Bus-Related Outings & Reviews

[W179 SCU]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
July is a very busy month for me:

7th July: Morpeth, Newcastle and Regent Centre
15th July: North Tyneside: Tynemouth, Wallsend and North Shields.
21st and 22nd July: Sunderland Airshow
23-26th: Something on every day but I haven't a clue!
27th July - 3rd August: A trip to The Lakes

[kuyoyo]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
July is a very busy month for myself:

7th July: Teesside, for the final day before Arriva's changes
8th July: South Shields Fun Day at Bents Park, including a first-chance Stagecoach on Teesside/Stagecoach in South Shields/Stagecoach in Newcastle Enviro line-up
9th July: First Weekday of Arriva's Teesside changes (and hopefully deckers on the X93)
11th July: A day down to Sheffield
14th July: Unsure, either a day out up on Tyneside or a day photoing outside Middlesbrough Bus Station for the last time prior to its closure on the 16th July
16th July: Middlesbrough, first day after the closure of Middlesbrough Bus Station and the start of the 600
21st July: Sunderland Airshow, including photo opportunities with routes serving places they don't normally (E1/E6 finishing at Seaburn Camp)
25th July: Potentially another day down in Yorkshire (either West or South) using Megabus
28th July: Newcastle and South Shields, first trip to get the Olympic Cover vehicles

[W179 SCU]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews

(05/07/2012 16:08)kuyoyo Wrote:  July is a very busy month for myself:

7th July: Teesside, for the final day before Arriva's changes
8th July: South Shields Fun Day at Bents Park, including a first-chance Stagecoach on Teesside/Stagecoach in South Shields/Stagecoach in Newcastle Enviro line-up
9th July: First Weekday of Arriva's Teesside changes (and hopefully deckers on the X93)
11th July: A day down to Sheffield
14th July: Unsure, either a day out up on Tyneside or a day photoing outside Middlesbrough Bus Station for the last time prior to its closure on the 16th July
16th July: Middlesbrough, first day after the closure of Middlesbrough Bus Station and the start of the 600
21st July: Sunderland Airshow, including photo opportunities with routes serving places they don't normally (E1/E6 finishing at Seaburn Camp)
25th July: Potentially another day down in Yorkshire (either West or South) using Megabus
28th July: Newcastle and South Shields, first trip to get the Olympic Cover vehicles

Do you have any clue what buses will operate on the 510/A1/A2/A3 and the Park and Ride?

[kuyoyo]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews

(05/07/2012 16:20)W179 SCU Wrote:  

(05/07/2012 16:08)kuyoyo Wrote:  July is a very busy month for myself:

7th July: Teesside, for the final day before Arriva's changes
8th July: South Shields Fun Day at Bents Park, including a first-chance Stagecoach on Teesside/Stagecoach in South Shields/Stagecoach in Newcastle Enviro line-up
9th July: First Weekday of Arriva's Teesside changes (and hopefully deckers on the X93)
11th July: A day down to Sheffield
14th July: Unsure, either a day out up on Tyneside or a day photoing outside Middlesbrough Bus Station for the last time prior to its closure on the 16th July
16th July: Middlesbrough, first day after the closure of Middlesbrough Bus Station and the start of the 600
21st July: Sunderland Airshow, including photo opportunities with routes serving places they don't normally (E1/E6 finishing at Seaburn Camp)
25th July: Potentially another day down in Yorkshire (either West or South) using Megabus
28th July: Newcastle and South Shields, first trip to get the Olympic Cover vehicles

Do you have any clue what buses will operate on the 510/A1/A2/A3 and the Park and Ride?

510 will be a mix of Sunderland's spare vehicles and possiably some of Stockton's Olympians. The others will be any spare GNE vehicles.

[M113 YKC]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
Today, I went out for a few hours to sample some more Darts in Liverpool. Here's what I rode on:

57C (Cumfybus) - Netherton, Glovers Lane > Bootle Bus Station (Vermont Way)
Solo M920 T416 OUB
This bus was very sluggish off the line and the engine didn't sound very good (hyperactive cooling-fan!), however it was quite comfortable and it didn't rattle a lot. The driver was quite fast, too. Not worth my £1.00, though!

