Diamond West Midlands - Kidderminster

[StourportSam]

Kidderminster Update

VX54 MUO has been repainted, seen gleaming in the rain at Kidderminster depot today.

There are three further scrap/VOR/spares buses since my last report.
They are 30378 S378 TMB (Still in full Wessex Connect livery) and two Black Diamond buses with Wright bodywork.
One is unidentifiable and the other has number 30201 on it, which doesn't make sense for a 55 plate to be withdrawn?

Sam,

It could well be the original 30201 YJ51EKA, not sure if that has yet to be scrapped or not.

Winston I think you are quite correct, I didn't realise there was an 'original' 30201! Looking at the photos I can find online it definitely is YJ51 EKA.

Both of the black buses had windscreens missing.

[iamwilljh92]

Kidderminster Update

S405 JUA in service on the 10 in Kidderminster today.

A large number of the old First Midland Red bus stop flags in Kidderminster, Stourport and Areley Kings have been replaced in the past week with standard Worcestershire County Council ones.

That is the best news EVER Sam you have made my day  :D

See, a week of no updates and then a really good one comes along! :)

I arrived back in Kiddy this afternoon only to get on S405 JUA on the X3 now I noticed a few things different about it they were

1. the hannover display on the side of the vehicle has been taken out and you can see where it was screwed in inside.

2. it has definitely had a new engine fitted as it now runs and sounds different when it's running

and something else has changed about it as well but I cannot put my finger on quite what it is.
I honestly don't believe it will be in use for very much longer and personally before much longer I can see it being withdrawn & put up for sale but I guess that remains to be seen...

[nitromatt1]

Kidderminster Update

S405 JUA in service on the 10 in Kidderminster today.

A large number of the old First Midland Red bus stop flags in Kidderminster, Stourport and Areley Kings have been replaced in the past week with standard Worcestershire County Council ones.

That is the best news EVER Sam you have made my day  :D

See, a week of no updates and then a really good one comes along! :)

I arrived back in Kiddy this afternoon only to get on S405 JUA on the X3 now I noticed a few things different about it they were

1. the hannover display on the side of the vehicle has been taken out and you can see where it was screwed in inside.

2. it has definitely had a new engine fitted as it now runs and sounds different when it's running

and something else has changed about it as well but I cannot put my finger on quite what it is.
I honestly don't believe it will be in use for very much longer and personally before much longer I can see it being withdrawn & put up for sale but I guess that remains to be seen...

I think it took over from 30637 on the 3 which was towed this morning.

[PM]

Kidderminster Update

S405 JUA in service on the 10 in Kidderminster today.

A large number of the old First Midland Red bus stop flags in Kidderminster, Stourport and Areley Kings have been replaced in the past week with standard Worcestershire County Council ones.

That is the best news EVER Sam you have made my day  :D

See, a week of no updates and then a really good one comes along! :)

I arrived back in Kiddy this afternoon only to get on S405 JUA on the X3 now I noticed a few things different about it they were

1. the hannover display on the side of the vehicle has been taken out and you can see where it was screwed in inside.

2. it has definitely had a new engine fitted as it now runs and sounds different when it's running

and something else has changed about it as well but I cannot put my finger on quite what it is.
I honestly don't believe it will be in use for very much longer and personally before much longer I can see it being withdrawn & put up for sale but I guess that remains to be seen...

I doubt it will be withdrawn just yet with its new seats new engine and a repaint. There are still plenty of red and white gwm darts and black diamond darts about the wm not to mention MPDs. Full size  darts really need to be kept for the time being to alleviate capacity issues.

[PM]

Kidderminster Update

VX54 MUO has been repainted, seen gleaming in the rain at Kidderminster depot today.

There are three further scrap/VOR/spares buses since my last report.
They are 30378 S378 TMB (Still in full Wessex Connect livery) and two Black Diamond buses with Wright bodywork.
One is unidentifiable and the other has number 30201 on it, which doesn't make sense for a 55 plate to be withdrawn?

Sam,

It could well be the original 30201 YJ51EKA, not sure if that has yet to be scrapped or not.

