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Post by pub146g on Jan 1, 2008 22:29:20 GMT 1
31090/2/3/6/7 & 36930 are all still available for service at Cherry Row and will probably see service into the first few days of 2008.
The new B9TL's are awaiting their pre-delivery inspection at Crossroads Commercials and as soon as they are released for service the Scanias will be off. A few nights ago it was pleasing to see 31093 doing the 23.18 to Brackenwood as they should all be back in the depot after the evening peak.
Anybody who has seen the latest 'First to Know' newsletter will have noticed the premature claim that the 2/3/12/13 is now (November) 100% low floor.
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Post by pub146g on Feb 20, 2008 20:33:39 GMT 1
Hate to see it but the new B9's are already starting to look shabby, to say they've only being in service a few weeks. Hopefully Atkinson Steet will have top facilities for maintanance. This is true, certainly as far as the interiors are concerned. I've already touched on this in my message yesterday under the 'More new buses for Leeds thread. Plastic interiors are just not durable enough when passengers insist on putting their feet anywhere but the floor. Today I've noticed further examples of the new B9TL's which have suffered scuff marks to various upper saloon panels due to shoes/boots being 'rested' on them. These are very difficult and sometimes impossible to clean once the plastic has been scratched/scuffed and will probably be there for years.
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Post by pub146g on Jan 28, 2008 23:02:47 GMT 1
6 entered service today :
37125 on 37 37126 on X98 37128/9/30/31 on 2/3/12/13 etc.
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Post by pub146g on Dec 15, 2007 1:10:08 GMT 1
The sad part about all this is that First Leeds have a pretty poor record of keeping branded buses to the respective routes.
Just today and without particularly looking for them I've seen 56 branded B7TL's on Scott Hall 35/45/47/71, a 2/12 branded B7TL on the 98 and at least one of Kirkstall's 33 branded Royales on Unilink 95.
Bramley's 49 branded Geminis appear more often on the 16 than where they should be even though the running boards for the 49 state (or at least they used to) the vehicle fleet no's that should be rostered.
The only buses that don't seem to stray far are Bramley's 40/50 branded 30945/6/8-51/53 which have to be used on those services owing to them being guide wheel fitted for the York Rd guideway.
Also Kirkstall's Geminis for the 42 are more or less on there every day and it's just ironic these don't carry branding!
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Post by pub146g on Feb 9, 2008 1:54:04 GMT 1
A colleague of mine at Bramley informed me it was at Kirkstall on Tuesday 5th. They are expecting it at Bramley after MOT so if it's not been done at Kirkstall i'm not sure where it is.
I'm told the reason the Scanias have been transferred to Bramley is to replace some Darts which are going (donated?) to some Aid effort abroad although no further details are known.
31092 and 36922 have both been on service 38 today and this could prove to be a common sight if the info about the Darts is confirmed.
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Post by pub146g on Feb 6, 2008 1:01:50 GMT 1
Not happy with the prospect of a graceful retirement 31097 is presently receiving a new MOT at Kirkstall.
Some years ago this bus, under its previous guise of 8020 was off the road for about 2 years after suffering fire damage and think at least the whole top deck and possibly more was renewed at that time. This may/may not have been an influencing factor in extending it's life.
Of course it may ultimately be transferred elsewhere but I suspect we'll see it in Leeds for a while yet.
I'm told that 36932 (H232 LOM) was reinstated at Bramley about 10 days ago.
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Post by pub146g on Feb 1, 2008 21:34:49 GMT 1
Well, the end was nigh for the Scania deckers as far as Cherry Row were concerned. When they were sent to Bramley for what was thought to be school use only I for one didn't think they'd see such widespread use as they have over the last few days.
Today in Eastgate at about 15.30 I witnessed 31096 (8019) on the 50A Horsforth bound and the driver said it had been out since the morning at least!
Incidentally, when 36930 arrived at Bramley it had somehow managed to lose its large front grill Scania badge since leaving Cherry Row.
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Post by pub146g on Jan 27, 2008 19:47:36 GMT 1
My last sighting of one on Sat 26th was 31097 which was doing the 16.58 Corn Exchange to Brackenwood 3. This would have been 16.37 from White Rose.
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Post by pub146g on Jan 26, 2008 1:51:53 GMT 1
Indeed, it could well have been your last Scania 'decker journey.
At least 2 are scheduled to be out on Sat 26th but this does look as though it's their last weekend in service. A couple may see service in the Mon-Wed/Thurs period next week but anybody wanting a 'last ride' on one should really 'do it' now.
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Post by pub146g on Dec 7, 2007 23:33:06 GMT 1
No, the R/YOV R/WOE Olympians were bought direct from London for (I think) £59,995.00 each excluding tyres.
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Post by pub146g on Dec 7, 2007 23:21:48 GMT 1
The J-YRM Olympians could be going quite soon as 30709 has recently been repainted all white. All these are leased and not owned by First and the terms and conditions dictate that they are repainted into dealer white when returned.
Another is in the paint shops and they are receiving First fleet names etc on all white base which suggests they will be used for a short period of time.
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Post by pub146g on Dec 7, 2007 23:05:40 GMT 1
I suppose the T/V Scanias could be moving elsewhere but havn't heard anything in that respect. I do know that some of the Scania N113/Alexander Striders are earmarked for withdrawl so the redundant guideway buses could just be deployed elsewhere.
Forgot to mention also that service 96 is due some second hand low floor double decks if First can source some from elsewhere in the group.
