First Bus - Potteries

[DVXXII]

The B7 singles with Fuschia fronts from the Cherry red fronts now all carry Leicester branding.

Interesting. I'd presume from this that these and others are to be displaced when the E200s start to arrive (currently estimated sometime in September). However, on yahoogroups, it was suggested that the E200s were going to displace solos. But, with the DDA compliant ALX400 deckers due to join other ex Leicester examples at Bristol, maybe these repainted Volvos are to be swapped with geminis at Leicester to maintain the number of deckers at Potteries. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Gemini 32632 went to Worcester earlier this week for repairs. Fixed 32633 came back the other way. Currently parked with out of use stickers at AG depot are 32627 and 66963. Long term resident of the 'out of use' corner, 41496, has gone. Presume inside the garage somewhere for repairs as i've not seen it about in service.

[DVXXII]

42552 out in service today freshly repainted in the livery with purple front. No potteries branding on as yet though.

66309 has been parked up for the past few days with the 3 Volvos newly repainted with Leicester branding. This has not had Leicester names added like the others but may ne parked up with the others for a reason maybe?

[DVXXII]

The repainted 66838/9/41 and 66309 that recieved branding for Leicester have gone from the corner of the depot so have presumably now moved over. I understand that 66314 and 66840 were also to have their  fronts repainted and move over to Leicester too, but I have not seen these two with the others before they disappeared.

42552/3/4 now all have new livery with purple fronts and potteries branding. All are back out in service. Omnicity 65041 soldiers on in the old livery still dispite all its sisters being repainted (or in overall advert in the case of 65040). I would have thought this one would have been completed before moving on to other buses in the fleet. It does have a full rear advert, don't know if this is the reason its been overlooked?

Apparently the new E200s are arriving from late September onwards. Latest reports are that the number arriving has reduced from 16 to 9 - not sure which group is to benefit from the other 7. Apparently these will be replacing ex FMR solos. Also, all the ex Leicester Alx400s are to go, with the W reg ones withdrawn and the 51 reg ones to transfer out to another group (heard FSA and Bradford as possible destinations). There should be 4 x geminis coming from Leicester to keep the number of deckers up to cater for the term time 25 PVR, and the PVR reduction from this weekend when the Hanley to Longton corridors through Bentillee reduce in frequency will allow a greater number to leave than are coming in to replace them.

[JIM H]

66839 & 66841 were in service at Leicester on Wednesday.

[DVXXII]

A number of the streetlites have lost the places served from their route branding, making them similar in livery now to those in the latest livery in Worcester and Leicester. Leads me to suspect that when the service revisions are introduced from tomorrow there may be a change in vehicle type allocation on some routes, have to wait and see what turns up where next week.

[DVXXII]

A number of the streetlites have lost the places served from their route branding, making them similar in livery now to those in the latest livery in Worcester and Leicester. Leads me to suspect that when the service revisions are introduced from tomorrow there may be a change in vehicle type allocation on some routes, have to wait and see what turns up where next week.

Early observations of the 6/6a/11a(formerly 26) group of services since the changes seem to suggest that the streetlites have gone from being dedicated to this group of services. These services have generally been operated by a mixture of vehicles including streetlites, E300s and Omnicitys. The allocations for the other new services  (11/12/13) have also been similar.
All of the scania/volvo singles with the red fronts I've seen have had their route lettering changed to the 3/4/4A group of services. New side stickers advertising the First week ticket have been applied to at least one of the 6717* streetlites.

[DVXXII]

Gemini 37146 has been repainted into PMT inter urban silver livery from the 1990's

[Ashley 60171]

Gemini 37146 has been repainted into PMT inter urban silver livery from the 1990's

32633 meant to be going red and cream. The third one is in for paint now.

66852 is back in service after a two year holiday, apart from the body, it's a new bus pretty much.

32648 transferred to AG yesterday and was on football shuttles today.

32055 parked up at Newcastle then Hanley all afternoon
32077 on the 3/4, 32079 on the 7 circuit, 32081 on 32's.

[DVXXII]

32633 meant to be going red and cream. The third one is in for paint now.

66852 is back in service after a two year holiday, apart from the body, it's a new bus pretty much.

32648 transferred to AG yesterday and was on football shuttles today.

32055 parked up at Newcastle then Hanley all afternoon
32077 on the 3/4, 32079 on the 7 circuit, 32081 on 32's.

Repainting 32633 when it was only done 3 years ago. You'd think one of the Gemini's in the old first group livery still would be better candidates. However it is not exactly surprising for First is it?!
You'd think management would use the opportunity of these heritage liveries to repaint 3 Gemini's from the old first livery. However, instead, lets repaint a vehicle done only a few years ago. Why am I not surprised....

[DD12]

Repainting 32633 when it was only done 3 years ago. You'd think one of the Gemini's in the old first group livery still would be better candidates. However it is not exactly surprising for First is it?!
You'd think management would use the opportunity of these heritage liveries to repaint 3 Gemini's from the old first livery. However, instead, lets repaint a vehicle done only a few years ago. Why am I not surprised....

I think the recent livery which I call "Olympia" ( ... and may be called  "Urban 1"  ?)  is appalling, and I personally wouldn't criticise First for repainting them first !

[DVXXII]

Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 demonstrator YK65RKK has been in service here this week, presumably as type training in anticipation of the arrival of permanent stock due for delivery in the next couple of weeks.

[Dylanbusboy45]

Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 demonstrator YK65RKK has been in service here this week, presumably as type training in anticipation of the arrival of permanent stock due for delivery in the next couple of weeks.

I wonder if it will be on display at the depot open day tomorrow?

[Dylanbusboy45]

Quite a few single decks were parked out the way of the open day in a yard down the road today
Buses on Display at the depot:
Gemini 32627/32634 (Pre NBC Heritage Livery)/37146 (Post NBC Heritage Livery)/UNID in paint
Darts:41493/41498/41499/41500/41512/41521/41522/42552/42553/42554/43875/43876
Solo:53058/53155/53208
B10BLE Trainers:60316/60317
Streetlite:63097/63174
Scanias:65001/65002/65026/65039/65042/65733
B7RLE 66852/66965 (Leicester Heritage Livery)

Plus:
Arriva London LT840 Wright NBFL
Demonstrator YX65RKK ADL Enviro 200 MMC
Preserved 766EVT Leyland Atlantean
Preserved C120VBF Mercedes Mini Bus
Preserved S350MFP Scania L113CRL/Wright

Overall there was a great display of buses in different 'Locations' eg in paint/on pits/on jacks but you would only need a few hours at the most there.

[DVXXII]

Spotted today former long term VOR dart 41496 is now back out in service

[DVXXII]

Street lite 63101 has now arrived from Leicester, and is out today on the 6/11/11a circuit. I believe the plan was to swap this with 63250, as this is the lone euro V engined example at Potteries. Not sure if 63250 has gone to Leicester in exchange though, can anyone confirm?