Another Saturday of fair weather, another adventure on the buses. As previously, not all vehicles formally identified but I have noted some.
Marshalls Cross - Widnes Green Oaks - 17 Arriva Optare Solo SR 720.
Widnes Green Oaks - Warrington - 32 Warrington's Own Buses 85.
Warrington - Trafford Centre - 100 Go North West Enviro 400 3107.
Trafford Centre - Bolton - X22 Diamond Mercedes Citaro (couldn't make out if the number was 33117 or 33177).
Bolton - Blackburn - 1 Transdev Blackburn Bus Co Enviro 200MMC 508 (YX69 NTL).
Blackburn - Preston - Hotline 152 Transdev Blackburn Bus Co Enviro 400 2770 (BF63 HCJ).
Preston - Wigan - 111 Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire Enviro 300 27262.
Wigan - St Helens - 352 Arriva Enviro 400 4604.
St Helens - Marshalls Cross - 17 Arriva Solo SR 720.
Observations:
Was very impressed with the next stop announcements on both the Transdev vehicles. I am Partially Sighted, so it's definitely something I would find useful if I was looking for somewhere I wasn't familiar with.
It is interesting that I started and finished with the same vehicle about 6 round trips later.
Also apologies if there are any fleet number errors, I have a concessionary pass, so I copy vehicle details I get from the ticket when issued. As you can see, Transdev are very good at detailing both fleet number and reg.
Apart from the Solo SR on your local route, you took care not to duplicate any bus type from the same company. I usually seek to avoid such duplication on my bus trips too.
(22/05/2022 06:18)Metroline1511 Wrote: [ -> ]Apart from the Solo SR on your local route, you took care not to duplicate any bus type from the same company. I usually seek to avoid such duplication on my bus trips too.
A few journeys were pot luck (this was definitely the case at Trafford Centre where I could have gone in any direction).
It was also just a matter of timing that I ended up on the same vehicle I started (which was ironically the last Arriva 17 of the day). Have to also say that the 352 (1738 from Wigan) was a good fast run done in 40 minutes (including waiting a minute or two just before Billinge).
(22/05/2022 09:43)St Helens Rider Wrote: [ -> ]A few journeys were pot luck (this was definitely the case at Trafford Centre where I could have gone in any direction).
It was also just a matter of timing that I ended up on the same vehicle I started (which was ironically the last Arriva 17 of the day). Have to also say that the 352 (1738 from Wigan) was a good fast run done in 40 minutes (including waiting a minute or two just before Billinge).
Looking at your trip again, I reckon it was quite a treat to ride the Enviro400 on route 352. I thought it usually had Pulsars.
(22/05/2022 15:36)Metroline1511 Wrote: [ -> ]Looking at your trip again, I reckon it was quite a treat to ride the Enviro400 on route 352. I thought it usually had Pulsars.
It can be a mixture. Both the 320 & 352 get their fair share of deckers.
I went over to Rhyl today to tick off the Optare Solo's and a couple of Wright Cadets, here's how it was
10A - Golftyn Hare & Hounds - Flint McDonalds - CX15 BXR 4640
11/11M - Flint McDonalds - Rhyl Bus Station - CX14 BXM 4549
83 - Rhyl Town Circular - CX58 EUA 673
84 - Rhyl Town Circular - CX58 ETZ 672
35 - Rhyl Bus Station - Prestatyn Bus Station - CX57 CYO 660
36 - Prestatyn Bus Station - Rhyl Bus Station - DK55 FXH 2523
35 - Full Circular - CX57 CYO 660
12 - Rhyl Bus Station - Llandudno Palladium - CX54 DKO 2496
12 - Llandudno Palladium - Rhyl Bus Station - CX54 DKO 2496
11C/11 - Rhyl Bus Station - Golftyn Hare & Hounds - CX61 CCZ 4480
CX15 BXR - 4640:
Average for me! Sounded Solid but it rattled way too much for an Enviro400 with E-leather seats
CX14 BXM - 4549:
My Favourite 2nd Gen Enviro400! Brilliant! Sounded amazing, didn't rattle as much as 4640 and was definitely comfy on the lifted seats on the bottom deck unlike most Enviro400's
CX58 EUA - 673:
Normally I get Slow Sluggish Solo's, this one was hellfire, rapid and can get up hills very easily, sounded nice too, best Solo of the 3 at Rhyl imo
CX58 ETZ - 672:
Average! Very loud idle vibrations, however it sounded ok and did get going but wasn't as fast as 673
CX57 CYO - 660:
Smooth, Quick, Sounded nice, however I do prefer 673 just about, for me 2nd for this one
DK55 FXH - 2523:
This was alright, it had loud idle vibrations but it sounded amazing, can easily compare this one to 2518 which I had in March.
