Just thought I'd share all my Favourite Buses If you'd like to share all your favourite Buses Post below :)
Optare Solo - 280/315/318
Leyland Lynx - 1108/1120/1138/1141/1232/1233/1245
Wright Liberator B10B/B10L - 1357/1358/1405/1407/1412/1427/1429/1441/1467
Mercedes Benz O405N - 1515/1516/1632/1668
Wright Eclipse Urban - 1769/1771/1777/1786/1787
Metrobuses - 2469/2483/2554/2574/2654/2707/2741/2783/2813/2832/2849/2869/2871/2905/3056/3082
Plaxton President - 4023/4041/4057/4069/4117
Dennis/TransBus Trident - 4142/4187/4195/4202/4367/4386/4387/4436/4437/4441/4452/4629/4632
Wright Eclipse Gemini - 4520/4532/4653/4674
Dennis Enviro 400 - 4766/4769/4815/4900
Metrobuses & Tridents (4166)
The lynx's all the way.
The 0405N in general is a favourite of mine - the seats on post-1628 Mercs are some of the most comfortable in the fleet and the old warhorses do make a great noise. 1700 seems to be the best of the lot to me - for a 12 year old bus it barely rattles inside and the CCTV adds a certain uniqueness to it even if it isn't the only Merc to have it. I have a soft spot for Metrobuses aswell for the noise and nostalgia - they were the first buses I can remember being on. I also like the Liberators that sound similar to Metrobuses, again for the noise.
In terms of modern buses, I do like the E200s but since they've started rattling inside much more than you'd expect from a modern bus they have lost a little bit of charm for me. I think the top spot has to go to the grey leather seated E400s at Walsall for sheer comfort and they're not too bad looking either.
When the citaro bendibuses were used on the 27 in Coventry I used the buses daily and must say were some of the best built buses I have ever traveled on, never heard a rattle from them and weren't too bad for comfort although freezing on winter mornings.
The mercs are my favourite buses being brought up on them from a young age on the 404 service quick, quite reliable and the workhorses of the single decker fleet especially in the black country and Coventry. One of the best mercs for engine sounds is 1556 sounds very whiny and a good runner. Shame that there are no more branded 404 mercs in service as 1534 was the last to be withdrawn not surprised though must have clocked up a fair few miles on the 404/A back in the days. Although 1525/1658 live on as they virtually spent most of their lives on the service.
Favourite metro bus probably between 2646 and 2841 they were two long standing metrobuses at WB.
If I was to pick one favourite individual vehicle of each type currently at NXWM, here goes...
Volvo B6LE: 581
Volvo B7RLE (older): there is one which is a lot louder than the others, had it not long ago, can't remember the number but Nath will be able to tell me!
Volvo B7RLE (newer): 2098
Enviro200: 823
Mercedes O405N: 1540
Optare Spectra: 4002
Dennis/Transbus/ADL Trident (Voith): 4575
Dennis/Transbus/ADL Trident (ZF): 4560
Volvo B7TL (Plaxton President): 4064
Volvo B7TL (ALX400): any which make the screaming sound when the handbrake is applied!
Volvo B7TL (Wright Eclipse Gemini): 4503
ADL Trident (Enviro400): 4813
ADL Enviro400: 4913
Volvo B5LH: 5516
ADL Enviro400H: 5414
I have left out the ALX200 Darts, B10Ls, Omnilinks and Omnicities as I am not familiar enough with them to be able to pick an individual as a favourite
For me, it has got to be.......
Leyland National 2's
Leyland Lynx - had them from new on the 19/19S (Quinton garage) & 247/248 (Dudley garage)
Metrobuses - especially BC's DP Timesaver Metrobuses used them frequently on the 900 when that ran through to Hasbury
Scania N113/Alexander RH H--LOM at BC
Volvo B10L's again from new on the Hagley Rd corridor after Quinton garage closed and the routes moved to BC
Not so fussed with the modern stuff
My all-time favourite bus has to be the Volvo Citybus/B10M-50/D10M or whatever you want to call it. Favourite gearbox in that is Voith.
Also am a fan of the Metrobus, Volvo Olympian and Dennis Lance.
There are many types of older buses I have never been on, including Nationals and Lynxes
My favourites (Let me just say i started a similar thread some time ago about favourite buses)
B6LE-581 (One of the best ones at WN)
E200-824
WA B7RLE (Older Batch)-1773
B7RLE (Newer batch)-2013
Merc-1628 or 1676
Tridents-4609(My favourite bus in the fleet),4541 (Fastest one at WN by far!) and another good one 4560
Spectra-4002 or 4019 (4019 sounds very much like a Metrobus so i call it a Spectrobus ;))
E400H-5414
B5LH- All of 5510-14
E40D (Newer E400's 61 plate and 13 plates onwards)-4913
Trident E400-4813 or 4808
The other types i don't ride too often so couldn't pick or in the case of Omnilinks i don't like any of them
I have rode on every single Leyland Lynx/Metrobuses ( 2436 onwards) not 2662 2711 2773 2964
Leyland lynx rode them on many routes living in Sutton Coldfield being 66/66A 68A/68C 71.
