Volvo B10L

[MW]

4405 is also ZF Rob. Shame we didin't have more Voith ones like 4565 - 4584, nearly half of Stagecoach's Tridents and many of their early Enviro400s are Voith and they sound brilliant. Saying that, iv always had a liking for 4565 and 4569

All the early NXWM ALX400s are Voith and all of the 4225-4304 ALX400s are Voith too :)

[Ashley]

Thanks Micheal

[richie]

I believe it was 1436 at Pensnett that was fitted with a ZF gearbox when all the others had a 3 speed Voith. Does anyone know of any others fitted with a ZF?

It was 1436 it was also refurbed and cameras fitted a wonder for Pensnett at the time!

[matt904102]

Spent more time off the road than on though

[Stevo]

The full story with Voith / ZF is that the B10Bs were specified with Voith instead of the standard ZF. The order was later changed to B10Ls which also got Voiths. Fuel consumption of both was poor, so Volvo suggested the ZF, and this was fitted to 10 of the 80 B10Ls. The Ultras had ZFs because their gas engines were less flexible. Next year's order (1998) was for Mercs with ZF, and I don't think these were offered with the Voith. The Spectras had Voiths as the ZF won't fit in the DB250, but the B7TLs / President reverted to ZF. Earlier ZFs had been less reliable, so Tridents 4125-4224 had Voiths, as did B7TLs 4225-4304 and later Tridents 4305 - 4404. Fuel consumption was poor, so two batches of buses, Tridents 4405 - 14 and B7TLs 4415-24, were ordered with ZFs for comparison. These, I understand, were to be allocated to Central for trials, but in fact went to Coventry when the city council was complaining about TWM's lack of new buses, etc. Subsequent deliveries have all had ZF boxes, apart from the Hybrids, of course.   

[matt904102]

Many thanks stevo

[Ashley]

thanks from me too lol info much appreciated

[Ash]

What is going to happen with the liberators from Dundee such as 7115 (r466xda) and the others that have been painted into NXWM colours and retrimmed and also have electronic blinds, i believe there in store will they be scrapped, sold or replace existing non refurbed liberators in service

[winston]

What is going to happen with the liberators from Dundee such as 7115 (r466xda) and the others that have been painted into NXWM colours and retrimmed and also have electronic blinds, i believe there in store will they be scrapped, sold or replace existing non refurbed liberators in service

I think the ex Dundee ones which have never re-entered service are for sale with Volant i.e. 7115, 7123, 7125 & 7126

[lynx1103]

the common vechile type on 71A is B10L on Saturday
3 was one 1430,1464,1473

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59615439@N03/8585674532/in/photostream

[Stevo]

4405-14 were ordered with ZFs to try to improve fuel consumption - all previous TWM Tridents were Voith. In addition TWM ordered 10 ZF B7TLs, 4415-24, with ALX400 bodies, for the same reason -  the previous ALX400 B7TLs were Voith. I think all 20 were supposed to go to Central for fuel consumption comparisons, but they were diverted to Coventry when Coventry City Council was complaining about poor service from TWM, to improve the fleet age there.

[mranon]

was it proven that the zf gearbox gained better fuel consumption?

[don]

4405-14 were ordered with ZFs to try to improve fuel consumption - all previous TWM Tridents were Voith. In addition TWM ordered 10 ZF B7TLs, 4415-24, with ALX400 bodies, for the same reason -  the previous ALX400 B7TLs were Voith. I think all 20 were supposed to go to Central for fuel consumption comparisons, but they were diverted to Coventry when Coventry City Council was complaining about poor service from TWM, to improve the fleet age there.

I think this delivery coincided with implementation of one of the tranches of Primelines (major bus priority initiative) - or at least the bid for one - these comprised large bids for funding from Dept for Transport for infrastructure work - no doubt Coventry City Council was keen for TWM to participate with new vehicles - I think the Citaro bendis and the small batch of Geminis were also part of this - indeed I think this is one of the key reasons for Travel Coventry (now NXC) to be set up - not sure whether there was any part funding provided to assist with vehicles, but this has happened around the country in places (rather like the green bus funding initiative assisting with hybrids).

Interesting stuff on drive trains btw.

[lynx1103]

On 71A today

1423 awaiting Destination Blinds Still

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59615439@N03/8625971542/in/photostream

1473

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59615439@N03/8625971698/in/photostream/

[lynx1103]

on 69 today

1438

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59615439@N03/8663958428/in/contacts/

1440

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74108043@N06/8663000105/in/photostream

1459

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74108043@N06/8662998833/in/photostream