 1266 very much
Its been for a bit of work, will not be at Wythall just yet.
Don't forget Wythall's first twilight running day this Saturday. Here's what's hoped to be running:
JOJ976, BHA399C, SDA757S, 6545HA, KFM775, GHA337, CCX777, SOE913H, S620VOA, CVP207, CUV219C, XDH56G, 334CRW, MXX23, NLE627, MOF 9, TOE527N. It's on from 12 noon to 7 pm.
Quote from: filbus1 on October 27, 2016, 05:25:41 PM
Its been for a bit of work, will not be at Wythall just yet.
Ok thanks
@filbus1 Will be good to see it at Wythalls future events :)
Ailsa 4738 just passed through Wolverhampton City Centre.
1266 is at Wythall now, looking good.
Quote from: Stevo on November 20, 2016, 09:23:41 PM
1266 is at Wythall now, looking good.
Been there since 5th November. it will be at the WM social club toyfair and collectors event at Wheelers Lane Billesley next Sunday 27th November along with a few other vehicles from the local area.
There is a NXWM liveried Dart in a yard at the bottom of Heath Road, Darlaston.
Quote from: mikestone on November 22, 2016, 06:33:20 PM
There is a NXWM liveried Dart in a yard at the bottom of Heath Road, Darlaston.
ALX200 bodied?
No - Plaxton.
Do you mean TWM livery? The only Plaxton Darts in the fleet were the six ex Smiths step entrance and the two SPDs. Or could it be one of the ex Dundee B6s?
All bar 1 of the Dundee B6's were scrapped, the one that was sold on went to Wales, none of them were ever in NXWM livery though.
Saw 620 in brum this afternoon on the ringway. Sadly it pulled off just before I could get my umpteenth photo of it. ;)
Quote from: mikestone on November 22, 2016, 06:33:20 PM
There is a NXWM liveried Dart in a yard at the bottom of Heath Road, Darlaston.
Was at EMR
Sorry my mistake, the yard is in Station Street, not Heath Road.
Quote from: WMT3000 on November 25, 2016, 06:15:12 PM
Saw 620 in brum this afternoon on the ringway. Sadly it pulled off just before I could get my umpteenth photo of it. ;)
It had been to Wythall to have a ticket machine fitted.
What was the old bus i n old birmingham colours seen today in Acocks green at about 2pm
Quote from: Solo1 on December 18, 2016, 11:28:25 PM
What was the old bus i n old birmingham colours seen today in Acocks green at about 2pm
Could of been 3225 from YW
@Solo1
Around 1115ish I,m sure I saw a Volvo b6le wrightbus in red/white livery head down pound road towards blackheath , at first I thought 49 on diversion then I thought hold on that's B6 may be on a Sunday drive out.
Quote from: 2900 on January 29, 2017, 12:17:36 PM
Around 1115ish I,m sure I saw a Volvo b6le wrightbus in red/white livery head down pound road towards blackheath , at first I thought 49 on diversion then I thought hold on that's B6 may be on a Sunday drive out.
It was R598YON on a Black Country route tour :D
3603 passed through Walsall Road, Beeches Road displaying "SPECIAL", around 13:40.
Just passed ex NXWM 1415 on Kingstanding Road heading towards Kingstanding Circle.
Pershore Road branded mcw? Wythall museum use it was in merry hill an hour ago
Quote from: Chris on June 11, 2017, 03:24:13 PM
Pershore Road branded mcw? Wythall museum use it was in merry hill an hour ago
@Chris that would be 2811 B811 AOP
It was on a route tour of its old haunts. I was in Crich riding on old trams.
4001 (R1 NEG) has a new look now. https://www.facebook.com/TransportMuseumWythall/posts/1582827198440020
Quote from: P419 EJW on September 15, 2017, 11:35:56 AM
4001 (R1 NEG) has a new look now. https://www.facebook.com/TransportMuseumWythall/posts/1582827198440020
Just zoomed past me at lightning speed on the Dudley Road!
