First Bus - Potteries

[Ashley 60171]

Astley, do you know if 32066 went back to Worcester yesterday? I'd heard that this would be taken in the other direction on receiving these three E300s

It was driven back but broke down on the M5 near Droitwich so had to be towed the last stretch. Think it's now awaiting a repair.

[DVXXII]

Read on Midlandred.net that 3 further E300s were heading to Potteries today, following some of their new Streetlite Max's entering service.

Had a look around Again this afternoon and this appears to be true as 67631/4/5 have all shown up. 67602/4 were also in the depot but have been reported previously.

In the top corner was one of the 663xx batch of B7Ls with newly applied purple front removing it's previous cherry branding. Couldn't ID which one it was as there was no fleetnumbers applied and the front cover with registration plate was missing. Assume this is ready for transferring back to Leicester.

[Ashley 60171]

Read on Midlandred.net that 3 further E300s were heading to Potteries today, following some of their new Streetlite Max's entering service.

Had a look around Again this afternoon and this appears to be true as 67631/4/5 have all shown up. 67602/4 were also in the depot but have been reported previously.

In the top corner was one of the 663xx batch of B7Ls with newly applied purple front removing it's previous cherry branding. Couldn't ID which one it was as there was no fleetnumbers applied and the front cover with registration plate was missing. Assume this is ready for transferring back to Leicester.

67631-67635 driven up this morning.

Saw 60075, 60171, 60174, 61235 out on Bentilee's yesterday. 60069 reported on there as well.
Today, 60072, 60174, 61235, 65564 reported on the same circuit. Not to say others were out.

Anybody wanting a First Potteries Floline/Ultralow I'd say to go tomorrow.

[barry619]

67631-67635 driven up this morning.

Saw 60075, 60171, 60174, 61235 out on Bentilee's yesterday. 60069 reported on there as well.
Today, 60072, 60174, 61235, 65564 reported on the same circuit. Not to say others were out.

Anybody wanting a First Potteries Floline/Ultralow I'd say to go tomorrow.

Possibly, but there are also a few other buses that these E300s will be replacing such as the remaining non-DDA Darts and Solos. There's also the issue of how much work any of them will need before entering service, often a problem when older buses are transferred between First fleets.

[T840MAK]

Proper Scanias today:

60075 60171 61235 65567 - 1/2/22/72
60174 - 18
60128 65561 - 3/4/4a
60069 - depot
60072 60015 60175 65564 - not seen yet

E300s 67601 67631 67632 67634 scattered around in Adderley Green depot.

EDIT - 60171 swapped onto 32s...

[Ashley 60171]

Proper Scanias today:

60075 60171 61235 65567 - 1/2/22/72
60174 - 18
60128 65561 - 3/4/4a
60069 - depot
60072 60015 60175 65564 - not seen yet

E300s 67601 67631 67632 67634 scattered around in Adderley Green depot.

EDIT - 60171 swapped onto 32s...

60175 - 3/4
60128 replaced by 67603 at 1800 approx

Edit

67602/3/4 reported elsewhere as being out all day.

65004 has lost its 18 branding.
66309 is the next B7L to go back to Leicester once it has it's front and rear end repairs.

[Ashley 60171]

40304 40375 60015 - withdrawn

[PM]

40304 40375 60015 - withdrawn

Getting towards DDA compliance now! :D

[Ashley 60171]

Getting towards DDA compliance now! :D

Just 11 Scania's, one Dart and one Solo with replacements pretty much ready to roll.

I believe 2 more B7TL's, a B7RLE and the remaining 6 E300's are due in and 2 B7L's due out. So by the time I next go in the spring there will be a few required vehicles.

[PM]

Just 11 Scania's, one Dart and one Solo with replacements pretty much ready to roll.

I believe 2 more B7TL's, a B7RLE and the remaining 6 E300's are due in and 2 B7L's due out. So by the time I next go in the spring there will be a few required vehicles.

Is there really only that left now?

[Ashley 60171]

Is there really only that left now?

There are less than 11 Scania's in use at any one time but reports from that way are sparse. 40367 I didn't see on Saturday. 50296 is out 6 days a week no problem. 32053-57 are non DDA but personally I couldn't see them not being modded next year and kept at Potteries but First are good at surprises.

[PM]

There are less than 11 Scania's in use at any one time but reports from that way are sparse. 40367 I didn't see on Saturday. 50296 is out 6 days a week no problem. 32053-57 are non DDA but personally I couldn't see them not being modded next year and kept at Potteries but First are good at surprises.

I'm always surprised there are so few Potteries reports on here, except from yours and a couple of others, it's such an interesting area for buses as well!! Fleet post DDA will look pretty good if heavily dominated by 2002-2006 buses!

[Sayeed]

There are less than 11 Scania's in use at any one time but reports from that way are sparse. 40367 I didn't see on Saturday. 50296 is out 6 days a week no problem. 32053-57 are non DDA but personally I couldn't see them not being modded next year and kept at Potteries but First are good at surprises.

Barry619 did mention about this in other thread

It has been suggested that the five W-registered B7TLs which came from Leicester will not be modified and will instead be disposed of next year, which makes sense as they are hardly in the first flush of youth and there will be no shortage of 'deckers in the Midlands when Leicester's 29 StreetDecks are delivered.

[T840MAK]

Barry619 did mention about this in other thread

But not in the PMT thread which is what the post concerns about, so it's a pretty easy mistake to make.

[Ashley 60171]

I'm always surprised there are so few Potteries reports on here, except from yours and a couple of others, it's such an interesting area for buses as well!! Fleet post DDA will look pretty good if heavily dominated by 2002-2006 buses!

Despite the reputation of the area. I agree it is an interesting fleet even now and it's not too far from Wolverhampton. I'll be sure to keep the updates coming.