Single Deck Fleetline

[Westy]

Still think darts would have been better than this/b6s

Which bodywork on the dart was twm looking at? The crusader?

WMT originally bought a trial batch of 5 x Wright Handybus Darts back in the early 1991 (801-805 KDZ5801-5), I assume if they were to have purchased any Dart SLF's in later years, Wrightbus would have been the preferred bodywork

They were at Walsall for the 330/331 Bentley service ISTR.

Remember seeing one on the way to work.

Later heard all 5 had broken down in service on their first day, so Lynxs had took over the workings.

They later got used as replacements for Walsall's Metroriders, then when the 301 was started to compete with Choice 171, they were on there too.

On a sad note,  one was involved in the death of a local tramp in Park Street (Gordon,  I believe? )

[Bob]

I seem to remember wolverhampton having some step entry pointer darts arpund 1998? They werent new to nx though I dont think. And they didn't last long. I thought step entry darts were ok but the legroom was ridiculous on 40 seater pointers even for a shortarse! Im 6ft and pretty thin and could no way get my legs behind the seatsnationals/metrobuses fleetlines etc had plenty

[winston]

I seem to remember wolverhampton having some step entry pointer darts arpund 1998? They werent new to nx though I dont think. And they didn't last long. I thought step entry darts were ok but the legroom was ridiculous on 40 seater pointers even for a shortarse! Im 6ft and pretty thin and could no way get my legs behind the seatsnationals/metrobuses fleetlines etc had plenty

They were new to Yourbus before the WMT takeover. They were transferred 3 each to WN & AG, I think they may have gone to one of the Stevensons garages when WMT first took them over. My memory banks are struggling that far back these days, things were much more exciting on the West Midlands bus scene back then than now!

[DOC37V]

The KDZ darts ended up at PL, with 805 now preserved at Wythall.

Here is one of the step entrance ones
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44483738@N05/4385233381/in/set-72157623123493963

But I don't ever remember seeing this device.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44483738@N05/4404305203/in/set-72157623123493963

[fleetline6477]

KDZ 8505 ended up with Midland Rider, coming from A-Line, Bedworth I think.

Fleetline single-deck conversion 1956 passed to West Bromwich on the closure of Quinton and mainly worked on the Stourbridge routes.

[Tony]

KDZ 8505 ended up with Midland Rider, coming from A-Line, Bedworth I think.

Fleetline single-deck conversion 1956 passed to West Bromwich on the closure of Quinton and mainly worked on the Stourbridge routes.

All 5 darts went from Park Lane, to Merry Hill minibuses, then to Smiths (Yourbus) and were then sold to Universal of Chadderton. Universal were then bought out by Greater Manchester (South) so amzingly all 5 ended up in Stagecoach ownership after TWM.

[Steveminor]

I remember 1956 on the 11 at AG it was on chaser duties against serverse. The driver asked if we could slow down a bit as although he could easily keep up with the national it was quite a bumpy ride.

[Mike K]

I remember 1956 on the 11 at AG it was on chaser duties against serverse. The driver asked if we could slow down a bit as although he could easily keep up with the national it was quite a bumpy ride.

That's my overriding memory of 1956 when it was at QN. I recall a trip on the 20 once when the driver was giving it a proper thrash going past the Botanical Gardens. It was like riding on a bucking bronco!