Quote from: P419 EJW on September 15, 2017, 11:35:56 AM
4001 (R1 NEG) has a new look now. https://www.facebook.com/TransportMuseumWythall/posts/1582827198440020 (https://www.facebook.com/TransportMuseumWythall/posts/1582827198440020)
Erm, looks really good, but weren't the stripes thicker on the original? Or is it just the angle of the pic
Quote from: uniquicity on September 15, 2017, 12:17:45 PM
Erm, looks really good, but weren't the stripes thicker on the original? Or is it just the angle of the pic
No, you're right. The red stripe should finish a lot closer to the right-hand corner of the first window on the offside
See 2nd picture from bottom:
http://wmbusphotos.com/NXWM/4001-4224/4001.html
Quote from: P419 EJW on September 15, 2017, 11:35:56 AM
4001 (R1 NEG) has a new look now. https://www.facebook.com/TransportMuseumWythall/posts/1582827198440020
Wonderful!! The red part looks weird.
Does anyone on here know the late Mike Wood's family or anything about 3035?
It is a very poorly Guy Arab parked down at Marden that I believe will be sold next month, and NXWM are possibly looking at it. But I cannot find out who is selling it on behalf of the family
Low floor happy hour at Wythall tomorrow with 4001/2, 669 and 1415 shuttling between Wythall and Maypole between 1130 and 1250. Plus 6835, 2462, 2912 and 3053 on various duties, plus Fleetlines plus Lynx 1266 and more.
Aldridge's Tracline Metrobus seen on the Aldridge Road heading towards Perry Barr just now
Reported on Merseyside bus forum that Scania 3215 has been purchased from Voel Coaches by a preservationist from Lichfield.
Quote from: mikestone on November 21, 2017, 10:44:50 AM
Reported on Merseyside bus forum that Scania 3215 has been purchased from Voel Coaches by a preservationist from Lichfield.
Correct
Hi Tony
Did NXWM manage to buy 3035?
Quote from: Wolves256 on November 21, 2017, 02:29:10 PM
Hi Tony
Did NXWM manage to buy 3035?
No-one has yet, The solicitors still haven't got a method of sale yet
Things are moving on Tony...
6672 for sale on ebay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/leyland-double-decker-bus-restoration-project/152806267274?hash=item2393f6998a:g:mHcAAOSwdjdaHYPt
T313 UOX , Optare Solo has now been Preserved and will go back into Travel West Midlands Livery as 313
Quote from: Stefan585 on December 04, 2017, 08:28:39 AM
T313 UOX , Optare Solo has now been Preserved and will go back into Travel West Midlands Livery as 313
Well at least one ex TWM example is saved for now. I've been told that T313 UOX is the 4th Optare Solo to enter preservation.
Mutiny on the Buses as one of the 'Solo Saviours' drops out of the running of preserving T313 UOX Who ever said preserving Buses was easy...
Quote from: Straightlines on January 30, 2018, 11:57:44 PM
Mutiny on the Buses as one of the 'Solo Saviours' drops out of the running of preserving T313 UOX Who ever said preserving Buses was easy...
I just want to say before anyone starts slating me on the forum...I dropped out because of an issue that was going on in the group and I disagreed with the actions of some of the members...It wasn't to do with any financial reasons or anything involving the bus...
Why not join the Black Country Bus Preservation Group, I've heard that they are looking for new members...
Another vehicle has left Miller Street for preservation, this time a very unusual one. Hispano bodied Mercedes O404 Coach which was in South Birmingham College livery where it had been on long term loan to them, but actually NX fleet number C099.
Today the last part of sorting out the purchase of Guy Arab 3035 was finalised, NXWM will pay for it within the next few days, and RS Recovery will low loader it to an NXWM garage sometime in March.
Although there is no V5, Because of the length of time it has been off the road one has never been issued for it, I have spoken to the DVLA today and they will reissue registration MOF 35 for it,
I may be seeing things, but just seen a the tombola advert on tv, with what looked like to be a freshly painted 3225
Amazing news!