CX57 CYO - 660:
Same as before
CX54 DKO - 2496:
The oldest bus in the fleet is one of the best Cadets around, sounded amazing, barely rattled, got going well, an interesting diversion too due to a road in Abergele being closed
CX54 DKO - 2496:
Same as before
CX61 CCZ - 4480:
Sounded nice, gearbox sounded amazing and got going well, only negative is the fact my seat was extremely uncomfortable.
CX15 BXR - 7.8
CX14 BXM - 10
CX58 EUA - 9.8
CX58 ETZ - 7.5
CX57 CYO - 9.6
DK55 FXH - 8.8
CX54 DKO - 9.7
CX61 CCZ - 9.2
I forgot to post my Wrexham bus day:
11 - Golftyn Hare & Hounds - Chester HQ - CX14 AZJ 4552
1 - Chester HQ - Wrexham Bus Station - CX17 BYF 1004
35 - Wrexham Bus Station - Wrexham Bus Station - CX09 BGE 689
7 - Wrexham Bus Station - Wrexham Bus Station - CX09 BGF 690
7 - Wrexham Bus Station - Wrexham Bus Station - CX15 BXZ 2145
29 - Wrexham Bus Station - Mold Bus Station - YJ13 HJO
4 - Mold Bus Station - Mynydd Isa Bod Offa Drive - CX07 CVA 2661
4 - Mynydd Isa Bod Offa Drive - Mold Bus Station - MX09 EKP 2935
27 - Mold Bus Station - Wrexham Bus Station - CX57 CZA 670
1 - Wrexham Bus Station - Chester Foregate Street - CX17 BYA 1000
11 - Chester Bus Interchange - Queensferry Solar Services - CX08 DJK 2142
5 - Queensferry Asda - Ellesmere Port Bus Station - CX11 EVG 998
5 - Ellesmere Port Bus Station - Deeside Ind Estate Zone 1 - CX11 EVG 998
5 - Deeside Ind Estate Zone 1 - Wolverham Cricceth Court - CX58 EUK 2668
5 - Wolverham Cricceth Court - Queensferry Station Road - CX58 EUK 2668
10A - Queensferry Station Road - Golftyn Hare & Hounds - CX15 BXP 4639
CX14 AZJ - 4552:
Quite nice! Sounded really good and provided some nice few thrashes as well, definitely gonna be worth getting this again after it gets repainted.
CX17 BYF - 1004:
I really like MMC's myself and this one kept the run going, sounded nice enough and had a good turn of speed.
CX09 BGE - 689:
When I got 674 at Runcorn, I forgot until 660, 672 and 673 how fast Solo's actually were, this one flew by and sounded amazing, this was definitely the best bus of the day.
CX09 BGF - 690:
Good enough! Sounded nice but wasn't as fast as 689 bearing in mind we did go through Caia Park so it's a reason why it wasn't as fast.
CX15 BXZ - 2145:
I got told to get this by a mate when I was on 689 earlier in the day, and it was a good choice it sounded really good and thrashes more than the other Enviro200's.
M&H YJ13 HJO:
I decided to get this as I wanted to not just get Arriva all day, this one was decent sounding but wasn't thrashing at all, worth it but I've definitely rode better Cummins Optare's
CX07 CVA - 2661:
Got this to kill off a bit of time before I got 670, surprisingly only kickdowned once during the trip, still sounded fantastic though
MX09 EKP - 2935:
Fantastic! Tho awful screeching doors there that had gotten worse were there, the driver of this kickdowned it loads and loads, really good short ride.
CX57 CZA - 670:
Not as fast as the others but it had a better gearbox than the others which was loud enough, a really good ride definitely worth my £3.70 during the day.
CX17 BYA - 1000:
Not to my taste at all unfortunately! Sounded very basic and made incredibly weird noises I've never heard on a bus, and whilst sitting on the bottom deck the whole time the roof sounded like it was going to collapse with the amount of ripping noises made.
