Forum fleetlist section

[WYBS]

I had the idea of starting our own 'Fleetlist' section where accurate information can be updated by members (pending approval by one or more people) based on reports on the fleet changes section. Various fleetlists are scattered all over different websites and are not necessarily always accurate. There is bustimes.org, but that is missing Squarepeg for example.

This would create a simple, all in one resource for forum members and guest users, or 'shadow watchers' as I like to call them (of whom there are many).

I've no idea what format it would be in or if each fleetlist would have to be linked to a separate pop up document?

Anyone else interested in this and have ideas how it could be achieved?

Cheers.

[dlspotter]

The only thing I could think of would be one of the following:
Using a Google Sheets spreadsheet, however this tends to limit it to only those who have a gmail account, and a spreadsheet isn't the best way to store this type of information. Plus, some people who would be able to contribute really well might not want to share their email address with other forum members. Also, you would have to make it by invitation only if you wanted to ensure that those who do edit it are trusted.

Or an Airtable online database (only up to 5 editors and 1200 free records, however if separated by company this is achievable, also 5 editors could be a sufficient amount if people check the forum for updates daily), however it may be the case that nobody can agree on who these 5 are.

Additionally with Airtable, you could create a database where each record is a suggestion, and then you can create a form and share a link so that anyone can log a suggestion, which may be easier than scrolling up and down the forum to find the suggestions.

Personally, I use Airtable for logging all my bus trips. I have a trips, fleet and route section with linked records for easier filtering. It also allows you to add image attachments so all of the fleet have an image to it, and I have it in a gallery view meaning that when scrolling the fleetlist I can see big images and not just a big block of lines of text. I have different Airtables for different operators to maximise the 1200 records.

These are my only suggestions, there are advantages and disadvantages to both but interested to see what happens with this as many sources are unreliable. I am happy to contribute to any option as I only make changes when I can confirm (either first hand or through a reliable source) that things have changed. I would also be able to help providing some of the initial information from my own Airtable fleetlists.

[WYBS]

Apr 25, 2022 20:41:42 GMT 1 dlspotter said:

The only thing I could think of would be one of the following:
Using a Google Sheets spreadsheet, however this tends to limit it to only those who have a gmail account, and a spreadsheet isn't the best way to store this type of information. Plus, some people who would be able to contribute really well might not want to share their email address with other forum members. Also, you would have to make it by invitation only if you wanted to ensure that those who do edit it are trusted.

Or an Airtable online database (only up to 5 editors and 1200 free records, however if separated by company this is achievable, also 5 editors could be a sufficient amount if people check the forum for updates daily), however it may be the case that nobody can agree on who these 5 are.

Additionally with Airtable, you could create a database where each record is a suggestion, and then you can create a form and share a link so that anyone can log a suggestion, which may be easier than scrolling up and down the forum to find the suggestions.

Personally, I use Airtable for logging all my bus trips. I have a trips, fleet and route section with linked records for easier filtering. It also allows you to add image attachments so all of the fleet have an image to it, and I have it in a gallery view meaning that when scrolling the fleetlist I can see big images and not just a big block of lines of text. I have different Airtables for different operators to maximise the 1200 records.

These are my only suggestions, there are advantages and disadvantages to both but interested to see what happens with this as many sources are unreliable. I am happy to contribute to any option as I only make changes when I can confirm (either first hand or through a reliable source) that things have changed. I would also be able to help providing some of the initial information from my own Airtable fleetlists.

Thank you very much for that. I'm going to look into it more when I get chance. I've been very busy with work recently. Thanks again.