Winston I think you are quite correct, I didn't realise there was an 'original' 30201! Looking at the photos I can find online it definitely is YJ51 EKA.

Both of the black buses had windscreens missing.

Yep original 30201 is still about and qas at TE being stripped for spares. Not in awful condition tho... The other cadet is likely to be 30212 which crashed last year into a bridge on the 301 and suffered heavy nearside damage. YD02PZL. Again from TE and surprising it is there as surely the sources of spares would be better at TE which actually operates cadets then as soon as say a window is smashed the parts can be ripped off 30201/30212.

[StourportSam]

Kidderminster Update

S405 JUA in service on the 10 in Kidderminster today.

A large number of the old First Midland Red bus stop flags in Kidderminster, Stourport and Areley Kings have been replaced in the past week with standard Worcestershire County Council ones.

That is the best news EVER Sam you have made my day  :D

See, a week of no updates and then a really good one comes along! :)

I arrived back in Kiddy this afternoon only to get on S405 JUA on the X3 now I noticed a few things different about it they were

1. the hannover display on the side of the vehicle has been taken out and you can see where it was screwed in inside.

2. it has definitely had a new engine fitted as it now runs and sounds different when it's running

and something else has changed about it as well but I cannot put my finger on quite what it is.
I honestly don't believe it will be in use for very much longer and personally before much longer I can see it being withdrawn & put up for sale but I guess that remains to be seen...

I think it took over from 30637 on the 3 which was towed this morning.

Makes sense as to why that was on jacks in the garage still showing 3....

[winston]

Kidderminster Update

VX54 MUO has been repainted, seen gleaming in the rain at Kidderminster depot today.

There are three further scrap/VOR/spares buses since my last report.
They are 30378 S378 TMB (Still in full Wessex Connect livery) and two Black Diamond buses with Wright bodywork.
One is unidentifiable and the other has number 30201 on it, which doesn't make sense for a 55 plate to be withdrawn?

Sam,

It could well be the original 30201 YJ51EKA, not sure if that has yet to be scrapped or not.

Winston I think you are quite correct, I didn't realise there was an 'original' 30201! Looking at the photos I can find online it definitely is YJ51 EKA.

Both of the black buses had windscreens missing.

Yep original 30201 is still about and qas at TE being stripped for spares. Not in awful condition tho... The other cadet is likely to be 30212 which crashed last year into a bridge on the 301 and suffered heavy nearside damage. YD02PZL. Again from TE and surprising it is there as surely the sources of spares would be better at TE which actually operates cadets then as soon as say a window is smashed the parts can be ripped off 30201/30212.

Where's ex Ludlows withdrawn Cadet 30217 these days?

[Solo1]

Kidderminster's  2 solo's  now at Long acre  https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanjack/13983548461/  the last one of the 2 to entre service as far as I know

[PM]

Kidderminster Update

VX54 MUO has been repainted, seen gleaming in the rain at Kidderminster depot today.

There are three further scrap/VOR/spares buses since my last report.
They are 30378 S378 TMB (Still in full Wessex Connect livery) and two Black Diamond buses with Wright bodywork.
One is unidentifiable and the other has number 30201 on it, which doesn't make sense for a 55 plate to be withdrawn?

Sam,

It could well be the original 30201 YJ51EKA, not sure if that has yet to be scrapped or not.

Winston I think you are quite correct, I didn't realise there was an 'original' 30201! Looking at the photos I can find online it definitely is YJ51 EKA.

Both of the black buses had windscreens missing.

Yep original 30201 is still about and qas at TE being stripped for spares. Not in awful condition tho... The other cadet is likely to be 30212 which crashed last year into a bridge on the 301 and suffered heavy nearside damage. YD02PZL. Again from TE and surprising it is there as surely the sources of spares would be better at TE which actually operates cadets then as soon as say a window is smashed the parts can be ripped off 30201/30212.

Where's ex Ludlows withdrawn Cadet 30217 these days?

Not a clue I'm afraid. I've never seen it in service or at LAC or TE. Would be interested to know if it will be coming back into service. Potentially at Preston being stripped for spares like 203 was. A lot of the cadets have been involved in crashes and withdrawn it seems...

