Birmingham Central Garage

[BK63 YWP]

I really don't see the point in vehicles being repainted anyway. This seems like a better way forward. Vinyls can simply be removed and replaced when a new design comes out.

I wonder if advert frames frames will be left off?

Vinyls are awful. Look at West Midlands Railway class 172s, vinyl is coming off and have faded terribly compared to the 196s which are painted and look ten times better 

[Lukeee]

By that logic, wouldn't the sensible decision be to just repaint the bus instead of frequently applying a new vinyl to it every few months especially for buses like 4801 which I imagine that the only reason it gets vinyls is because most of the paint has been stripped off it. It would save money given that they cost around the same and repaints last way longer

An all over wrap is quicker to apply than a full respray.

[Tony]

Advertisers pay good money for all-over wraps.

If they can be applied to vehicles due for a repaint, then that covers the subsequent cost of the respray.

In addition to that, the advertising company are liable to make good any damage they cause. Normally a badly damaged bus would go to Walsall for repaint and they would cover the cost. E035 is currently at Walsall after the advert was removed, but with 4908 & 4946 due refurb anyway, but without the capacity to do them yet this was the best short term solution for both sides

[frostjay974]

In addition to that, the advertising company are liable to make good any damage they cause. Normally a badly damaged bus would go to Walsall for repaint and they would cover the cost. E035 is currently at Walsall after the advert was removed, but with 4908 & 4946 due refurb anyway, but without the capacity to do them yet this was the best short term solution for both sides

Does that mean E035 holds the record for the shortest time a NX bus has been repainted from brand new without being arson attacked or anything 

[Tony]

Does that mean E035 holds the record for the shortest time a NX bus has been repainted from brand new without being arson attacked or anything

No, because it is only the damaged panels

[frostjay974]

No, because it is only the damaged panels

Fair enough, thought it was getting a full repaint 

[Wumpty]

Full repaints will last longer, though vinyl wrapping offers greater flexibility for ad campaigns. Downside to viynl wrapping is that an damaged sustained to the wrap can be costly to replace as they're printed in large sheets. 

I remember a number of BC buses in the past who would be regularly repainted and sign written for ad campaigns, both at great cost and with great strain placed on paint shop resources to turn around.

[Wba_lad]

I seen 4946 earlier outside new street station and has grey back and grey sides but only top and bottom on the sides. 

[frostjay974]

What has happened with 6875? just seen a picture that had been taken recently of it parked up at BC garage in immaculate condition and it hasn't tracked on bustimes for nearly 2 years now does anyone know why it has been out of service for so long?

[Mike K]

What has happened with 6875? just seen a picture that had been taken recently of it parked up at BC garage in immaculate condition and it hasn't tracked on bustimes for nearly 2 years now does anyone know why it has been out of service for so long?

Tony posted this update several months ago:

Longest VoR at the moment is BC 6875 which has been off over a year, but on Bustimes just looks like a couple of months. The RTC damage has been repaired, but no-one, including a Voith engineer cannot work out why it won't select gears at the moment!

Does it still have its Harborne branding following RTC repairs?

[Tony]

Tony posted this update several months ago:Does it still have its Harborne branding following RTC repairs?

It does. The gearbox problem has been sorted, now just waiting for some parts that ADL are very slow in supplying

[2206]

Whats happened to 4625 @Tony? Off the road since October? At over 19 years old, will we see this one in service again?

[Tony]

Whats happened to 4625 @Tony? Off the road since October? At over 19 years old, will we see this one in service again?

It needed King Pins replaced, which was done a couple of weeks ago, but is out of MoT, BC hope to get it ready for presentation in a couple of weeks time

[Sh4318]

Vinyls are awful. Look at West Midlands Railway class 172s, vinyl is coming off and have faded terribly compared to the 196s which are painted and look ten times better

That is true. I don't know why they did vinyl when they're staying with WMR for the forseeable. At least the temporary livery applied to the 323s and 350/2s make sense

[Sh4318]

10A terminates at the bus stop outside the shops, then turns around in the mouth of the road by the pigot arms. It can be done in one if no one parks against the church wall, done it many a time in coaches and the nx b7rles. If they park there, usually need to do a reverse to complete the turn, then Pickup is the bus stop facing out.

Do deckers on the 60 struggle with turning around at the Cranes Park terminus, or is the crossroad wide enough?