Steapest hill climbs for buses within the west mids

[Lukeee]

not as steep as others but marsh hill on the Outercircle could be fun on a packed Metrobus.

[windy miller]

very few of these hills should pose a problem to modern buses. Further afield I think the worst route for a Western Welsh Bus was the service from Cardiff to Barry Island in 1961 (via the now B4267.) This was a mile long 1in7 climb known as Leckwith Hill. On hot summer days the packed out Underpowered Half- cab Bristols? were no match,and everyone had to 'de-camp' 100 yds short of the top and walk. I think the route may have been be modified today using the 4232 instead.

[Ashley]

They've never seemed to sruggle up Newtown Road the Presidents, 4268 struggled up there when I wass on it the one day, with the reliability of the 451 being questionabe at times, sometimes you'll get a pretty much empty Presidentand you'll fly. My votes would go to those already mentioned, I'd also say the the majority of the 238 is hilly, Mercs get up it no problem, the B6LEs probably struggled though

[Roy]

very few of these hills should pose a problem to modern buses. Further afield I think the worst route for a Western Welsh Bus was the service from Cardiff to Barry Island in 1961 (via the now B4267.) This was a mile long 1in7 climb known as Leckwith Hill. On hot summer days the packed out Underpowered Half- cab Bristols? were no match,and everyone had to 'de-camp' 100 yds short of the top and walk. I think the route may have been be modified today using the 4232 instead.

Western Welsh was a BET company and thus could not operate Bristols.  If I remember correctly, their half cab buses were Leyland PD2's and AEC Renowns.

[windy miller]

Thanks Roy! As my question mark after the word bristol suggested I wasn't sure. I think they were all replaced c 1964 anyway- with a much more powerfull AEC replacement. There were other operators on this (Very popular) rat run as well- inc Thomas's coachways. This pontentialy dangerous piece of road has a sand trap/escape lane half way down..as does the A465 descent from 1350ft down clyddach hill nr abergavenny... This really would be a 'white Knuckle ride in Blizzard conditions!..although they do say the best 'white knuckle' ride is still the 62 bus through Glasgow city centre after the pubs shut!! :) :) lol

[Discodave]

what about bird st gornal wood 257 route no one had mentioned that lots of black country posters here

[Badger]

Just got reminded of a steep narrow hill on the 10, buses always seem to pass while on it. It's not as steep as Dudley but it's winding and quite narrow.

Incidentally I tried to get a pic off google and while it doesn't look steep at all in the pic they did catch a sneaky shot of a WM solo hehe: http://goo.gl/maps/R9VC9 but consider it's tridents / now B7RLEs using this plus Midland scanias and such.

[Discodave]

Just got reminded of a steep narrow hill on the 10, buses always seem to pass while on it. It's not as steep as Dudley but it's winding and quite narrow.

Incidentally I tried to get a pic off google and while it doesn't look steep at all in the pic they did catch a sneaky shot of a WM solo hehe: http://goo.gl/maps/R9VC9 but consider it's tridents / now B7RLEs using this plus Midland scanias and such.

tettenhall (the rock) hill yes very steep a metro would really struggle tridents were ok but not brill when at arriva they used to do 510 on sunday and a mpd would be screaming its head off glad it was always empty

[Trident 4609]

what about bird st gornal wood 257 route no one had mentioned that lots of black country posters here

Yes i was going to post about bird street but i saw your post. The trident i was on last friday got up there alright.

[Trident 4609]

No it's not the rock, it's the Holloway on route 10 going to perton. I went up there on a midland trident today and it is quite steep and i thoght the bus would struggle but it didn't

[davey]

The Moor Lane / Powke Lane combination on Blackheath/Old Hill boarder is a killer for buses. Up one hill, then down then up another.

Many contenders around here though: Buffery, Doulton Road, Brickhouse Road, Coppice Lane, Quarry Bank, City Road, most of the Springfield Estate and Rowley Road Estates for the 224 and majority of Gornal Wood.

Mercs are just about the only things that cope, hard life for any bus around here.

[Ashley]

The Holloway is a steep hill, Mercs manage it, tridents do and even Spectras when they were on the 10

[Trident 4609]

When do Mercs go up there. It is mainly B7RLE with a Excel in the evening. I went up the hooloway today on a midland trident and it is very steep indeed

[Ashley]

When they changed the services in Wolves, the 510 became the 10 and initially they used Excels on the route (NXWM route 10 so were clear). Then they used other types like Spectras because the Excels either couldnt get up the Holloway and/or had capacity issues. Eventually they settled on Mercs until the second batch of B7RLEs arrived.

[Trident 4609]

i remember when they had spectras on the 10. They still have excels on the 10 in the evenings(Unless it's changed to Merc)