[winston]

Kidderminster Update

VX54 MUO has been repainted, seen gleaming in the rain at Kidderminster depot today.

There are three further scrap/VOR/spares buses since my last report.
They are 30378 S378 TMB (Still in full Wessex Connect livery) and two Black Diamond buses with Wright bodywork.
One is unidentifiable and the other has number 30201 on it, which doesn't make sense for a 55 plate to be withdrawn?

Sam,

It could well be the original 30201 YJ51EKA, not sure if that has yet to be scrapped or not.

Winston I think you are quite correct, I didn't realise there was an 'original' 30201! Looking at the photos I can find online it definitely is YJ51 EKA.

Both of the black buses had windscreens missing.

Yep original 30201 is still about and qas at TE being stripped for spares. Not in awful condition tho... The other cadet is likely to be 30212 which crashed last year into a bridge on the 301 and suffered heavy nearside damage. YD02PZL. Again from TE and surprising it is there as surely the sources of spares would be better at TE which actually operates cadets then as soon as say a window is smashed the parts can be ripped off 30201/30212.

Where's ex Ludlows withdrawn Cadet 30217 these days?

Not a clue I'm afraid. I've never seen it in service or at LAC or TE. Would be interested to know if it will be coming back into service. Potentially at Preston being stripped for spares like 203 was. A lot of the cadets have been involved in crashes and withdrawn it seems...

Why send Cadets all the way to Preston to be stripped when they don't even have any? Surely Long Acre or Tividale could have done that.

What is wrong with Cadets anyway? I thought engine/drive train wise they were pretty much a Dart

[nitromatt1]

Kidderminster Update

VX54 MUO has been repainted, seen gleaming in the rain at Kidderminster depot today.

There are three further scrap/VOR/spares buses since my last report.
They are 30378 S378 TMB (Still in full Wessex Connect livery) and two Black Diamond buses with Wright bodywork.
One is unidentifiable and the other has number 30201 on it, which doesn't make sense for a 55 plate to be withdrawn?

Sam,

It could well be the original 30201 YJ51EKA, not sure if that has yet to be scrapped or not.

Winston I think you are quite correct, I didn't realise there was an 'original' 30201! Looking at the photos I can find online it definitely is YJ51 EKA.

Both of the black buses had windscreens missing.

Yep original 30201 is still about and qas at TE being stripped for spares. Not in awful condition tho... The other cadet is likely to be 30212 which crashed last year into a bridge on the 301 and suffered heavy nearside damage. YD02PZL. Again from TE and surprising it is there as surely the sources of spares would be better at TE which actually operates cadets then as soon as say a window is smashed the parts can be ripped off 30201/30212.

Where's ex Ludlows withdrawn Cadet 30217 these days?

Not a clue I'm afraid. I've never seen it in service or at LAC or TE. Would be interested to know if it will be coming back into service. Potentially at Preston being stripped for spares like 203 was. A lot of the cadets have been involved in crashes and withdrawn it seems...

There's one parked up at KR in plain view from the roundabout, t's displaying 241 on its side blinds

[StourportSam]

Kidderminster Update

VX54 MUO has been repainted, seen gleaming in the rain at Kidderminster depot today.

There are three further scrap/VOR/spares buses since my last report.
They are 30378 S378 TMB (Still in full Wessex Connect livery) and two Black Diamond buses with Wright bodywork.
One is unidentifiable and the other has number 30201 on it, which doesn't make sense for a 55 plate to be withdrawn?

Sam,

It could well be the original 30201 YJ51EKA, not sure if that has yet to be scrapped or not.

Winston I think you are quite correct, I didn't realise there was an 'original' 30201! Looking at the photos I can find online it definitely is YJ51 EKA.

Both of the black buses had windscreens missing.

Yep original 30201 is still about and qas at TE being stripped for spares. Not in awful condition tho... The other cadet is likely to be 30212 which crashed last year into a bridge on the 301 and suffered heavy nearside damage. YD02PZL. Again from TE and surprising it is there as surely the sources of spares would be better at TE which actually operates cadets then as soon as say a window is smashed the parts can be ripped off 30201/30212.

