Diamond West Midlands - Tividale

[mesub]

Noticed that the 002 has been missing quite a few streetlites for a couple of weeks now, did they get moved or?

[DJ]

Noticed that the 002 has been missing quite a few streetlites for a couple of weeks now, did they get moved or?

None have been moved, they're just used on other routes in addition to the 002. The clean air zone means that the odd 16 working that would be a B7RLE or similar previously, now has to be a Euro 6 vehicle, so you end up with the slightly older StreetLites off the 002 or 226 working it. There are other routes too that are Euro 6 tenders, such as the 22/23 in Wednesbury, which both get them on a regular basis alongside the Mellors.

[mesub]

None have been moved, they're just used on other routes in addition to the 002. The clean air zone means that the odd 16 working that would be a B7RLE or similar previously, now has to be a Euro 6 vehicle, so you end up with the slightly older StreetLites off the 002 or 226 working it. There are other routes too that are Euro 6 tenders, such as the 22/23 in Wednesbury, which both get them on a regular basis alongside the Mellors.

Alright, thank you

[NigelJobbins]

Stopped of at Tividale Depot on Sunday 8th August 2021 (On my way to see Liverpool in a friendly) and noted the following, all from a public place.

Optare Solo's
20010
20050 (Thought this went to Peter Reddish for Scrap)
20051
20053
20058
20732
20735
20736
20737
20739
20740
20818
20879
20886
20887
20888
20912
30102
30638

Dart's
20023
20610
21110
30879
30886
30887
30888
30960
30961

Streetlites
20164
20167
32230
32232
32233
32234
32235
32236
32237
32310
32315
32316
32317
32323
32325

Mercedes-Benz Sprinters
21206
21210
21211
21214
21218
21220
21226
21228
21232
21234

Volvo B7RLE/Wright
30407
30410
30411
30412
30525
30526
30527
30834

Volvo B7RLE/Plaxton
30816

Optare Versa's
30969

Also noted one burnt out single decker at the back of the yard opposite the depot. Anyone know which on this is?

[Wumpty]

Apologies for the late posting, though last Wednesday, I passed to wreckers towing a Mercedes Citaro each - first was 30030 and another UID Citaro.

Are these back at TV or heading/arrived elsewhere?

[andyh]

Burnt out dart is 30500  MW52 PZR

[DJ]

B14 WTS (30120) is back at Tividale after repaint and it's electric conversion. SK16 GXH (32307) is also back at Tividale, and is the first WMB vehicle to be repainted into the regular Diamond livery. Both are currently in the base livery without vinyls.

[WWH44L]

Apologies for the late posting, though last Wednesday, I passed to wreckers towing a Mercedes Citaro each - first was 30030 and another UID Citaro.

Are these back at TV or heading/arrived elsewhere?

Was the other still in signature livery? If so it will be 30019. Both these have been up and Bolton and not turned a wheel in ages. 30030 was painted into Preston livery for some reason but was only on the road for a few months. 30019 never entered service so presume both now sold on.

[Wumpty]

Was the other still in signature livery? If so it will be 30019. Both these have been up and Bolton and not turned a wheel in ages. 30030 was painted into Preston livery for some reason but was only on the road for a few months. 30019 never entered service so presume both now sold on.

They weren't in a specific livery - both looked like they'd had work done to various panels. Pity, as I really rate Mercedes chassis.

[MW]

Was the other still in signature livery? If so it will be 30019. Both these have been up and Bolton and not turned a wheel in ages. 30030 was painted into Preston livery for some reason but was only on the road for a few months. 30019 never entered service so presume both now sold on.

The original Signature fleet was in very bad condition upon the loss of the contracts in Solihull. The "best" vehicle was 32307. Everything else was plagued with issues. Not surprised the Mercs have been sold / withdrawn as with the Versas (30404 / 30405). 30019 was VOR for ages. 30030 rarely made it into service. In every occasion it lasted a matter of weeks before going off the road again.

20016 was the best Solo of a bad bunch. Looks like that one ended up north. The remainder were terrible. 20014/20027 being the worst. Presumably they're now operating locally in Redditch, and not venturing out of the town!

32308/9/10 were constantly having electrical issues. Not sure what they're like at Tividale. Perhaps they've been repaired now. 32307 was the most reliable vehicle in that fleet.

[WWH44L]

The original Signature fleet was in very bad condition upon the loss of the contracts in Solihull. The "best" vehicle was 32307. Everything else was plagued with issues. Not surprised the Mercs have been sold / withdrawn as with the Versas (30404 / 30405). 30019 was VOR for ages. 30030 rarely made it into service. In every occasion it lasted a matter of weeks before going off the road again.

20016 was the best Solo of a bad bunch. Looks like that one ended up north. The remainder were terrible. 20014/20027 being the worst. Presumably they're now operating locally in Redditch, and not venturing out of the town!

32308/9/10 were constantly having electrical issues. Not sure what they're like at Tividale. Perhaps they've been repaired now. 32307 was the most reliable vehicle in that fleet.

Thanks for the update, at least Versa 30404 is still in service at Bolton, been tracking as 32211 for months.

[Trident 4194]

The original Signature fleet was in very bad condition upon the loss of the contracts in Solihull. The "best" vehicle was 32307. Everything else was plagued with issues. Not surprised the Mercs have been sold / withdrawn as with the Versas (30404 / 30405). 30019 was VOR for ages. 30030 rarely made it into service. In every occasion it lasted a matter of weeks before going off the road again.

20016 was the best Solo of a bad bunch. Looks like that one ended up north. The remainder were terrible. 20014/20027 being the worst. Presumably they're now operating locally in Redditch, and not venturing out of the town!

32308/9/10 were constantly having electrical issues. Not sure what they're like at Tividale. Perhaps they've been repaired now. 32307 was the most reliable vehicle in that fleet.

The 40 seems to be run by B7RLES most the time indicating those streetlites may be as bad at Tividale. 30030 must be worth some money though?

[DJ]

The 40 seems to be run by B7RLES most the time indicating those streetlites may be as bad at Tividale. 30030 must be worth some money though?

The Streetlites are on the 40 all the time, except for 32307 which has been away for a repaint. Even so, NX always have had non-branded stuff on there too, including two Scanias today.

[Trident 4194]

The original Signature fleet was in very bad condition upon the loss of the contracts in Solihull. The "best" vehicle was 32307. Everything else was plagued with issues. Not surprised the Mercs have been sold / withdrawn as with the Versas (30404 / 30405). 30019 was VOR for ages. 30030 rarely made it into service. In every occasion it lasted a matter of weeks before going off the road again.

20016 was the best Solo of a bad bunch. Looks like that one ended up north. The remainder were terrible. 20014/20027 being the worst. Presumably they're now operating locally in Redditch, and not venturing out of the town!

32308/9/10 were constantly having electrical issues. Not sure what they're like at Tividale. Perhaps they've been repaired now. 32307 was the most reliable vehicle in that fleet.

I went on 32309 today on the 40. The vibrations from this thing when idle was appalling. Give me a royale Any day over that heap of junk

[Trident 4194]

The 13 no longer seems to be mellor operated.