Had ride on 534 as passenger sat near the front I,m no fan of these b6le for a bus that's not from being 18 years old this bus rode and rattled far less than 18 month enviro tin can 200 , not bad at all this bus , soon to be consigned to the history books , I bet we,ll change our views on these volvos when they,ve gone may be not that bad after all.
680 is a great machine as I'm sure you know. Not forgetting also 555 up Wolves.
I forget the number , there is a b6le being canabalised at west brom seems strange to be robbing parts from it , considering the numbers that have scrapped there should sufficient parts on the shelves at miller street one would think.
I may have driven it once in the past , the routes I do aren't b6le routes so it's extremely rare for me to drive them , I get the impression the later ones do seem half decent . I had one years back it absolutely flew I remember being well impressed with that vehicle shame I don't remember the fleet number.
Quote from: 2900 on July 16, 2014, 12:19:21 AM
Had ride on 534 as passenger sat near the front I,m no fan of these b6le for a bus that's not from being 18 years old this bus rode and rattled far less than 18 month enviro tin can 200 , not bad at all this bus , soon to be consigned to the history books , I bet we,ll change our views on these volvos when they,ve gone may be not that bad after all.
I think people already have, at least it seems like they are very well liked recently. I think they're alright, they've been around for a very long time, so I have a lot of memories based around them, they've served well on the 444/447 routes (now withdrawn) that ran close by me, they have their faults though, they seem very wobbly for a passenger, at times I've had to hold onto grab handles and seat handles to stop myself from wobbling all over the place, and of course, the seating isn't brilliant.
I love, love, love B6LEs! I don't care what people say about them - mostly bad things about them. I love them! @2900, try to go on 584 one day. It's so bouncy. ;) I had a ride on 584 on 45, I had the most brilliant ride I ever had, every time 584 went over a road bump, it bounced for like 10 seconds. One time, the driver had to go in the middle because of parked cars! Slowly going over, front wheels went over, slowly going, back wheels started to go over but at the same time, the driver accelerated, the bus bounced high and made all of us lift off of our seats! It was so funny! ;D Will miss 584.
But other B6s were/are great. I still travel on them (and B10Ls) to make the most of it!! WA B6s are great on 335/336, will miss bouncy B6s.
B6s were, of course, underpowered but it was funny to hear the roaring sound as they struggled going up the hill and going up on 5mph, like 283 in Lodge Farm.
My dislike for them is based purely on the lack of legroom for a 6foot 4 man like me, plus their inability to get uphill.
Beyond that they are ace little buses
Quote from: Matt on July 16, 2014, 12:26:29 AM
680 is a great machine as I'm sure you know. Not forgetting also 555 up Wolves.
555 is still screaming away like it did at PE ;)
I preferred Excels as they look more stylish with more comfortable seats and a better layout. They were also better to drive. The only main disadvantage was the gears especially on the short wheelbase ones.
As a passenger I always try to get the seat next to the rear emergency exit great legroom there, I agree that most other seats on the raised section legroom is tight , the seat over the rear left wheel hump is ridiculous knees up in your chest not good.
Never driven an exel can't comment on driving charatistics of these buses , travelled on a number of diamond examples I noticed the windscreen shake in its gasket remember thinking great build quality , lots of cheap plastic every where.
Drove B6s from new was one of the first drivers to drive 551 in the original livery it came in on 238 drove them up until the end of them at pensnett
555 was called scooby after the car as it was fast
I think the names have all gone now. There was snail speedy and a smokey. Not sure of the rest of them.606 was bob!
The B6 was awesome! I like them, and have never disliked them. Give me a B6 over a E200 any day.
I think 634 was called Scooby because of how quick it was, and there was another one just called "SHED" - I think it was 638? I can't remember anything any more :(
Ex travel Dundee 116/7/8/9 was called jock Nessie haggis and kilt at pensnett
Quote from: karl724223 on July 16, 2014, 01:56:06 PM
Ex travel Dundee 116/7/8/9 was called jock Nessie haggis and kilt at pensnett
I used to call them heaps of junk!
Some great nick names for the b6le,s
Quote from: 2900 on July 16, 2014, 10:47:40 AM
As a passenger I always try to get the seat next to the rear emergency exit great legroom there, I agree that most other seats on the raised section legroom is tight , the seat over the rear left wheel hump is ridiculous knees up in your chest not good.