[dlspotter]

Not sure if anyone will see this post on such a deep down thread but I am willing to (with input from others) collaboratively own and edit a forum fleetlist, most likely achievable through Google Sheets

Would be ideally done with a few trusted people to edit and a section with recent updates so people can see summaries of what hs
Also with a 'contributions' form so that people who don't have editing privileges can make suggestions (with a part of the form for giving evidence of their suggestions)

[WYBS]

Oct 12, 2022 23:22:05 GMT 1 dlspotter said:

Not sure if anyone will see this post on such a deep down thread but I am willing to (with input from others) collaboratively own and edit a forum fleetlist, most likely achievable through Google Sheets

Would be ideally done with a few trusted people to edit and a section with recent updates so people can see summaries of what hs
Also with a 'contributions' form so that people who don't have editing privileges can make suggestions (with a part of the form for giving evidence of their suggestions)

I'll look at making a start next week. I have a while off from work for the first time in ages, so I can explore a few ideas and ways of doing it. As you say Google sheets would be good, but I would like to publish the data as a PDF with a nice looking and informative design. Maybe even including images of different bus types and things like that.

I also want to make the fleetlist as detailed as feasibly possible. Some fleetlists have a lot of information but are not great to look at, and others are great to look at but have only the basic info. Combining the two would be my ideal end result.

Would certainly be great to have you and some trusted others on board though. 👍

[dlspotter]

Oct 12, 2022 23:37:14 GMT 1 WYBS said:

Oct 12, 2022 23:22:05 GMT 1 dlspotter said:

Not sure if anyone will see this post on such a deep down thread but I am willing to (with input from others) collaboratively own and edit a forum fleetlist, most likely achievable through Google Sheets

Would be ideally done with a few trusted people to edit and a section with recent updates so people can see summaries of what hs
Also with a 'contributions' form so that people who don't have editing privileges can make suggestions (with a part of the form for giving evidence of their suggestions)

I'll look at making a start next week. I have a while off from work for the first time in ages, so I can explore a few ideas and ways of doing it. As you say Google sheets would be good, but I would like to publish the data as a PDF with a nice looking and informative design. Maybe even including images of different bus types and things like that.

I also want to make the fleetlist as detailed as feasibly possible. Some fleetlists have a lot of information but are not great to look at, and others are great to look at but have only the basic info. Combining the two would be my ideal end result.

Would certainly be great to have you and some trusted others on board though. 👍

I definitely agree that a good visual format would be great and help the information stand out
We may need to find a software that will allow us to add/modify/delete the information with ease but would allow for presentability (and of course collaboration)

[WYBS]

Hey all. I finally got around to creating a fleetlist (just for Transdev Harrogate to begin with).

It includes a lot of information, but is hopefully presented in a user friendly and easy to read format.
I have also included interactive web links, which are highlighted in blue.

Hope you all like it and please let me know if you have any feedback.

With the admins' help, I eventually hope to post each operator's fleetlist in a pinned board, just as the fleet changes threads are. This way people will know where to find them and I can keep it updated easily.

I have also included an email address: [e-mail] if people wish to email me with changes (please no speculation though). This way it saves me trawling through each board on here and keeping notes.

The Harrogate Fleetlist (Version 1) can be found on this link:
(I can't get a hyperlink working in this text at the moment. It just redirects back to this post)
drive.google.com/file/d/1qSL1gTEGThXbVsobmYYoihPejhs-_qBo/view?usp=sharing

[chas]

Jul 31, 2023 15:00:31 GMT 1 WYBS said:

Hey all. I finally got around to creating a fleetlist (just for TranSdev Harrogate to begin with).

It includes a lot of information, but is hopefully presented in a user friendly and easy to read format.
I have also included interactive web links, which are highlighted in blue.

Hope you all like it and please let me know if you have any feedback.

With the admins' help, I eventually hope to post each operator's fleetlist in a pinned board, just as the fleet changes threads are. This way people will know where to find them and I can keep it updated easily.

I have also included an email address: [e-mail] if people wish to email me with changes (please no speculation though). This way it saves me trawling through each board on here and keeping notes.

The Harrogate Fleetlist (Version 1) can be found on this link:
drive.google.com/file/d/1qSL1gTEGThXbVsobmYYoihPejhs-_qBo/view?usp=sharing

Very good and well laid out. I would ask for a ‘changes’ section, or recently changed information in a different colour.