I was very pleased when Hockley temporally re-instated lynxes 1188/1219 October2004-Febuary 2005 and did have some journeys on them on 68A/68C
1069/1071/1074/1077/1080/1084/1088/1090/1096/1099
/1103/1105/1110/1113/1127/1136/1138. 1158/1166/1172/1180/1181/1183/1188/1190/1199/1226/
1232/1243/1256/1257/1262/1265
Metrobus MK1
Mainly riding on Perry Barr routes during 1998/1999 a lot of vechiles drifted in from other garages EG 2039 2222 2398
to replace Long serving PB examples EG 2146 2258 2302
2039 2057 2082 2099 2106 2205 2222
All rolls Royce 2226-2245
2252 2376 2378 2380 2384 2389 2393 2395 2398
2403 2406 2409
Mk2
2440 2446 2485 2525 2563 2580 2593 2595 2598 2599
2600 2646 2658 2668 2676 2692 2693 2713 2715 2731
2743 2744 2748 2750 2756 2768 2776 2796 2805 2818
2821 2826 2832 2841 2882 2903 2908 2909 2969 2971
Timesaver
2913 2918 2922 2923 2924 2926 2930 2934 2938 2943 2944
2947 2948 2950 2951 2953 2954 2955 2957 2958
Mk2A
2989 2996 3008 3043 3058 3084 3086 3096 3117 3119
Leyland Fleetline
1956 6971 6986 7000
DP National
1818 1830
Mk2 national
1037 1041
Volvo B10L
1404 1419 1426 1429 1430 1438 1441 1446 1453 1461
1463 1464 1465 1469 1471 1472 1473 1477 7127 7128
Trident
4130 4308 4309 4332
Do not have much intrest in modern buses.
Stevensons/Arriva
Leyland Olympian G505-510 SFT batch and B911-13 NBF batch
Volvo B1OL Ultra - 1514
Dennis Trident - 4141, 4444
Enviro400 - 4737, 4875
B6LE - 600
4810 4618 20274
Quote from: Trident 4609 on August 18, 2013, 08:43:02 AM
Spectra-4002 or 4019 (4019 sounds very much like a Metrobus so i call it a Spectrobus ;))
That's my name you thief ;D
Did the rolls Royce metros sound much different to the standard one? I always wanted a ride on 7006/7 with the fleetline interior but never managed to get one
Ones that I miss are the Lynx, Fleetline, Metrobus and bendi mercs (purely for nostalgia, remembering exactly the same buses in Rotterdam when I was a kid), others I will miss when gone are the Spectras, Mercs and Walsall's Eclipses, probably the B10Ls as well. At the moment I would say I definitely won't miss the Tridents or anything else from the current fleet but that could always change later on when newer buses come and these all start getting phased out.
Quote from: bob on August 18, 2013, 10:45:41 AM
Did the rolls Royce metros sound much different to the standard one? I always wanted a ride on 7006/7 with the fleetline interior but never managed to get one
They had a similar characteristic high pitched whine to the standard Metrobuses but were noticeably different in engine noise, to enthusiasts at least. Not sure the general public would have noticed the difference. Don't know if it was my imagination at the time but they also felt slightly quicker. Used to ride on the AG batch 2226-2245 and 7006/7 regularly on the Outer Circle to and from school as a kid.
My favourites were:
Daimler Fleetlines that were fitted with Leyland engines instead of the usual Gardner (4530-4579 and 6301-6420), I loved the sound they made, I remember as a 8 year old being fascinated by them while traveling on the 63xx batch on routes 125/126 along the Hagley Road in 1978 and in 1980ish when 6313, 6314 and eventually 6315 were at Lea Hall, I used to see them where I lived in Bordesley Green on routes 28 (Small Heath-Great Barr), 98 (City-Marston Green) and 99 (City-Chelmsley Wood North). I remember going home from my nans in Tile Cross on the 97 (then based at Coventry Road Garage) on 6313 which had been brought out from Lea Hall to cover a breakdown ...... Happy Days !!!!
First buses I remember were metros and B10s. I used to like the metros because of the bell along the roof downstairs in some of them (I thought that was great at the time!) although please don't moan if that wasn't the metros (I just remember them as 'the blue and white ones'), plus they have a great engine noise. Haven't been on them since I was a kid though, although one did turn up on the 9 about 2005/6ish when I was on the way home from school to the anger of people with pushchairs (despite being repeatedly told there was another bus minutes behind).
No idea why but I used to think of 1375 as one of my favourites, when the B10s used to operate on the 241 (probably because it was in blue and white for so long, and it was the only number I seemed to take any notice of). I remember getting a B10B on the 241 up long lane from blackheath after we'd bought a pushchair, it wouldn't fit any further down the bus than the drivers cab, so after 2 stops we got off and walked because people couldn't get on or off. Another great engine noise.