Quote from: Tony on February 28, 2018, 09:33:55 PM
Today the last part of sorting out the purchase of Guy Arab 3035 was finalised, NXWM will pay for it within the next few days, and RS Recovery will low loader it to an NXWM garage sometime in March.
Although there is no V5, Because of the length of time it has been off the road one has never been issued for it, I have spoken to the DVLA today and they will reissue registration MOF 35 for it,
Wasnt there a Metrobus coming back?
Quote from: Westy on March 01, 2018, 05:09:51 PM
Wasnt there a Metrobus coming back?
If you mean 2957, yes, it's already here.
Noticed on the latest "Main Site" photograph 2957 has gained standard Silver wheel rims, are these temporary or a permanent change?
Quote from: V89MOA on April 18, 2018, 08:02:04 PM
Noticed on the latest "Main Site" photograph 2957 has gained standard Silver wheel rims, are these temporary or a permanent change?
They are brand new wheels, and will be staying silver for the time being
Quote from: V89MOA on April 18, 2018, 08:02:04 PM
Noticed on the latest "Main Site" photograph 2957 has gained standard Silver wheel rims, are these temporary or a permanent change?
I hadn't noticed that it previously had blue wheels - did it ever run in service with these? In all the old pictures of blue / gold Timesavers on Flickr, they have standard silver rims.
Quote from: Mike K on April 18, 2018, 08:24:24 PM
I hadn't noticed that it previously had blue wheels - did it ever run in service with these? In all the old pictures of blue / gold Timesavers on Flickr, they have standard silver rims.
It took me ages to find a photo but yes, 2938 has them here in service https://www.flickr.com/photos/67924603@N02/28427617502 , there are loads of photos of them in the Silver Timesaver livery with blue wheels but barely any in the Blue/Gold livery.
MOF 35 is hopefully being collected by National Express in about a weeks time.
It will be taken to Walsall for restoration
Just a thought - how about doing it in WMPTE livery with the lighter blue? There are plenty of BCT standards in BCT very dark blue.
Quote from: Stevo on May 20, 2018, 07:10:32 PM
Just a thought - how about doing it in WMPTE livery with the lighter blue? There are plenty of BCT standards in BCT very dark blue.
I've already said that is the aim
Nice pictures of some Wythall Midland Reds just put on the site. That's me conducting 5399. Thanks, Tony!
If anyone wants to see or photograph 2957 I am due to pick a private hire party up with it on Smallbrook Queensway at 10:30 tomorrow morning.
It will also be attending, and likely running at the Aldridge museum running day on Sunday
Quote from: Tony on July 06, 2018, 09:22:35 PMIt will also be attending, and likely running at the Aldridge museum running day on Sunday
Cheers for the heads up, I'll be sure to grab some shots and hopefully manage to get a ride on it.
Quote from: Tony on July 06, 2018, 09:22:35 PM
If anyone wants to see or photograph 2957 I am due to pick a private hire party up with it on Smallbrook Queensway at 10:30 tomorrow morning.
It will also be attending, and likely running at the Aldridge museum running day on Sunday
Just seen 2957 in Birmingham City Centre. I suppose this sighting will be somewhat be a collectors item once the Birmingham Clean Air Zone comes into effect?
Quote from: Straightlines on July 07, 2018, 10:58:06 AM
Just seen 2957 in Birmingham City Centre. I suppose this sighting will be somewhat be a collectors item once the Birmingham Clean Air Zone comes into effect?
At the rate NX are investing in preserved vehicles it will be retrofitted to Euro 6!
Quote from: Straightlines on July 07, 2018, 10:58:06 AM
Just seen 2957 in Birmingham City Centre. I suppose this sighting will be somewhat be a collectors item once the Birmingham Clean Air Zone comes into effect?
I doubt it. Are buses charged when they're not in service? I drove plenty of Plaxton Presidents through the City Centre when returning from Perry Barr to Acocks Green off the 11, whilst the Euro 3 thing was in force.
And even if they do get fined, they'll probably add that cost to the person booking the bus.