Where's ex Ludlows withdrawn Cadet 30217 these days?

Not a clue I'm afraid. I've never seen it in service or at LAC or TE. Would be interested to know if it will be coming back into service. Potentially at Preston being stripped for spares like 203 was. A lot of the cadets have been involved in crashes and withdrawn it seems...

There's one parked up at KR in plain view from the roundabout, t's displaying 241 on its side blinds

That's the old 30201

[nitromatt1]

Kidderminster Update

VX54 MUO has been repainted, seen gleaming in the rain at Kidderminster depot today.

There are three further scrap/VOR/spares buses since my last report.
They are 30378 S378 TMB (Still in full Wessex Connect livery) and two Black Diamond buses with Wright bodywork.
One is unidentifiable and the other has number 30201 on it, which doesn't make sense for a 55 plate to be withdrawn?

Sam,

It could well be the original 30201 YJ51EKA, not sure if that has yet to be scrapped or not.

Winston I think you are quite correct, I didn't realise there was an 'original' 30201! Looking at the photos I can find online it definitely is YJ51 EKA.

Both of the black buses had windscreens missing.

Yep original 30201 is still about and qas at TE being stripped for spares. Not in awful condition tho... The other cadet is likely to be 30212 which crashed last year into a bridge on the 301 and suffered heavy nearside damage. YD02PZL. Again from TE and surprising it is there as surely the sources of spares would be better at TE which actually operates cadets then as soon as say a window is smashed the parts can be ripped off 30201/30212.

Where's ex Ludlows withdrawn Cadet 30217 these days?

Not a clue I'm afraid. I've never seen it in service or at LAC or TE. Would be interested to know if it will be coming back into service. Potentially at Preston being stripped for spares like 203 was. A lot of the cadets have been involved in crashes and withdrawn it seems...

There's one parked up at KR in plain view from the roundabout, t's displaying 241 on its side blinds

That's the old 30201

I wondered what it was, cheers Sam.

[nitromatt1]

Kidderminster Update

S405 JUA in service on the 10 in Kidderminster today.

A large number of the old First Midland Red bus stop flags in Kidderminster, Stourport and Areley Kings have been replaced in the past week with standard Worcestershire County Council ones.

That is the best news EVER Sam you have made my day  :D

See, a week of no updates and then a really good one comes along! :)

I arrived back in Kiddy this afternoon only to get on S405 JUA on the X3 now I noticed a few things different about it they were

1. the hannover display on the side of the vehicle has been taken out and you can see where it was screwed in inside.

2. it has definitely had a new engine fitted as it now runs and sounds different when it's running

and something else has changed about it as well but I cannot put my finger on quite what it is.
I honestly don't believe it will be in use for very much longer and personally before much longer I can see it being withdrawn & put up for sale but I guess that remains to be seen...

Just remembered, when I saw it pull into Kidder bus station this afternoon it was displaying a load of code on the front and rear displays, not sure if that is of any relevance.

[StourportSam]

Kidderminster Update

S405 JUA in service on the 10 in Kidderminster today.

A large number of the old First Midland Red bus stop flags in Kidderminster, Stourport and Areley Kings have been replaced in the past week with standard Worcestershire County Council ones.

That is the best news EVER Sam you have made my day  :D

See, a week of no updates and then a really good one comes along! :)

I arrived back in Kiddy this afternoon only to get on S405 JUA on the X3 now I noticed a few things different about it they were

1. the hannover display on the side of the vehicle has been taken out and you can see where it was screwed in inside.

2. it has definitely had a new engine fitted as it now runs and sounds different when it's running

and something else has changed about it as well but I cannot put my finger on quite what it is.
I honestly don't believe it will be in use for very much longer and personally before much longer I can see it being withdrawn & put up for sale but I guess that remains to be seen...

Just remembered, when I saw it pull into Kidder bus station this afternoon it was displaying a load of code on the front and rear displays, not sure if that is of any relevance.

I saw it in the bus station like that, around 1630.