Also quite like the darts, used to get them on the 441 on my way home from school, they have a great whiny engine noise, plus they were always empty and 9 was always packed, although I think now they are unbearably rattly (after going on one last week for the first time in about 5 years). I used to enjoy when a spectra turned up on the 9 as well, probably just because it was something different.
My favourite buses at the moment (that I've been on) are probably the leather enviros that were new to PB. Probably the comfiest bus I've been on.
I love the Lynxes, I remember always catching them on the 14 as a kid. I loved the sideward facing seats as you walked on to your right.
My favourites were
2595, 2909, 3049,3050
6488(my thumbnail photo), 6666, actually all ex WH fleetlines.
I liked the Nationals and Lynxes but never really had a favourite.
Ailsa 4773 was a favourite as well. Always a pleasure getting that on the 94 with Tame Valley.
I don't really have any favourite modern buses, but for some reason I always smile when I spot 4471 and 4474. Always had a soft spot for 4001. Out of the modern fleet, I have always like the ex new to LH buses, but none of them really stand out as favourites.
Shouldn't hurt to put my favorite NXD buses, right?
Volvo B7RLE: 2033
Volvo B7TL: 7003
Volvo B10L: 7151
Volvo B10BLE: 7161 & 7171
E400H: 5430
Solo: 7344
Speaking of the Volvo Ailsa, two WMT examples appeared at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum.
4527: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiewii/9541698930/
4738: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiewii/9541671534/
Quote from: Gareth on August 18, 2013, 03:36:20 PM
My favourites were
2595, 2909, 3049,3050
6488(my thumbnail photo), 6666, actually all ex WH fleetlines.
I liked the Nationals and Lynxes but never really had a favourite.
Ailsa 4773 was a favourite as well. Always a pleasure getting that on the 94 with Tame Valley.
I don't really have any favourite modern buses, but for some reason I always smile when I spot 4471 and 4474. Always had a soft spot for 4001. Out of the modern fleet, I have always like the ex new to LH buses, but none of them really stand out as favourites.
Gareth if you've got £2750
2595 on sale on eBay
Stourbridge Fleetline 6360, & Fleetline 6956
D9 4981
s23 5929
Quote from: lynx1103 on August 18, 2013, 09:25:00 PM
Quote from: Gareth on August 18, 2013, 03:36:20 PM
My favourites were
2595, 2909, 3049,3050
6488(my thumbnail photo), 6666, actually all ex WH fleetlines.
I liked the Nationals and Lynxes but never really had a favourite.
Ailsa 4773 was a favourite as well. Always a pleasure getting that on the 94 with Tame Valley.
I don't really have any favourite modern buses, but for some reason I always smile when I spot 4471 and 4474. Always had a soft spot for 4001. Out of the modern fleet, I have always like the ex new to LH buses, but none of them really stand out as favourites.
Gareth if you've got £2750
2595 on sale on eBay
Gah what have they done to that!!
Favourite West Mids buses are:
Metros 2039 (seemed to survive longer than any other v reg Metro and often on the 11c), 2222 (for the number!), 2468 (this bus was made into a corgi model which I have had for 20+ years - also good when it came from Cov to AG and used on the 11A, think it then went to Wolverhampton), 2893 (don't know what was different about this bus but so powerful - when it was at BC I caught it a lot and whilst on a 139 will not forget the time it overtook a President going UP Mucklow Hill - absolute beast!), 2886 (because of that Silver!!)
I also liked the Noc - R Fleetlines at Quinton garage.
Best bus I have driven is First midland Lance 67234 and current Tridents 33401-5
No prizes for guessing my favourite hehe
In my childhood, i used to ride the 8A & 8A VERY Frequently... The bus i used to see oftenly was 1664 - 1668 (Merc O405N)
Also, during school, Metrobuses were very common on the only route. My favourites were the wider rear windows series (30**)
Currently, my favourite buses are:
- 4912 ~ Enviro 400
- 4241 / 4242 ~ ALX400
- All Hybrid Buses - E400H & Volvo B5LH
My favourite Metrobuses were the MK1s, you'll never get a bus like that again
Quote from: lynx1103 on August 18, 2013, 09:25:00 PM
Quote from: Gareth on August 18, 2013, 03:36:20 PM
My favourites were
2595, 2909, 3049,3050
6488(my thumbnail photo), 6666, actually all ex WH fleetlines.
I liked the Nationals and Lynxes but never really had a favourite.
Ailsa 4773 was a favourite as well. Always a pleasure getting that on the 94 with Tame Valley.
I don't really have any favourite modern buses, but for some reason I always smile when I spot 4471 and 4474. Always had a soft spot for 4001. Out of the modern fleet, I have always like the ex new to LH buses, but none of them really stand out as favourites.
Gareth if you've got £2750
2595 on sale on eBay
I'd love to have 2595. Unfortunately I have nowhere to store her, or the expertise and finance to carry out restoring her. :-( hope she finds a good home.