I saw 2957 earlier on Walsall Road by Perry Avenue while I was on 1877.
A very smart looking Bedford Plaxton coach MFS 444P just gone down my road in Kidderminster! :o
Preserved West Midlands Travel 'Timesaver' MCW Metrobus Mk2 2912 (N912 NDA) passed through Walsall town centre about 1pm.
Quote from: Nathan on November 17, 2018, 01:32:09 PM
Preserved West Midlands Travel 'Timesaver' MCW Metrobus Mk2 2912 (N912 NDA) passed through Walsall town centre about 1pm.
It had passed it's MOT today, so the owner decided to take it for a spin around the Walsall area.
West Bromwich corp 101 on 74 to Dudley
Former Travel Dundee/Travel West Midlands/National Express Optare Spectra/DAF DB250LF 4002 (R2 NEG), the first low floor double decker built and introduced in Scotland has been secured for preservation by the Scotbus Preservation Group.
Quote from: Nathan on August 30, 2019, 11:42:31 PM
Former Travel Dundee/Travel West Midlands/National Express Optare Spectra/DAF DB250LF 4002 (R2 NEG), the first low floor double decker built and introduced in Scotland has been secured for preservation by the Scotbus Preservation Group.
Great news, I always hoped this bus would be preserved, I had hoped the first low floor single decker in Scotland (Tayside Scania/East Lancs 114 L3 LOW) would have been preserved as well but it was allowed to rot and was scrapped. Where will 4002 be based?
Are there any Volvo B10s (the 13** ones) had have been preserved?
No there's no B10B's 13** series preserved would be nice for one to be preserved still 1377 & 1385 in training fleet so someone should try to save one
Quote from: Wright liberator on April 13, 2020, 12:59:36 PM
No there's no B10B's 13** series preserved would be nice for one to be preserved still 1377 & 1385 in training fleet so someone should try to save one
Used to love them on the 260 especially along the A449, the trash was amazing!
I'm told 1509 was collected yesterday for preservation, I don't know any more than that, but it's nice to see one saved, as they're a fairly unique vehicle.
Quote from: DJ on January 10, 2021, 10:56:30 PM
I'm told 1509 was collected yesterday for preservation, I don't know any more than that, but it's nice to see one saved, as they're a fairly unique vehicle.
There's now a photo of it on Flickr in preservation:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50886964827_b02dd7f10d_w.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kwGZLx)
Travel West Midlands Alexander Ultra Boided Volvo B10L P509KOX (Preserved) (https://flic.kr/p/2kwGZLx) by alexmcw@ymail.com (https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexs-train-bus/), on Flickr
2783 what state that is in better of being in the scrap yard 🤦🏽♂️
Not long driven past 3225 on the Hagley Road - around 11am
Is anything being preserved in red & white or the 1990's silver eventually?
(Seeing it appears most versions of the various liveries seem to have an example preserved?)
Quote from: Westy on March 20, 2021, 11:15:16 AM
Is anything being preserved in red & white or the 1990's silver eventually?
(Seeing it appears most versions of the various liveries seem to have an example preserved?)
Red and White ! - I hope not, the worst livery by far
Is there anything being preserved in MH, TYB or the TWM livery that the B10s/Lynxs carried does anyone know?
Quote from: the trainbasher on March 20, 2021, 02:57:28 PM
Is there anything being preserved in MH, TYB or the TWM livery that the B10s/Lynxs carried does anyone know?
Wouldn't complain if an e200 gets a Travel Merry Hill livery
A toothpaste livery would be great! Either a Gem, B7RLE or an E400! Not the red & white livery - it's so dull and basic. I'll be glad when it's gone.
Quote from: Westy on March 20, 2021, 11:15:16 AM
Is anything being preserved in red & white
Yes, but I can't say any details yet. Watch this space though! ;)
Quote from: DJ on March 21, 2021, 12:43:03 AM
Yes, but I can't say any details yet. Watch this space though! ;)
would of said the bus Izzy brought 4126 in memory of her I know they have a bus named after her
Quote from: Solo1 on March 21, 2021, 09:34:51 AM
would of said the bus Izzy brought 4126 in memory of her I know they have a bus named after her
Well, that one is already in the red & white livery, but the plan is to restore it back to it's original condition.