Best seat is the one in the 'lower' section on the nearside after the buggy zone, loads of legroom there! :D
I think the rear seating was more adequate, can't say I know the B6's too well. Only ever rode on it once or twice to and from school on the 636 (now 99)... Is it bad that I miss these on the 99?
I liked some of the names the PE staff gave them, like "the Screaming Ca"t and "The Pensnett pushchair Carrier".
I always say the best seat on a merc is the one by the front exit...so in the event of fire, easy to get off!
Quote from: the trainbasher on July 16, 2014, 10:51:09 PM
I liked some of the names the PE staff gave them, like "the Screaming Ca"t and "The Pensnett pushchair Carrier".
I always say the best seat on a merc is the one by the front exit...so in the event of fire, easy to get off!
Screaming cat was me, not someone from Pensnett.
We always get to like types as they're on the way out. The B6 would have been a good bus with the Dart engine and gearbox. I used to ride in AG's B6s on the 38 from the airport and while you waited for departure the vibration from the engine felt as if it would shake your brain loose. They were reasonably smooth once under way, but I got the impression they weren't too reliable.
I've never had the experience of a step entrance B6, but I've always had a soft spot for the B6LE!
I do prefer them on the ALX200 body if I'm honest, but the Wright ones aren't far behind! Would have them any day over the new Enviro 200s which are about just as powerless with these gearboxes they stick in them...
I'll definitely miss them when they're all gone, we've already lost them in Coventry & Warwickshire :(
534 turned up round my end the other evening on me way to my local , driver was not best pleased his face was a picture the dashboard bonging away plus the heat, so not good. Dodgy electrics again I suspect.
564 is the bus being canabalised at west brom currently parked in front of traffic office.
Quote from: 2900 on July 20, 2014, 10:29:38 AM
564 is the bus being canabalised at west brom currently parked in front of traffic office.
That's sad. :( I remember when 564 used to be at Walsall. Its' indicator sound was perfect, a nice beep sound. Glad I had a last ride when it was on 45 a while ago.
Just can't believe the B6 wipeout is finally happening. They were my childhood bus and will be greatly missed. At least I have fond memories!
There was quite a few named at PN we had a couple from cov they were Phoenix and lady Godiva also the best ones we had at the time
554 was the Penznett pushchair carrier but I named it the snug as it was always warm in the winter
I think I posted my list of names but if I didn't then here's a few I came up with
508 - the old'un
524 - groaner
534 - the beast
554 - the snug
555 - not sure who's claiming acooby doo
586 - rattlebox
598 - Fred
600 - the power
620 and 582 - canal barges
626 - oasis
633 - sloth
638 - slippery gears or just SHED
639 - step up
677 - solider on
I cant think off the top of my head of the names of B6's from the past but i do know 648 was the dulux bus
Enjoyed the past few years of this type, I grew up with Excels but I do and will miss both types
I may be wrong volvo no longer produce a midi bus chassis as far I can see, from what I,ve read in the past the b6le was hastily designed in response to the dart. Imagine what they could if they set about it properly, I reckon they missing out on a key segment in this bus sector. As I understand it the street lite is a complete Wrightbus design from I,ve read no volvo input.
