Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

[mathias]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(10/10/2012 17:04)3111 Wrote:  The 311 was interesting this morning... Only one Pulsar 2, MX09 LYF (2944), was on the service, along with Cadets DK55 FXC (2518) and CX07 CSO (2638), Marshalls V633 DVU (7633) and V649 DVU (7649) and Plaxton Pointer 2s X228 ANC (2228) and X233 ANC (2233). By this evening, 7633 had been replaced by ALX200 X264 OBN (2264), which was on the 61 this morning, 2233 had been replaced by Pulsar 2 MX59 FFU (3016) and 2518 had been replaced by Pulsar CX58 FZH (2926). I had 7633 to Skelmersdale this morning and it was definitely one of the worst journeys that I've had in my life - uncomfortable and rattly. I had 2944 home - this sounded wheezy and it felt sluggish off the line a lot

All of the 2941-2947 Pulsars seem to be unusually slow.

Is this due to them being Reduced Pollution Tax Class Status I wonder?
They have a tax rate of £165 a year (Tax Class 38) as opposed to the usual bus rate of £330 a year (Tax Class 34). Hmm....

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(12/10/2012 08:20)507022 Wrote:  New Pulsar 2 3114 (MX12 KXD) was on the 62 at Penny Lane this morning

Nothing newsworthy about that allocation! They're always on the 62s, along with the 52s, the 53s and the 55s.

(12/10/2012 14:39)mathias Wrote:  

(10/10/2012 17:04)3111 Wrote:  The 311 was interesting this morning... Only one Pulsar 2, MX09 LYF (2944), was on the service, along with Cadets DK55 FXC (2518) and CX07 CSO (2638), Marshalls V633 DVU (7633) and V649 DVU (7649) and Plaxton Pointer 2s X228 ANC (2228) and X233 ANC (2233). By this evening, 7633 had been replaced by ALX200 X264 OBN (2264), which was on the 61 this morning, 2233 had been replaced by Pulsar 2 MX59 FFU (3016) and 2518 had been replaced by Pulsar CX58 FZH (2926). I had 7633 to Skelmersdale this morning and it was definitely one of the worst journeys that I've had in my life - uncomfortable and rattly. I had 2944 home - this sounded wheezy and it felt sluggish off the line a lot

All of the 2941-2947 Pulsars seem to be unusually slow.

Is this due to them being Reduced Pollution Tax Class Status I wonder?
They have a tax rate of £165 a year (Tax Class 38) as opposed to the usual bus rate of £330 a year (Tax Class 34). Hmm....

Only 2941 and 2943 are "slow" - 2944 feels a bit slow, too. 2942, 2945, 2946 and 2947 are all fast buses - the latter is one of the fastest Pulsars in the depot's fleet!

The 311 was "stupid" today. Bootle decide to allocate no Pulsars on there in the morning, yet they stick two on the 345 (2942, which operated the evening M58 duty to Skelmersdale, and 3027)...! Common sense at its best there! Karma for them, anyway, because there are always about four on there by the evening because the sheds that they've originally put onto the service have failed on them... 2916 replaced atrocious Cadet 2519, which failed in Lydiate this afternoon. 2945 replaced something - so did 3016 and DAF/ALX400 4063. Why don't they just put them on there in the morning to save the hassle of the break-downs?!

Cadet DK55 FXC (2518) was on the 350 today - very unusual!

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
Ex-Skelmersdale-based Pulsar 2 3027 was on the 311 today, along with dodgy-sounding (and "slow") Pulsar 2918 and sister-bus (and also "slow) 2919. Cadet 2518 was also among the allocation with DAF/ALX400 S266 JUA 4026 - the latter was replaced during the afternoon by an "Interurban" Marshall. I rode on 2918 this morning and it was very slow off the line - it seemed to change from gear one to gear two too early (with a clunk each time) and it wouldn't change up again when it needed to, hence its atrocious speed off the line. I also rode on 4026 and it performed well, however it seemed to change gear roughly...

Cadet DK55 FXB (2517) was on the 345 and sister-bus DK55 FXD (2519) was on the 350, whilst younger Cadet CX07 CSO (2638) was on the 54, unusually with ALX200 X264 OBN (2264). On the 52/52A, running in order, were Plaxton Pointer 2 X226 ANC (2226) and DAF/ALX400 S252 JUA (4082).

Finally, 3111 overheated within Aintree Merseyrail Station this afternoon whilst on the 53A. Interestingly, its cooling fan wasn't on - it was a few days ago, though. Apparently, the "bus-on-fire" icon was flashing on the dashboard...! Pulsar CX58 FZE (2923) replaced it.

[MX12CFE]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
An Enviro400 is working the 345 today couldnt see which one it was though also DAF decker 4089 is on the 311.

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(20/10/2012 13:06)MX12CFE Wrote:  An Enviro400 is working the 345 today couldnt see which one it was though also DAF decker 4089 is on the 311.

The Enviro400 (or the one that I was informed about!) was MX09 LXN (4431). Very rare!

Here's a photo of 4082 on the 52A on the 17/10/2012:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael2770...1805753248

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
Apparently, Marshall V648 DVU (7648) has returned (from Southport)...

[MPTE1955]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
Add to this that like I mentioned in the Green Lane thread, it looks as though 2231 has returned.

[MPTE1955]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
7675 was on the 62 earlier, first time I have seen a dart on this service for a few weeks.

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(23/10/2012 18:25)MPTE1955 Wrote:  7675 was on the 62 earlier, first time I have seen a dart on this service for a few weeks.

I had that shed on my 311 this morning; the rattles and vibrations were unbearable, especially when it was travelling through Town Green... I did have Pulsar 2 MX12 KXC (3113) on my 311 this afternoon, though - 110% better than 7675! As usual, Cadet DK55 FXD (2519) didn't complete its day on the 311; ex-Skelmersdale-based Pulsar 2 MX59 JJU (3028) replaced it. Also, Plaxton Pointer 2 X235 ANC (2235) was exchanged during the day after cutting-out in Queen Square Bus Station (but surviving - and its usual bid vibrations contributed to the exchange) - Marshall V649 DVU (7649) replaced that!

An extra bus is introduced on the 62(/62A?) in the afternoon on Mondays to Fridays, hence why Darts (or "irregular buses") are frequently seen on there!

[mathias]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
Where are the Pulsars?

4431 (MX09 LXN) Trident2/Enviro400 decker on 52/52A yesterday, 4427 (MX09 LXJ) on it today. Side and rear LEDs STILL not working.