First Bus - Potteries

T840MAK · January 09, 2016, 10:24:27 PM

Quote from: DVXXII on January 09, 2016, 07:05:20 PM
Hi Ashley
The Caetano next to 40009 is 42354. In addition to your observations I have seen 42892 on the 6/26 circuit today. Don't know why allocations are so shot since the new year. The streetlites very rarely ventured off the 6/6A/26 but they have been seen off route on a number of occasions this last week.

I've noticed an unusually large amount of "unusual" workings in Potteries today - all that I've seen should be in the post above to go with yours :)

DVXXII · January 11, 2016, 06:49:11 PM

Route 3 branded Volvo MX05CGU on the 5 today, generally a solo operated route. Also noted 32627 on Bentilee shorts - seen this on here a few times in recent days, so may be carrying a fault.

T840MAK · January 11, 2016, 07:06:31 PM

Quote from: DVXXII on January 11, 2016, 06:49:11 PM
Route 3 branded Volvo MX05CGU on the 5 today, generally a solo operated route. Also noted 32627 on Bentilee shorts - seen this on here a few times in recent days, so may be carrying a fault.

For some reason Bentilee shorts seem to be either Solos, Darts or Geminis I've noticed. I guess it being on there for a couple of days may just be how it falls when it comes to allocations in the morning tbh, I can't see it being on Bentilee shorts with just a fault, usually it'd be kept in depot to try and fix said fault.

T840MAK · January 13, 2016, 08:55:44 PM

Ex PMT Dart 40137 R979 NVT has finally made an appearance with its new operator in Sheffield, been out over the last couple of days as Linburg's 81 IIG 2181 on their Tesco contracts.

PM · January 13, 2016, 09:10:05 PM

Quote from: T840MAK on January 13, 2016, 08:55:44 PM
Ex PMT Dart 40137 R979 NVT has finally made an appearance with its new operator in Sheffield, been out over the last couple of days as Linburg's 81 IIG 2181 on their Tesco contracts.

Good to hear that an ex First Dart has made it onto another operator, I still think their Plaxton bodied Darts carry their years well with First standard spec interior etc, years ahead of any other group!

Ashley 60171 · January 14, 2016, 10:02:58 AM

Quote from: DiamondDart on January 13, 2016, 09:10:05 PM
Good to hear that an ex First Dart has made it onto another operator, I still think their Plaxton bodied Darts carry their years well with First standard spec interior etc, years ahead of any other group!

They bought it in 2014. But didn't touch it for a while.

barry619 · January 15, 2016, 10:41:16 AM

There is a picture on Flickr of 66309 in use in the Potteries with fuchsia front. Is this one planned to be swapped with a double-decker from Leicester, or are some of the red-fronted single-deckers in Stoke to gain fuchsia fronts now that the requirement for red ones has reduced, does anyone know?

DVXXII · January 23, 2016, 10:04:40 AM

Noticed this week that a second OmniCity has had its front repainted in fuscia along with 65033. I saw it a distance and I thought it was 65034 but observations on a yahoo group forum suggests this may not be the one so I'll have to keep an eye out to confirm.
32082 is now at AG depot from Leicester. I understand this was intended as a swap for 66309 which has been seen running around Potteries in the last week or so with a fucia front. Has anyone seen this arrive in Leicester?
Allocations have seemed to have become more typical following the apparent free for all that occurred in the first week of the new year. However this week I have seen OmniCity 65042 on route 5 (typically solo/dart operated) and yesterday route 6/26 branded 63179 was seen on the number 1 service.

jc · January 23, 2016, 06:23:34 PM

Photoed 65034 this morning with new pink front

DVXXII · January 25, 2016, 08:04:12 AM

Thanks for confirming jc. Also saw this Sunday parked up in the depot.
An E300 which has been parked between withdrawals 40009 and 42354 for about a week is 67602. Can't imagine this is withdrawn, more likely awaiting part(s) for mechanical repairs. Would be nice if it were to be repainted at the same time. Think this would make it the first E300 in the new livery if so.

tank90 · January 25, 2016, 08:29:09 AM

Quote from: DVXXII on January 25, 2016, 08:04:12 AM
Think this would make it the first E300 in the new livery if so.

Do you mean the dipped front livery??
As the 67665 and 67699 are both at Worcester in the 2012 livery.

T840MAK · January 25, 2016, 08:32:01 AM

Quote from: tank90 on January 25, 2016, 08:29:09 AM
Do you mean the dipped front livery??
As the 67665 and 67699 are both at Worcester in the 2012 livery.

Think he's referring to the first Transbus one - 67665 and 67699 are both ADLs.

PM · January 25, 2016, 02:59:28 PM

Quote from: T840MAK on January 25, 2016, 08:32:01 AM
Think he's referring to the first Transbus one - 67665 and 67699 are both ADLs.

Not quite the first!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljennings/15816464468/in/photolist-gzBuuS-gzCoQT-vrFcJ7-ohr1E6-9GTbEv-nNCbfW-uwvdD1-b5usQX-q6DvRf

The first First E300 was also the first to be in the First 2012 livery! :P

tank90 · January 25, 2016, 04:44:40 PM

Aye that be true I forgot the former RH E300 that Diamond didn't want..................

But yes that would be one of the first ones unless any in Scotland had been painted before hand.

PM · January 25, 2016, 08:08:03 PM

Quote from: tank90 on January 25, 2016, 04:44:40 PM
Aye that be true I forgot the former RH E300 that Diamond didn't want..................

But yes that would be one of the first ones unless any in Scotland had been painted before hand.

Interesting bus, longer than all the rest with high backed seats as well. Never got to ride on it unfortunately though surprising it didn't stay at Worcester seeing as that type of E300 was unusual across First at the time, before E300's went to Potteries, think Scotland East have one as well.

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First Bus - Potteries

barry619