*walked over to get 2142 which I have needed since Rhyl bus day*
CX08 DJK - 2142:
A Cadet on steroids! Sounded nice and thrashed loads during the trip (fellow enthusiast with me getting that before I got off at Broughton to get 4485), definitely one of Rhyl's best buses if it stays on the road, just need 2141 to return back.
*short walk to Asda to get whichever turned up first*
CX11 EVG - 998:
The Solo's were better during the day, sounded like any nice Mercedes Versa but definitely wasn't as fast and as good.
CX58 EUK - 2668:
Limp Mode! Sounded Decent but was in the old saying "safe mode" and only did kickdown along the motorway.
CX15 BXP - 4639:
This might become my stalker now, but I'm glad as 4644 was doing it loads, this is better than 4644 as well and was good enough.
Ratings:
CX14 AZJ - 9.45
CX17 BYF - 9
CX09 BGE - 9.925
CX09 BGF - 9.5
CX15 BXZ - 9.2
YJ13 HJO - 8.7
CX07 CVA - 9.2
MX09 EKP - 9.7
CX57 CZA - 9.5
CX17 BYA - 7.7
CX08 DJK - 9.6
CX11 EVG - 8.8
CX58 EUK - 8.6
CX15 BXP - 9.5
Now onto the Liverpool bus day:
10 - Golftyn Celyn Avenue - Chester Bus Interchange - CX15 BXW 4644
1 - Chester Bus Interchange - Liverpool Hood Street - YX67 VCW 10886
10 - Liverpool Queen Square Bus Station - St Helens Bus Station - SL64 JFV 4606
33 - St Helens Bus Station - St Helens Bus Station - CX07 CPV 2628
10 - St Helens Bus Station - Liverpool Queen Square Bus Station - SL64 JCZ 4586
10B - Liverpool Queen Square Bus Station - Huyton Bus Station - DG71 VGL 4719
15 - Huyton Bus Station - Liverpool Queen Square Bus Station - BT66 MTO 4804
X1 - Liverpool The Metquarter - Chester Bus Interchange - VX59 JCZ 15535
10 - Chester Bus Interchange - Pinewood Avenue - CX15 BXP 4639
CX15 BXW - 4644:
OK! This bus is starting to get down the ranks in my books with 4641, 4645 and even 4639 and 4642 getting above it, driver took it sensibly and didn't do much thrashing.
YX67 VCW - 10886:
Like I said I'm a big fan of MMC's and this impressed me a lot, did a few kickdowns throughout it and sounded amazing.
SL64 JFV - 4606:
Not quite as good as 4644! This one thrashed throughout the whole way but let down by it's cooling fan being on the whole time which without it would make it a better bus than 4644. it did rattle a lot but with the roads in Liverpool I was not surprised.
CX07 CPV - 2628:
Thought I'd get this out the way with the fact Commanders are on the way out, it sounded amazing and had a nice voith when you could hear it rev slightly higher, definitely worth the money.
SL64 JCZ - 4586:
My new favourite Second Gen Enviro400! It sounded amazing, had a decent turn of speed and was as solid as a rock the whole way. 10/10.
*break to get some food which I didnt get until 2pm haha*
DG71 VGL - 4719:
Don't laugh but this is my first Streetdeck out of the whole 33! And I liked it, only negative were the brakes and that's it, definitely looking forward to sampling more in the future.
BT66 MTO - 4804:
Bit like 4719 the brakes weren't good but like I've been told before the B5LH G3's don't half shift it was really fast.
VX59 JCZ - 15535:
It was a packed trip. really good bus but let down by a driver who took his job way too seriously and even did it incorrect too, who literally even when people couldn't make it downstairs he closed the doors they asked if they could get off and he said no, bloody moody sod. and you should've seen the loadings get on at Chester Zoo I've never seen anything like it.
CX15 BXP - 4639:
Definitely my new stalker haha! same as when I had it on the Wrexham day out.