53 (ANW) - Bootle Strand Shopping Centre > Queen Square Bus Station
ALX200 X268 OBN (2268)
This was an excellent ride! The seat that I chose was comfortable and the bus' engine sounded very nice - the driver was fast, too! The bus rattled a bit, however it was very bouncy (quite comforting!).

18 (ANW) - Queen Square Bus Station > West Derby, Muirhead Avenue
Pulsar 2 MX09 JHU (2958)
I enjoyed this ride! The faster-than-usual woman driver used kickdown every time, which sounded boss with the extra-whistly gearbox! I didn't notice many rattles, either. Good bus!

12 (ANW) - West Derby, West Derby Road > Queen Square Bus Station
Marshall V631 DVU (7631)
The driver of this bus was excellent - "Good afternoon!" when I boarded and "Have a nice day!" when I got off! Give him a medal - not many like that these days! He was quite fast, too. The bus was fine! Its' engine sounded nice and it didn't rattle much.

19A (SM&SL) - Queen Square Bus Station > Liverpool, Everton Road
Crusader P812 YCW (33134)
The person talking to the driver ruined this ride! From what I gathered, the bus was quite slow off the line and there was an annoying rattle coming from the back! The interior seemed to be in good condition, though - same with the exterior.

17 (SM&SL) - Liverpool, Everton Road > Queen Square Bus Station
Renown X117 JFV (21123)
A fantastic bus! Really fast off the line and it sounded fantastic! The driver was very fast, too! It didn't rattle too much on-board, as many others of its' type do.

12 (ANW) - Queen Square Bus Station > West Derby, West Derby Road
Marshall V665 DVU (7665)
Very sluggish, however it barely rattled. It sounded very loud, however the fast driver made it bearable! There was this horrible, sickly burning smell when the bus was in motion. Not one of the best, however I've had worse!

13 (ANW) - West Derby, West Derby Road > Queen Square Bus Station
Marshall V629 DVU (7629)
Horrible bus! It rattled a lot and it featured strange gear-ratios and constant jerking between two and three! It didn't sound very nice, either.

10B (ANW) - Queen Square Bus Station > Liverpool, London Road
Pulsar 2 MX09 JHK (2955)
"Slow". It didn't rattle much, however I never had it for long. Best doing this one again sometime...

15 (ANW) - Liverpool, London Road > Queen Square Bus Station
Pulsar 2 MX61 AWU (3064)
Fine! One of the best of its' age that I've sampled so far. Fast off the line and comfortable!

52A (ANW) - Liverpool, Sir Thomas Street > Bootle Strand Shopping Centre
Pulsar 2 MX09 LYF (2944)
I hate this bus! It rattles violently! It sounds similar to sister-bus MX09 LYH (2946), however it rattles worse and vibrates strangely on the floor! I avoided it this morning for a reason...

55 (ANW) - Bootle Strand Shopping Centre > Netherton, Fleetwoods Lane
Pulsar CX58 FZE (2923)
In a rush... This fantastic bus turned up! The driver was very fast, which, added to the "sensitive kickdown" issue, was fantastic! Its' gearbox is the best that I've encountered on this type! Rattles were to a minimum. And this bus used to be unbearable...!

56 (ANW) - Netherton, Fleetwoods Lane > Netherton, Glovers Lane
Enviro400 MX09 LXH (4426)
A welcome surprise! One of the better ones of its' type that I've rode on. It sounded great and the driver put his foot down all the way! Great way to finish off the day.

[K853 MTJ]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
Had an outing yesterday funded by the mother (She was getting a Nanados, I got a day ticket, pretty fair I think!). Below is what I rode!

Halton Transport 23 Y203 PFM
Service 14 from Hough Green Station to Widnes Green Oaks
Couldn't be bothered waiting 10 minutes for the 79C so I decided to jump the first thing came. Lovely bus, really smooth, engine sounded very good with a great gearbox. Interior was rather scruffy, with numerous grab poles painted in a garish orange colour which blatantly didn't match the original colour. Wasn't rattly at all though, and was a good start to the day!

