Bus breakdown experiences

[wilmotm (Matt Wilmot)]

It was discussed somewhere else the joke that is standing figures! Bit like MPG figures when you buy a car, yes your Diesel Polo bluemotion for example can do 70+MPG in a factory but not in real life conditions where there are hills and traffic lights etc... Just like a designer has calculated the average weight of humans, chassis strength, space etc... But in the real world where people sit on the outside seat, put bags on seats, larger people take up two seats, pushchairs, shopping trolleys etc.. That figure is more like 10-20 standees on a good day with slim City types and down to 10 with greedy types!

[Nathan4775]

4733/34 broke down at newtown, being took away by a Mansfeild truck

[Tony]

4733/34 broke down at newtown, being took away by a Mansfeild truck

Two of them with one truck? interesting sight.

[Nathan4775]

It was either 4734 or 4733 ;) couldn't identify from the 997

[Niall]

I seem to have had a day of it today! Went past Bearwood this morning and there was a Gemini broke down (I couldn't see the fleet number very well but I wrote down either 44*3 or 449*, although I don't think either of those are possible after seeing the fleetlist) with an engineer, I believe it was being replaced by an 82/87 branded one Then the bus I was on at the time (4592) started smoking so the driver was told to go out of service when reaching Wolverhampton. I got off in Dudley, and 1642 was driven in by an engineer and replaced 1614 on the 276. I then continued to Wolverhampton and in the bus station there I saw another engineers van and an engineer standing around talking to the drivers.

[Stu]

they can apparantly hold 100 passengers

That is fantasy, no way in the real world will a driver allow 100 passengers onto a B7RLE, most will close the doors at about 15-20 standees, therefore you won't usually get much more than 60 people on a B7RLE

Enviros can seat 77 passengers

On the Wright Eclipse 2 B7RLEs, the notice by the front door quotes something along the lines of "Seated capacity 43, standing capacity 52" (was on one this morning on the 37, but didn't get chance to look closely at the exact figures).

I'm not quite sure where they expect these 52 people to stand safely, as even in the 'standing area' there are only 5 hanging hand-holders (or whatever they're called), and a distinct lack of grab-rails to hold onto. Still they could squeeze a few more standees on if people didn't sit in the fold-down chairs in the buggy zone. Or if people actually sat in free seats towards the rear of the bus.

As a comparison, the Scania Omnilinks quote something along the lines of '43 seated, 32 standing'. And there are far more grab-rails and hangers to hold onto!

[Kevin]

Yesterday evening (6pm) 4167 was parked up on Priory Queensway, technically not broken down but it was minus one upstairs window which was in pieces on the pavement next to it

[Nathan4775]

4733 was the bus broke down as I'm on 4734 now on the 997

[nitromatt1]

TGB Lance 452 (P452 BPH) was on my school service HC2 this afternoon. Ultra rare working, but it made all of about 500 yards, then couldn't get up the hill on Park Road in Hagley. The engine cut out and wouldn't start again, sat there for about half an hour, then the engine eventually got started. It struggled up and pulled over by the police station, where an engineer arrived and attended to it.

10 minutes later we pulled off again, it took almost 5 minutes to get up Hagley Hill (thought it wasn't going to make it!) Once we got onto flat ground it was brilliant though, and cruised back despite another minor breakdown in Hasbury. Amazing sounding bus, wish TGB were crazy enough to put it on the Hagley services more often.

[Stuharris 6360]

TGB Lance 452 (P452 BPH) was on my school service HC2 this afternoon. Ultra rare working, but it made all of about 500 yards, then couldn't get up the hill on Park Road in Hagley. The engine cut out and wouldn't start again, sat there for about half an hour, then the engine eventually got started. It struggled up and pulled over by the police station, where an engineer arrived and attended to it.

10 minutes later we pulled off again, it took almost 5 minutes to get up Hagley Hill (thought it wasn't going to make it!) Once we got onto flat ground it was brilliant though, and cruised back despite another minor breakdown in Hasbury. Amazing sounding bus, wish TGB were crazy enough to put it on the Hagley services more often.

Judging by what you have said Matt, if TGB want to put it on Hagley services regular, needs an engineer to ride with it at the very least, or be followed by a breakdown lorry.

[nitromatt1]

TGB Lance 452 (P452 BPH) was on my school service HC2 this afternoon. Ultra rare working, but it made all of about 500 yards, then couldn't get up the hill on Park Road in Hagley. The engine cut out and wouldn't start again, sat there for about half an hour, then the engine eventually got started. It struggled up and pulled over by the police station, where an engineer arrived and attended to it.

10 minutes later we pulled off again, it took almost 5 minutes to get up Hagley Hill (thought it wasn't going to make it!) Once we got onto flat ground it was brilliant though, and cruised back despite another minor breakdown in Hasbury. Amazing sounding bus, wish TGB were crazy enough to put it on the Hagley services more often.

Judging by what you have said Matt, if TGB want to put it on Hagley services regular, needs an engineer to ride with it at the very least, or be followed by a breakdown lorry.

It has never been on the Hagley services before - they must really be struggling for buses again, and I'm not surprised.

Rule number 1 is anything that goes on the Hagley services needs to be able to make it up hills! Hence why the Spectras (the fastest buses in the fleet) form the majority of the allocation

[vinh1000]

4697 doors broken colmore row

[Nathan4775]

4697 doors broken colmore row

When was this ??

[nitromatt1]

4697 doors broken colmore row

When was this ??

More importantly what was 4697 doing on Colmore Row, the 101 I assume?

[John]

More importantly what was 4697 doing on Colmore Row, the 101 I assume?

Was it actually on Colmore Row, or at the stop on Livery Street?

Possibly on the 101, or the 7, or maybe a rare working of the 46. Either way, an unusual working whatever route it was on