Quote from: Westy on March 20, 2021, 11:15:16 AM
Is anything being preserved in red & white or the 1990's silver eventually?
(Seeing it appears most versions of the various liveries seem to have an example preserved?)
Theres three B6s that are preserved in the red and white livery, 620 and 669 are two of them
Quote from: Solo1 on March 21, 2021, 09:34:51 AM
would of said the bus Izzy brought 4126 in memory of her I know they have a bus named after her
@Solo1 there are new owners of 4126 now who plan to put the vehicle back into it's original condition in TWM livery as
@DJ has already mentioned.
@Enviro Girl has been posting updates on an Instagram account for the bus here... www.instagram.com/4126trixy/
4002 has finally departed from Burton for preservation, however it's no longed going up to Scotland. It's been acquired by Orson Godfrey from the Bromley Bus Preservation Group, but don't worry, it's being kept fairly local to the Midlands. I can't say the exact place for obvious reasons though! I'll try and keep everyone updated on the progress, although I presume stuff will be posted on the BBPG Facebook too.
Midland Fox liveried EAP 984V passed me earlier today on Aldridge Road, near Asda Queslett
It isn't kept locally, is it? Would've thought it travelled from further away! Nice to see it out nevertheless - shame I was in a moving car going the other way
Quote from: CL on April 21, 2021, 08:02:02 PM
Midland Fox liveried EAP 984V passed me earlier today on Aldridge Road, near Asda Queslett
It isn't kept locally, is it? Would've thought it travelled from further away! Nice to see it out nevertheless - shame I was in a moving car going the other way
Kept at Miller Street
Quote from: Tony on April 21, 2021, 08:09:50 PM
Kept at Miller Street
Ah, thanks for that :) Mystery solved
Currently Aston Manor is flagging an open day on the 11th July(which thankfully is a week after my second jab!).
Are any of the Nx heritage fleet planning to make an appearance?
Just seen Midland Red C1 coach 3301 (KHA 301) being driven through Kidderminster.
Looks like it has had a very thorough repanelling job done, being totally in bare metal/silver.
4126 has now left Walsall for a new home in preservation. The owners do not want the location on the internet.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/28314464@N03/51172945935/in/photolist-CnSonK-kJ8abc-nwLJ5Q-nrzAAT-r6TPaK-dfLNS9-2kXYHZ8-2kXcBvB-kUHicx-2kXYHZi-2kX8czm-2kXcu1V-2kXcBCF-2kXbe5s-2kXctXy-sdG8Nn-nFkJ7Z
Ex YourBus H159SKU seen in Cheddleton yesterday (not by me)
Quote from: D10 on June 02, 2021, 09:35:54 AM
Just seen Midland Red C1 coach 3301 (KHA 301) being driven through Kidderminster.
Looks like it has had a very thorough repanelling job done, being totally in bare metal/silver.
It turned up at Wythall on Monday saw it being driven in & it looked weird in just the bare metal
@D10
Going off their latest post on Facebook, B6LE 598 has joined the collection at Wythall
Quote from: CL on September 25, 2021, 02:55:10 PM
Going off their latest post on Facebook, B6LE 598 has joined the collection at Wythall
Bet they will love the 'ding ding ding ding' etc, like we all did, when they were in service!
Ex NXWM 4126 has passed it's MOT today and has been for a tour around Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield to celebrate. Worth noting that it passed with 0 advisories too.
Anyone know anything about Volvo B10B 1349? Marked on the main site as having been sold for preservation earlier this year just wondering who/where etc?
NX trident 4321 joined the preserved ranks today after NX dontated it to Wythall Museum
Quote from: Tony on November 15, 2021, 03:59:00 PM
NX trident 4321 joined the preserved ranks today after NX dontated it to Wythall Museum
Was that the bus with the multicoloured LED displays?