Ratings:
CX15 BXW - 9.1
YX67 VCW - 9.850
SL64 JFV - 8.6
CX07 CPV - 9.5
SL64 JCZ - 10
DG71 VGL - 8.8
BT66 MTO - 8.8
VX59 JCZ - 9.4
CX15 BXP - 9.5
Forgot to post Monday's bus day in Rhyl so here goes:
11/11M - Golftyn Hare & Hounds - Rhyl Bus Station - CX14 AZL 4553
36 - Rhyl Bus Station to Prestatyn - CX06 BGY 2572
13 - Prestatyn Bus Station to Abergele Tesco - CX14 BYK 3172
12 - Abergele to Colwyn Bay - J400 ABW 4404
12 - Colwyn Bay to Rhyl Bus Station - CX14 BXJ 4546
35 - Rhyl Bus Station - Prestatyn Bus Station - CX14 BXH 4545
11C - Prestatyn Bus Station - Holywell Bus Station - J200 ABW 4402
126 - Holywell Bus Station - Mold Bus Station - YJ16 DXL
4/X4 - Mold Bus Station - Chester Bus Interchange - CX12 DSZ 3143
10A - Chester Bus Interchange to Chester Greyhound Park - CX15 BXV 4643
10 - Chester Greyhound Park to Connah's Quay Pinewood Avenue - CX15 BXS 4641
CX14 AZL - 4553:
Really good! Fast woman driver on it and it ran pretty well, one of my favourite Enviro400's at Rhyl just behind 4549 which tops it
CX06 BGY - 2572:
Not to my taste at all! Sounded like 2634 which was my favourite Cadet but it had eardrum killing idle vibrations let alone slow
CX14 BYK - 3172:
Really good! Barely rattled and sounded good, these 14-plates at Bangor are definitely by far the best Pulsar 2's out here in the NW&W region.
J400 ABW - 4404:
Decent! Sounded nice and had a turbo squeal to add to it, not my favourite J-ABW though
CX14 BXJ - 4546:
Typical Euro 5 ZF Enviro400! Sounded nice just not that fast, let alone with the fact when the cooling fan came on it sounded like a mix between a Cooling fan and CX12 DTK's turbo leak for some reason which was strange
CX14 BXH - 4545:
The same as 4546 just slower, though it does feature that Orange LED destination blind at the front which makes it an interesting bus.
J200 ABW - 4402:
Brilliant! My new favourite bus I think, sounded amazing and unlike 4404 and 4405 which I've sampled, it was spotless and provided good thrashing, no kickdown but I never get kickdown out of any J-ABW. 10/10
YJ16 DXL:
I liked this one! had a nice sounding gearbox and had a very comfy interior and a pretty quiet and relaxing engine!
CX12 DSZ - 3143:
Good enough for my liking! Recently came back to service following a new engine which was the loudest feature on the bus, sounded a bit quieter than 3172 but it was still good, let alone features a loud airbrake which I don't follow but some people do which they don't like the bus (or call the bus a shed) for.
CX15 BXV - 4643:
Only on for a couple of minutes couldn't judge
CX15 BXS - 4641:
Sat at the front, all I can say is still decent just not fast.
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Today was a Chester one, I was meant to go out on a short day to grab the last 3 buses I needed to ride but I ended up staying out a bit longer to grab a couple of extra stuff again:
11 - Golftyn Hare & Hounds - Chester Bus Interchange - CX61 CDY 4488
1A - Blacon Circular - CX12 DTF 3144
4 - Chester Bus Interchange - Hawarden Railway Station - J500 ABW 4405
X4/4 - Hawarden Railway Station - Chester Bus Interchange - CX07 CUK 2656
15 - Chester Bus Interchange - Saughall Lodge Lane Terminus and back to Chester Bus Interchange - CX12 DSY 3142
4 - Chester Bus Interchange - Mold Bus Station - CX58 EUF 2665
5 - Mold Bus Station - Queensferry Station Road - CX58 EUH 2666
10 - Queensferry Station Road - Connah's Quay Pinewood Avenue - CX15 BXU 4642
CX61 CDY - 4488:
I had originally planned on getting the 10 but after noticing this I just had to grab it I've dodged it numberous times for different runs to get other buses way too much and according to a few of my enthusiast friends in an Instagram GC this is the best one, for me it's the 2nd best, don't get me wrong this sounded fantastic but I personally prefer 4480 over any other Gemini 2
CX12 DTF - 3144:
This one seemed alright, didn't rattle that much despite Blacon roads, however for me Euro 5 Pulsar 2's are not my type this one still sounded generic.
J500 ABW - 4405:
Wanted to get this one again just for video, this one sounds good but just after you change gear loads of shelf vibrations and screeching ruins it causing you to only just hear the engine and barely even hear the axles scream so for me not my favourite J-ABW my favourite one atm is 4402.
CX07 CUK - 2656:
I wanted to try this one out again because it's had it's rev limiter taken out meaning it can kickdown again, however in this trip there was absolutely no kickdown what so ever, so I really can't rate it at it's best properly.