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Post by pub146g on Dec 7, 2007 22:47:25 GMT 1
Atkinson St is due to open April 2008. Kirkstall will close but I don't think all Kirkstall operated routes will automatically transfer to the new site. As an example, it's been mentioned elsewhere that services 2/3/12/13 will move from Cherry Row to Atkinson Street and the 42 will move from Kirkstall to Cherry Row.
I also understand that the 51/51A is moving from Bramley to Atkinson Street and that Bramley aren't gaining any other work!
FTR could possibly be moving away from Bramley as the plan is to have all bendi, FTR & guideway routes operating from one site.
A number of new buses are due for the Scott Hall guideway routes & also the 37!
All remaining Leeds Dennis Darts are due for withdrawl at about the same time.
Of course, knowing First, all the above shouldn't be taken as gospel until it actually happens!
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Post by pub146g on Dec 11, 2007 1:33:44 GMT 1
B128 & B131 RWY have also departed to First Eastern Counties.
They havn't wasted any time in using them as according to another site B130 RWY was in service in Norwich on Saturday 8th.
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Post by pub146g on Nov 24, 2007 0:00:05 GMT 1
Unfortunately one passenger did die as a result of this accident and the driver is facing a death by dangerous driving charge. This has been ongoing for over a year and has been fully recorded in the Telegraph & Argus, the latest on the case can be found at www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1267083.0.bus_driver_faces_death_charge.php37059 will not be released by the Police until the case is over as time has to be allowed for appeals to be made against sentences etc. A few years ago Lincolnshire Road Car had an Olympian that had been involved in a fatal accident and that bus wasn't released by the Police for nearly 3 years so the Bradford bus might not be back in the near future.
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Post by pub146g on Jan 18, 2008 0:39:44 GMT 1
I noticed one of the new B9TL/Olympus leaving Leeds on the 110 today about 17.15ish. Unable to ID it though.
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Post by pub146g on Nov 3, 2007 12:38:53 GMT 1
These are Leyland Olympian/Northern Counties which have been transferred from First Bristol. I'm aware that 3 have arrived so far, 34606,34608,34609 (K606 LAE etc). Up to 12 or 15 could be coming.
Not sure what these are replacing, an obvious choice would be the Roe/Optare Olympians or the Royales that went to Birkenhead a while ago.
Also, most of the W/X reg B7TL's in Bradford are due to go early next year when they receive their new B9TL's.
Mike
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Post by pub146g on Nov 28, 2007 0:58:45 GMT 1
Sad to report but I caught the 00:30 Service 2 to Moortown Corner on Sat 17th Nov and I was the only passenger for the entire journey. Not only that but I also made a point of checking the 12, 16 & 51 and they all departed Leeds Rail Station empty.
Meanwhile the taxi rank had a queue a mile long and i'm sure a good few of those waiting would have been travelling in the direction of either of the 4 routes but it's a depressing fact of life that nowadays too many people just think taxi.
This really is a case of use it or lose it but my experience so far says that we'll lose it!
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Post by pub146g on Feb 16, 2008 15:06:45 GMT 1
Sorry, I've just re-read the message I posted last night and 30251 should read 30241. It was late and I was tired after a long day which is why I couldn't remember the numbe rof the second Strider mentioned.
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Post by pub146g on Feb 15, 2008 23:19:14 GMT 1
Today (Fri) from 16.05 ex-Monkswood Gate service 49 had 30251, 31096, 61100 and at least another Strider after that. That's at least 40 minutes without a low floor bus, god knows where the branded Geminis were. Probably on the 16!
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Post by pub146g on Feb 3, 2008 20:08:17 GMT 1
56 Eden Drive "swingers" from Cherry Row, these get anything to hand as they don't need to go onto the guideway. the 07 gemini yeah it will have been but the scaina was on all day as i got on it to the rugby! I think the point you're missing is that Cherry Row's Wright Scanias have guide wheels fitted so using the guideway would not be a problem.
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Post by pub146g on Feb 1, 2008 21:43:13 GMT 1
I've already mentioned this on the 'end is nigh for Leeds Scania deckers' thread but I suppose this is it's proper place.
Scania decker 31096 was seen in Eastgate about 15.30 on service 50A heading for Horsforth.
Nice to see Bramley giving these buses such widespread use, just hope the driver remembered to keep out of the York Road guideway while doing the 40 which interworks with the 50/50A at Seacroft.
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Post by pub146g on Jan 31, 2008 22:12:04 GMT 1
So the Scania deckers must now be at Bramley for schools and venture onto the odd route as well. 31096 & 36930 moved to Bramley on Monday for the Boston Spa schools etc. They are classed as being on loan although they'll probably see their days out there. Didn't know 31092 was there though, it must have gone in the last day or so.
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Post by pub146g on Jan 29, 2008 21:49:40 GMT 1
31147 YU52VYZ was on the 37 around 8.15 this morning Full size buses may now be a regular feature on the 37 as Cherry Row lost 2 Darts to Kirkstall over the weekend and now they don't have enough to cover the service.
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Post by pub146g on Jan 26, 2008 2:09:53 GMT 1
.........and on the 49 was 32698 and at least 2 37xxx B7TL's which would have been more at home on 51/51A....nice one Bramley!
More ridiculous though was Kirkstall's allocation of Dart 40600 on 96 etc, seen packed to capacity on Headingley Lane even in mid-evening.
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