Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

[MPTE1955]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
Had DLA 4089 today on the 61 (nothing unusual I know), anyway looked like somebody had been having some fun re-arranging the seats upstairs near the back with seat cushions being arranged on the floor, also the front offside seat back had been torn with part of the foam cushion taken out, long time since I have seen that on a bus.

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
Plaxton Pointer 2 X233 ANC (2233) was receiving attention in Skelmersdale Bus Station at midday today. Its back-end interior seats had been removed - fuel pump, maybe (I say that because this bus has had fuel pump issues in the past!)? What a place to fail, though!

Yesterday evening, Plaxton Pointer 2 X224 ANC (2224) was on the 53A - an unusual sight these days! Today, Pulsar CX58 FZG (2925) is on the 58.

[MPTE1955]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
There was Marshall 7659 on the 55 late yesterday afternoon as well, also unusual, had forgotten all about it until now.

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
Enviro400 MX09 LXE (4423) is on the 53A this evening; DAF/ALX400 S274 JUA (4094) was on the 53 this afternoon and I'm sure that I've seen it on the 53A this evening alongside 4423, however it may have been 4423 that I seen (twice). Also, DAF/ALX400 T303 FGN (4063) was on the 52/52A this afternoon.

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
4094 did indeed stay out on 53 lates. Alongside it during the day on the route was an ALX200, specifically 2265 if memory serves. 3019 was on the 60 as well, very unusual for a weekday.

Had a ride on 4089 this morning on the 61 and it seems the removed seats have been put back. The front row seat back that MPTE mentioned is still damaged though. This is probably the least impressive of Bootle's DLAs - it was rather cold inside and didn't ride as smoothly as 4026 and 4082 which were both superb. Incidentally, Bootle had at least 10 of their 11 DLAs out today, with just 4095 unaccounted for.

[MPTE1955]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
I seen 4095 in Bootle bus station layover yesterday, it left out of service and driver looked like he was struggling to move it, although he did in the end. DLA 4082 is excellent and is probably the best DLA that Bootle have by some way.

As for 4089, agreed it is pretty cold although I did just think the driver had forgotten what a heater was but maybe not.

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(23/01/2013 08:07)MPTE1955 Wrote:  I seen 4095 in Bootle bus station layover yesterday, it left out of service and driver looked like he was struggling to move it, although he did in the end. DLA 4082 is excellent and is probably the best DLA that Bootle have by some way.

As for 4089, agreed it is pretty cold although I did just think the driver had forgotten what a heater was but maybe not.

Thanks - all eleven were out then which is good to see. 4095 might have been on the 60 and was what 3019 replaced as it would seem strange to allocate a Pulsar on there from the start.

Personally, I'd say 4074 is my favourite of Bootle's DLAs but 4082 is certainly up there. That could be right with 4089 as it's usually warm from what I remember. It's rare in my experience for a DLA to be cold upstairs.

[MPTE1955]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
Don't think 3019 replaced 4095 as seen 3019 coming Bootle bound on Queens Drive about 1/2 hour after. Agreed that 4074 is also a decent one.

[mathias]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
4074? (S244 JUA)? Gotta disagree with you on that one.
It may have been fully P&P'd with Interurban, new seats and LEDs, but in my opinion, I'd say this is one of Bootle's WORST DLAs.
Pitiful acceleration and slow top speed is right up there with the awful 4028 (S268 JUA).

Some of the higher number DLAs are ok, but personally, I wouldn't use 'decent' and 'DLA' in the same sentence (this is just my opinion).

While we're on the subject of these knackered London cast-offs, can someone make sure 4029 (S269 JUA) DOESN'T return back to Bootle? Thanks

[MPTE1955]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
4094 is the super snail of Bootles DLA's. The DLA's basically do what they should do, I have never had one break down on me so in that respect they have always taken me to where I was intending to go.