CX12 DSY - 3142:
This one was a bit like 3144 just more rattly.
CX58 EUF - 2665:
Best bus of the day! Fantastic! when I first had it at Chester it was in limp mode, this time however it was far from limp mode it was ragged, caned, kickdowned and floored by a young lad (driver not someone who stole it) who I thought was a Sam Dean but I was wrong lol, nethertheless it was fantastic the whole trip nearly giving me a 10/10 for this
CX58 EUH - 2666:
This one before I got 2665 was my 2nd favourite because the first time it was doing what 2665 did today, however this time there was barely any thrash and a slow-ish driver
CX15 BXU - 4642:
Think Euro 5 ZF Enviro 400's with cooling fans are my style, this one sounded absolutely phenomenal with a cooling fan being on full blast, when given higher revs it sounds probably like the best Euro 5 Enviro400 I've ever been on, 2nd best bus today.
Ratings:
CX61 CDY - 9.8
CX12 DTF - 8
J500 ABW - 9
CX07 CUK - 8.7
CX12 DSY - 7.9
CX58 EUF - 9.95
CX58 EUH - 9
CX15 BXU - 9.9
Yesterday I went on another local run on buses to get them for video since I now bought a storage card for my pic and vid phone:
10 - Golftyn Celyn Avenue - Chester Bus Interchange - CX15 BXS 4641
X4 - Chester Bus Interchange - Broughton Tesco - CX58 EUD 2663
9 - Broughton Tesco - Connah's Quay Ffordd Llanarth - YJ60 KFU
10 - Golftyn Quay Shopping Centre - Garden City Sealand School - CX15 BXU 4642
10 - Garden City Sealand School - Chester Bus Interchange - CX15 BXV 4643
4 - Chester Bus Interchange - Mold Bus Station - CX58 EUF 2665
6 - Mold Bus Station - Pantymwyn - Mold Bus Station - DK04 NNB
4 - Mold Bus Station - Broughton Tesco - CX12 DTK 3145
4 - Broughton Tesco - Buckley Post Office - MX09 EKP 2935
5 - Mynydd Isa Bod Offa Drive - Inbred Port Bus Station - CX15 BXU 4642
X1 - Inbred Port Bus Station - Chester Bus Interchange - KX61 DLJ 15744
10 - Chester Bus Interchange - Connah's Quay Pinewood Avenue - CX15 BXR 4640
CX15 BXS - 4641:
2nd favourite CX15 at Chester (just about beating 4645) it sounded really good and was pretty fast, definitely one of the better buses today
CX58 EUD - 2663:
It was good but not as good as it was last time no kickdown on this trip, been told today this has apparently recently been fitted with a rev limiter.
YJ60 KFU:
P&O Lloyd definitely have better Solo's than Arriva this sounded better than last time as well.
CX15 BXU - 4642:
It sounded fantastic with it's cooling fan but a slow driver with no higher revs made it impossible for me to film because of it, and then expecting a better driver to take over, we did but it wasn't a driver changeover
CX15 BXV - 4643:
It was a bus exchange, it sounded ok but not the best one at all.
CX58 EUF - 2665:
Basically the same as 2663 except it did kickdown a couple of times.
DK04 NNB:
I've had 18 years to get this thing on the 6 and I've managed to get it at last, this had a cooling fan on at the start of the journey which I thought sounded quite good, the bus itself was a pocket rocket and it sounded amazing.
CX12 DTK - 3145:
Found this bus a very awful bus! Idle vibrations, rattles, even turbo leak anything that makes it a shed made it a shed.
MX09 EKP - 2935:
One of my favourite Pulsar 2's! Kickdowned a few times but as the same story goes it wasn't as good as last time.
CX15 BXU - 4642:
Not fast but faster and managed to get high revs in finally to record it, it sounded fantastic!
KX61 DLJ - 15744:
I find Scania's a 50/50 this one seemed decent!
CX15 BXR - 4640:
Not my favourite one at all! a lot of squeaking, rattling and not a loud engine at all
Ratings:
CX15 BXS - 9.8
CX58 EUD - 9.5
YJ60 KFU - 9.69
CX15 BXU (V1) - 9.5
CX15 BXV - 8.7
CX58 EUF - 9.7
DK04 NNB - 9.9
CX12 DTK - 5.7
MX09 EKP - 9.7
CX15 BXU (V2) - 9.9
KX61 DLJ - 9.4
CX15 BXR - 7.5