Quote from: Ashley on September 03, 2014, 08:26:30 AM
554 was the Penznett pushchair carrier but I named it the snug as it was always warm in the winter
I think I posted my list of names but if I didn't then here's a few I came up with
508 - the old'un
524 - groaner
534 - the beast
554 - the snug
555 - not sure who's claiming acooby doo
586 - rattlebox
598 - Fred
600 - the power
620 and 582 - canal barges
626 - oasis
633 - sloth
638 - slippery gears or just SHED
639 - step up
677 - solider on
I cant think off the top of my head of the names of B6's from the past but i do know 648 was the dulux bus
Enjoyed the past few years of this type, I grew up with Excels but I do and will miss both types
586 is, in my opinion, the worst B6 at WN, as it, and 582, tend to appear on my 25 in the morning, I know how loud and uncomfortable it is, although it was worse when I caught it on the 25 from Wolves bus station to Bilston, good god, it shook about. I didn't really grow up with B6's as the first time I remember one in Willenhall, was about 2004, when they and B10B's were allocated to the 333. I always liked the Excels better, as they couldn't half get some speed on, on the Cannock Rd, when the 528 went down there
Quote from: ARJ2901 on December 10, 2014, 07:56:03 AM
Quote from: Ashley on September 03, 2014, 08:26:30 AM
554 was the Penznett pushchair carrier but I named it the snug as it was always warm in the winter
I think I posted my list of names but if I didn't then here's a few I came up with
508 - the old'un
524 - groaner
534 - the beast
554 - the snug
555 - not sure who's claiming acooby doo
586 - rattlebox
598 - Fred
600 - the power
620 and 582 - canal barges
626 - oasis
633 - sloth
638 - slippery gears or just SHED
639 - step up
677 - solider on
I cant think off the top of my head of the names of B6's from the past but i do know 648 was the dulux bus
Enjoyed the past few years of this type, I grew up with Excels but I do and will miss both types
586 is, in my opinion, the worst B6 at WN, as it, and 582, tend to appear on my 25 in the morning, I know how loud and uncomfortable it is, although it was worse when I caught it on the 25 from Wolves bus station to Bilston, good god, it shook about. I didn't really grow up with B6's as the first time I remember one in Willenhall, was about 2004, when they and B10B's were allocated to the 333. I always liked the Excels better, as they couldn't half get some speed on, on the Cannock Rd, when the 528 went down there
You must have used the 528 at less busy periods then because I always remember being stuck in traffic on Cannock Road. The Dundee Excels weren't as nice but I liked the Excels on the whole. Then I could get off the 528 on Stafford Street and go and get a Trident or a Spectra on the 501.
Quote from: 2900 on December 09, 2014, 11:16:30 PM
I may be wrong volvo no longer produce a midi bus chassis as far I can see, from what I,ve read in the past the b6le was hastily designed in response to the dart. Imagine what they could if they set about it properly, I reckon they missing out on a key segment in this bus sector. As I understand it the street lite is a complete Wrightbus design from I,ve read no volvo input.
No - Volvo has had no midibus since 2001 and now is hardly selling any full-size single deckers as few operators seem interested in the B8RLE. I don't know how Volvo will do with the B5TL double decker either as few have been ordered apart from Dublin Bus, Belfast Metro and Lothian. It seems as if Volvo's market share of buses in the UK will plummet.
My how things have changed for volvo they once enjoyed lions share of the British bus market, it's does seem strange in the age of effiency and down sizing of engines they go and produce the b8rle, from my understanding of down sizing of engines especially from 6 to 4 cylinders reduces gross vehicle weight thus increasing seating and standing numbers.
Shame really, because as has been mentioned a few times on here of late, their buses have proved good quality and still soldiering on
Overall the B7RLE is a good bus, but slightly underpowered. (ECU yet again) - seems Volvo have listened and upped it to the B8RLE. I wish NX would standardize Volvo products and not ADL crap.
Here here I,m with you Liverpool Street I agree volvo all the way. A very long waiting game now till this multi year deal expires. Hopefully it will give time to wrightbus and volvo with new vehicles to attempt nx back. If the enviro 400 lives up to hype may be its curtains to the a mentioned.
I wish they'd dual source as they did from 2001 till 2013 with both ADL and either Volvo or Scania.
Quote from: 2900 on December 10, 2014, 11:00:02 AM
My how things have changed for volvo they once enjoyed lions share of the British bus market, it's does seem strange in the age of effiency and down sizing of engines they go and produce the b8rle, from my understanding of down sizing of engines especially from 6 to 4 cylinders reduces gross vehicle weight thus increasing seating and standing numbers.
Yes but then you end up with s##t like Streetlites & SB200s...underpowered and pants
It seems to go inevitably in business cycles, this process of diversification, then standardisation, diversification again, standardisation, and so on.
Late sixties, Fleetline was the Birmingham standard for a few years with bodies dual sourced (Park Royal and MCW), then the seventies saw Bristol and Volvo products come in as Leyland struggled, before the Metro invasion swept all before it. Then we had Dennis and Volvo with a variety of body styles, and now we're going back into a period of standardisation.
It would make an interesting economic case study....