[WYBS]

Jul 31, 2023 15:52:58 GMT 1 chas said:

Jul 31, 2023 15:00:31 GMT 1 WYBS said:

Hey all. I finally got around to creating a fleetlist (just for TranSdev Harrogate to begin with).

It includes a lot of information, but is hopefully presented in a user friendly and easy to read format.
I have also included interactive web links, which are highlighted in blue.

Hope you all like it and please let me know if you have any feedback.

With the admins' help, I eventually hope to post each operator's fleetlist in a pinned board, just as the fleet changes threads are. This way people will know where to find them and I can keep it updated easily.

I have also included an email address: [e-mail] if people wish to email me with changes (please no speculation though). This way it saves me trawling through each board on here and keeping notes.

The Harrogate Fleetlist (Version 1) can be found on this link:
drive.google.com/file/d/1qSL1gTEGThXbVsobmYYoihPejhs-_qBo/view?usp=sharing

Very good and well laid out. I would ask for a ‘changes’ section, or recently changed information in a different colour.

Thank you Chas, I am hoping to update them once a month providing I have time. In the next update, it will keep a log of what has been changed since the previous version; highlighting transfers, repaints, withdrawls etc...

[dlspotter]

Hi - good work - this is very well laid out and informative too.
I have previously been interested in creating similar fleetlists for the forum - so if I can help in any way to ease the workload or make things a bit easier please send me a message on here and I am happy to exchange details.

[leeds rider]

Jul 31, 2023 15:00:31 GMT 1 WYBS said:

Hey all. I finally got around to creating a fleetlist (just for Transdev Harrogate to begin with).

It includes a lot of information, but is hopefully presented in a user friendly and easy to read format.
I have also included interactive web links, which are highlighted in blue.

Hope you all like it and please let me know if you have any feedback.

With the admins' help, I eventually hope to post each operator's fleetlist in a pinned board, just as the fleet changes threads are. This way people will know where to find them and I can keep it updated easily.

I have also included an email address: [e-mail] if people wish to email me with changes (please no speculation though). This way it saves me trawling through each board on here and keeping notes.

The Harrogate Fleetlist (Version 1) can be found on this link:
(I can't get a hyperlink working in this text at the moment. It just redirects back to this post)
drive.google.com/file/d/1qSL1gTEGThXbVsobmYYoihPejhs-_qBo/view?usp=sharing

Nice work so far.

I'd like to see manufacturer's name with chassis/body types, as my aging brain can't always remember who made what these days!

Also, please spell "withdrawals" correctly!

[WYBS]

Aug 1, 2023 8:47:41 GMT 1 leeds rider said:

Jul 31, 2023 15:00:31 GMT 1 WYBS said:

Hey all. I finally got around to creating a fleetlist (just for Transdev Harrogate to begin with).

It includes a lot of information, but is hopefully presented in a user friendly and easy to read format.
I have also included interactive web links, which are highlighted in blue.

Hope you all like it and please let me know if you have any feedback.

With the admins' help, I eventually hope to post each operator's fleetlist in a pinned board, just as the fleet changes threads are. This way people will know where to find them and I can keep it updated easily.

I have also included an email address: [e-mail] if people wish to email me with changes (please no speculation though). This way it saves me trawling through each board on here and keeping notes.

The Harrogate Fleetlist (Version 1) can be found on this link:
(I can't get a hyperlink working in this text at the moment. It just redirects back to this post)
drive.google.com/file/d/1qSL1gTEGThXbVsobmYYoihPejhs-_qBo/view?usp=sharing

Nice work so far.

I'd like to see manufacturer's name with chassis/body types, as my aging brain can't always remember who made what these days!

Also, please spell "withdrawals" correctly!

Thank you.

I made a conscious decision to write out the full bus type, including manufacturer on the 'fleet overview' section, and then to refer to it in a shorter form beside each vehicle, as writing it out long hand was just going to take up way too much space, for example 'Volvo B7TL / Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini (with Gemini II facelift)'.