Well done, NXWM!
Quote from: Wumpty on November 16, 2021, 08:15:50 AM
Was that the bus with the multicoloured LED displays?
No, just selected by the museum as a representative of the era, with the actual vehicle chosen because a volunteer at the museum is also a vehicle inspector at YW and knew the good and bad points of it.
Quote from: Wumpty on November 16, 2021, 08:15:50 AM
Was that the bus with the multicoloured LED displays?
Was that 4368 that used to be at BC years ago? That ones long gone now and been scrapped I think.
Quote from: 2206 on November 16, 2021, 01:28:19 PM
Was that 4368 that used to be at BC years ago? That ones long gone now and been scrapped I think.
That sounds familiar - what happened to the blind sets?
Quote from: Kevin on November 13, 2021, 07:36:41 PM
Anyone know anything about Volvo B10B 1349? Marked on the main site as having been sold for preservation earlier this year just wondering who/where etc?
1349 is with a private owner who owns about 4 other ex WMT vehicles. It is up to him if he makes his ownership public
Quote from: Tony on November 16, 2021, 04:28:28 PM
1349 is with a private owner who owns about 4 other ex WMT vehicles. It is up to him if he makes his ownership public
Thanks Tony, was just curious because I feared they'd all been scrapped
Quote from: Kevin on November 17, 2021, 08:57:34 AM
Thanks Tony, was just curious because I feared they'd all been scrapped
No, he's a good bloke and is at Miller Street today checking out 1450 & 1512 which he had made an offer in
Assuming they are available to buy, has anyone shown interest in any of the 17xx's, formerly of Walsall depot, either for further service or preservation yet?
Looks like ex-Dundee Gemini 7001 (SP54 CHF) has been procured by the ScotBus Preservation Group
Drove past WMPTE-liveried Meteobus 2789 heading northbound up the Walsall Road around 14:45 this afternoon!
Any ideas where it had been / was going?
QuoteDrove past WMPTE-liveried Meteobus 2789 heading northbound up the Walsall Road around 14:45 this afternoon!
Any ideas where it had been / was going?
Has been preserved by Black Country Preservation (people that have 3033 and 1421)
4240 being preserved by a private owner. Instagram account is - 87gang.x
did any of the 36xx survive or have they all gone for scrap ?
i tried to get interest in saving one but as usual nobody would follow me, couldnt do it alone so that as they say is that
my 3rd and final attempt to start a group to save something
wont bother again as nobody will allow me to join a group either - thats me done
Quote from: SUNDAY.BASH on April 17, 2023, 02:02:29 PMdid any of the 36xx survive or have they all gone for scrap ?
i tried to get interest in saving one but as usual nobody would follow me, couldnt do it alone so that as they say is that
my 3rd and final attempt to start a group to save something
wont bother again as nobody will allow me to join a group either - thats me done
Yes, one is in preservation
Bristol saloon KHW306E was seen outside Bromsgrove Town Museum on Saturday 15th April.
Quote from: B61 ANDREW on April 17, 2023, 03:54:31 PMBristol saloon KHW306E was seen outside Bromsgrove Town Museum on Saturday 15th April.
Doing the shuttle between Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove station and the Norton Collection Museum. It belongs to Transport Museum Wythall
I'd lost track of progress on 7001 but this recent video shows there's been plenty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqUWu4sB7p0
I still retain hope that 3436 sees the light of day before I shuffle off.
Happened across these buses in storage today.
4240, 2789 and 3033.
Quote from: Wumpty on May 24, 2023, 08:39:14 PMHappened across these buses in storage today.
4240, 2789 and 3033.
2789 is currently at Wythall having the roof of 3116 and other spare parts
Saw 6600 driving down the Bristol Road in Longbridge this morning
Quote from: Zaccy on November 04, 2023, 07:05:22 PMSaw 6600 driving down the Bristol Road in Longbridge this morning
Been to Wythall Transport Museum for some work.