Arriva North West - Southport Depot

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Arriva North West - Southport Depot
It's a shame as the S-UVRs were very well looked after and generally rode smoothly. Quite unique members of the Southport fleet in many ways, so I'll miss them.

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Southport Depot

(15/09/2012 06:43)B10B6514 Wrote:  Former MTL CNG powered Dennis Dart /Plaxton Super Pointer 2s 2291 to 2294 (ex-6248-6251) S248-251UVR are due to leave out of the fleet imminently. They are to be temporarily replaced by 4 Darts from Bootle in the next week.

There was a rumour that Bootle's ALX200s were coming here soon (however that rumour also involved this depot's Enviro200s heading back in return...), so I wonder if part of that rumour is true...?

[B10B6514]

RE: Arriva North West - Southport Depot
Just been informed the replacements will be 7639,7643,7646 and 7648.

The fate of 6248-6251 is unknown as they have not long been through the P&P scheme it would be a shame to see them scrapped.

[Vbg111v]

RE: Arriva North West - Southport Depot
Strange move. They must have plans for them otherwise why replace them with other Darts on a temporary basis. They each had money spent on them & are fairly decent buses all in all. Yes I'll miss them too.

[V671 DVU]

RE: Arriva North West - Southport Depot
Hopefully some brave preservationist will come forward and preserve one of these rare vehicles (in the Merseyside fleet anyway.) As they so though, you can't save them all!

[canning road]

RE: Arriva North West - Southport Depot
Hi,

Does anyone know the details of the palatines new destination blinds I know they contain mostly school based destinations and are under used by Southport drivers.I also know they start with Black Bull and contain Greenbank High School , Fairhaven Road Fylde Road and Pinfold Lane to name but a few also they end Skelmersdale Ormskirk Southport but does anyone know details of the complete roll.

Thanks

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Southport Depot

(15/09/2012 14:05)B10B6514 Wrote:  Just been informed the replacements will be 7639,7643,7646 and 7648.

I've just had 7643 on my 53A and, despite it being a fast bus, it rattled a lot and it vibrated in idle. I had 7648 in the week and it wasn't too bad, performance-wise - just uncomfortable and rattly. I also had 7646 during the week and it was fine, ride-quality wise - the driver was using the gears for the majority of my journey, though, because the bus was a bit sluggish. 7639 was OK when I last had it about a month ago - again, however, a bit rattly. So... enjoy!

[DEM777Y]

RE: Arriva North West - Southport Depot
The former CNG Darts are also unusual in that they still retain the gearboxes, and gear selectors, that they had when they were gas-powered.

I have to say that I won't really miss them. I never drove them once they had been converted to conventional diesel power, but have ridden them several times and haven't really been impressed. As CNG-powered vehicles they weren't really that great as I recall, being fairly sluggish (I remember throwing 6248 in one day as it was dangerously slow) and prone to smelling of the gas that they were powered by. They also had an alarming tendency to go 'bang'! I acknowledge that they are unique buses on Merseyside, probably in the country, but I really won't miss them.

[skemnational]

RE: Arriva North West - Southport Depot
Thank god for that them ex gas busses are bad from the bouncing through gears to to fumes in the cab I'm glad there going,the darts from bootle are ex skem ones they were ok when we had them but that was 15 months ago

[Vbg111v]

RE: Arriva North West - Southport Depot
School Decker on 44 yesterday afternoon/evening. 61 plate Pulsar 2 on P & R at Kew today, whilst more branded Pulsars appear on the wrong routes.