Pensnett Garage

[winston]

Got a feeling that this may be the beginning of the end for PEs Mercs, although i wonder what they will use for routes like 243/4 & 297 where DDs are not suitable?

B7RLE?

[Stuharris 6360]

Got a feeling that this may be the beginning of the end for PEs Mercs, although i wonder what they will use for routes like 243/4 & 297 where DDs are not suitable?

B7RLE?

Thanks Winston, not thinking tonight, & saw 2098 on the 243 to today.

[Tony]

Is 4348 the only one at Pensnett at the minute or are there any more?

i thought YW were meant to be short of buses?

Perry Barr Enviro400 4731 was sighted on the 50 today, maybe something to do with 4348 transferring. May be a loan until other buses can be transferred in, or even transferred to Yardley Wood, although I think transfer is unlikely

Why are these transfers unlikely?

[winston]

Got a feeling that this may be the beginning of the end for PEs Mercs, although i wonder what they will use for routes like 243/4 & 297 where DDs are not suitable?

B7RLE?

Thanks Winston, not thinking tonight, & saw 2098 on the 243 to today.

I've got 46 x Mercs still at PE, the better ones will be around for sometime yet, can't see many being left after June 2015 though

[trident4370]

YW are short of Enviros though aren't they?

[Stu]

Got a feeling that this may be the beginning of the end for PEs Mercs, although i wonder what they will use for routes like 243/4 & 297 where DDs are not suitable?

If I'm not mistaken, suitability of DDs on those routes would only be down to low-hanging trees or bridges. As the Tridents are of shorter length than the Mercs. There's not much you can do about low bridges, apart from diverting the route around them, but low-hanging trees can be cut back to accommodate doubles, as was done for the 966 route.

If there's to be a large influx of double deckers to Pensnett, it could see a route such as the 140/241 or even the 120 upgraded, which would then free up Urban 2 B7RLEs to replace the Mercs on the other services.

[Stuharris 6360]

Got a feeling that this may be the beginning of the end for PEs Mercs, although i wonder what they will use for routes like 243/4 & 297 where DDs are not suitable?

If I'm not mistaken, suitability of DDs on those routes would only be down to low-hanging trees or bridges. As the Tridents are of shorter length than the Mercs. There's not much you can do about low bridges, apart from diverting the route around them, but low-hanging trees can be cut back to accommodate doubles, as was done for the 966 route.

If there's to be a large influx of double deckers to Pensnett, it could see a route such as the 140/241 or even the 120 upgraded, which would then free up Urban 2 B7RLEs to replace the Mercs on the other services.

Think the 243 is the main problem for low bridges, the 244 isn't a real problem and the 297 can always be diverted away easily. However there are several low bridges in Cradley especially where 4253 came to grief that really bar DDs from being used on the 243.

[winston]

Got a feeling that this may be the beginning of the end for PEs Mercs, although i wonder what they will use for routes like 243/4 & 297 where DDs are not suitable?

If I'm not mistaken, suitability of DDs on those routes would only be down to low-hanging trees or bridges. As the Tridents are of shorter length than the Mercs. There's not much you can do about low bridges, apart from diverting the route around them, but low-hanging trees can be cut back to accommodate doubles, as was done for the 966 route.

If there's to be a large influx of double deckers to Pensnett, it could see a route such as the 140/241 or even the 120 upgraded, which would then free up Urban 2 B7RLEs to replace the Mercs on the other services.

Think the 243 is the main problem for low bridges, the 244 isn't a real problem and the 297 can always be diverted away easily. However there are several low bridges in Cradley especially where 4253 came to grief that really bar DDs from being used on the 243.

Maybe PE might receive another small batch of E200's for the 243/244 from the 300 new buses due?

[John]

Why are these transfers unlikely?

I just was not expecting Yardley Wood to gain any more Enviro400s.

I know there is one extra now (4799) from when 4738-62 were new to Yardley Wood, but has the frequency of the 50 increased so that they are short of Enviro400s

[Stuharris 6360]

Got a feeling that this may be the beginning of the end for PEs Mercs, although i wonder what they will use for routes like 243/4 & 297 where DDs are not suitable?

If I'm not mistaken, suitability of DDs on those routes would only be down to low-hanging trees or bridges. As the Tridents are of shorter length than the Mercs. There's not much you can do about low bridges, apart from diverting the route around them, but low-hanging trees can be cut back to accommodate doubles, as was done for the 966 route.

If there's to be a large influx of double deckers to Pensnett, it could see a route such as the 140/241 or even the 120 upgraded, which would then free up Urban 2 B7RLEs to replace the Mercs on the other services.

Think the 243 is the main problem for low bridges, the 244 isn't a real problem and the 297 can always be diverted away easily. However there are several low bridges in Cradley especially where 4253 came to grief that really bar DDs from being used on the 243.

Maybe PE might receive another small batch of E200's for the 243/244 from the 300 new buses due?

Depending on what is ordered, maybe a small cascade of E200s from WB is possible?

[karl724223]

Deckers can go on 243 no low bridges

[Stuharris 6360]

Deckers can go on 243 no low bridges

Not saying they can't, but if the route has to be diverted, they have to be careful around Cradley as there are a number of low bridges. Better to keep it single decker and not tempt fate, particularly as the route doesn't need deckers.

[karl724223]

You could say that about any route that goes round cradley Heath and old hill

[nitromatt1]

The main reason deckers are kept off the 243 is due to low trees on the Timbertree estate, however I had a look at the road in question yesterday and the trees didn't look to present a problem to deckers. 4200 did one trip not so long ago and came back unscathed.

[Mike K]

Count yourself lucky you're getting voith ones! I just hope 4362 doesn't go :(

The 16 remaining 47xx Enviros at PB to YW, and 4348 to 4363 to PE? Possible perhaps