77syk7
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Posts: 641
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Post by 77syk7 on Dec 11, 2021 15:44:21 GMT 1
As time progresses and models and makes disappear into oblivion, it is rewarding to acknowledge a batch of buses which you might consider to be rare and interesting!
We have a batch of First's 3 Optare Solo M1020 (53301-53303) running in daily service in Halifax.
They were the longest of the various Solos built and have an exceptionally long wheelbase with the 'door forward' design, they do look somewhat ungainly.
However, at 17 years old seem to be in fine fettle and I believe they still have their original 6 cylinder Cummins engine.
Somebody more knowledgeable than me will be able to list others still in service within the UK - but I doubt there will be many!
Maybe worth a second look and a bit of further research.
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Post by 576 Gemini 2 on Dec 11, 2021 22:24:37 GMT 1
Owned by Metro when new, used on the 747 Bradford-LBA service,passed to First when they won the contract for that route.
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Post by Dom on Dec 12, 2021 1:14:18 GMT 1
Driven all 3 of them, 53301 I had a few weeks ago and it was shocking, no power at all. 6 mph up Pye Nest in Halifax. 53302 / 3 do seem to be a lot better.
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Post by Father Dougal McGuire on Dec 12, 2021 4:47:16 GMT 1
3 years ago I was on loan to Halifax depot for a few weeks I had an Eclipse 2 on the 539 to Stainland which uses some tight roads. Day after on the same duty it was one of them Solos and it was about 100x more difficult to drive.
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joseph
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Post by joseph on Dec 12, 2021 9:06:49 GMT 1
Driven all 3 of them, 53301 I had a few weeks ago and it was shocking, no power at all. 6 mph up Pye Nest in Halifax. 53302 / 3 do seem to be a lot better. Ah, that explains why there was a difference in performance from one week to the next about a year ago, as by chance got on a few Solo operated journeys over a short period of time to access various walks, thought it was the driver lol. The main reason why they've lasted so long could be because they were parked up for a few years down at Cherry Row before moving to Halifax. |
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WYBS
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Post by WYBS on Dec 12, 2021 10:39:31 GMT 1
Owned by Metro when new, used on the 747 Bradford-LBA service,passed to First when they won the contract for that route. I never knew that until now, thanks. |
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WYBS
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Post by WYBS on Dec 12, 2021 10:41:28 GMT 1
What happened to the solo that ran out of Todmorden? I remember it was reserved for a school run but transferred over the Halifax in the 6 week holidays. It had the most comfortable interior of any bus I have been on to this day.
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Post by Father Dougal McGuire on Dec 12, 2021 16:24:56 GMT 1
What happened to the solo that ran out of Todmorden? I remember it was reserved for a school run but transferred over the Halifax in the 6 week holidays. It had the most comfortable interior of any bus I have been on to this day. It's engine blew up on last day of term 2019 and was withdrawn and scrapped that summer. It used to do the Cragg Vale - Calder High school bus since the Marshall Darts were withdrawn |
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joseph
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Posts: 1,144
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Post by joseph on Dec 12, 2021 17:10:00 GMT 1
What happened to the solo that ran out of Todmorden? I remember it was reserved for a school run but transferred over the Halifax in the 6 week holidays. It had the most comfortable interior of any bus I have been on to this day. It's engine blew up on last day of term 2019 and was withdrawn and scrapped that summer. It used to do the Cragg Vale - Calder High school bus since the Marshall Darts were withdrawn Must have been a poor bus, it had a really light duty for about 3 or 4 years on a school service after spending a lot of time off the road for repairs. |
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