Arriva North West 2532 DK55 FXV
Service 82A from Widnes Green Oaks to Beechwood, Arriva Runcorn depot
10 minutes late, rather miserable driver, scruffy looking bus, I just thought it was a typical ride on a Runcorn service. How wrong I was. I will go as far to say that this bus is a beast! The driver absolutely ragged it, and had it kicking down and hitting some great speeds. The acceleration on this was beyond belief and was leaving cars behind. This received a new engine a few months ago, needless to say there is clearly nothing wrong with this one it has now! Not rattles what so ever, massively improved from when I last went on it. This is what all Cadets should be about, great engine that can easily pick up speed, no rattles with a brilliant driver!

Arriva North West 2938 MX09 EKV
Service 21 from Beechwood, Arriva Runcorn depot to Halton Lea North
Not a bad ride, not very fast, not very rattly, typical Pulsar. However one thing that seems to be on the majority of these Wythenshawe Pulsars is when slowing down or in idle, the vibrations are bone-shaking, absolutely horrible!

Arriva North West 2543 DK55 FYG
Service 1 from Halton Lea South to Castlefields
An average ride, the plan was to do a full circular on this but for some reason I decided against it. Been on better, been on worse!

Arriva North West 2937 MX09 EKT
Service X1 from Castlefields to Halton Lea North
Another pretty poor Pulsar, vibrations just as bad as 2938, and also quite squeaky. Good engine made up for the downfalls somewhat, but bring on the new Pulsars!

Arriva North West 2537 DK55 FYA
Service 79C from Halton Lea North to Halton Hospital
Rattly, looks crap, but pretty fast! Thats all that can be said really!

Arriva North West 2949 MX09 LXU
Service X30 from Halton Hospital to Warrington Bus Interchange
Not been on a native Runcorn example in a while so I was happy when this turned up! It was a great ride, wasn't a very fast ride, but the bus itself was flawless, the odd rattle and squeak, but a nice smooth, comfortable ride with a pleasant driver!

Arriva North West 2721 Y721 KNF
Service 6 from Warrington Bus Interchange to Huyton Bus Station
I was very happy to see this turn up, I would have preferred an ALX300, but better than a Pulsar. Another decent ride, slightly rattly at some parts of the route, and the driver refused to put his foot down through Penketh and Cronton, rather infuriating (The part of the ride I used to always look forward to with Marshalls!). All the same it was a nice ride, however it desperately needs P&P and a deep clean!

Arriva North West 3067 MX61 AWY
Service 10B from Huyton Bus Station to Huyton Industrial Estate
A case of getting the wrong bus, shameful I know! Still, a nice enoguh bus, no rattles, decent engine, better than most other Pulsars at Green Lane!

Arriva North West 2310 R310 CVU
Service 6 from Huyton Bus Station to Edge Lane Drive
I was desperate for a Dart, and seeing as I let 7664 and 7629 go past, I decided to get this to see how exaggerated its problems are. In actual fact, they are not exaggerated at all, what a heap! Not only did it rattle, but the engine had as much power as a motorbike engine combine harvester, sounded like that as well! It didn't seem to be revving high enough making it incredibly sluggish and genuinely struggling up the slightest of inclines. The gearbox could be easily altered to prevent this problem, but otherwise I'd suggest drivers should use the gear selectors and hold gear 1 and 2 at least the give it a bit more momentum, it would make a hell of a difference I think! Otherwise though, I pity 27701 having this shed up London Road!

Arriva North West 2581 CX06 BHN
Service 81 from Queens Drive to The Jolly Miller
I never seem to have time to ride these, but it was nice to get a ride. No rattles with a tidy interior, and the engine sounded very healthy, good grunt to it. Lovely buses these, shame I don't get to ride on them enough!

Arriva North West 3049 MX10 DAU
Service 15 from Jolly Miller to Green Lane
Nice bus! No rattles, sounding pretty good, tidy interior and exterior!

Arriva North West 2202 X203 ANC
Service 12 from Green Lane to Sheil Road
Not that bad actually! There was an annoying rattle coming from the row of seats in front of me, but apart from that it was reasonably solid with a nice sounding engine! One that I wouldnt avoid should it come again!

Arriva North West 2406 V406 ENC
Service 27 from Sheil Road to Liverpool, Whitechapel
Not great Im afraid! Rather rattly, the majority of rattles coming from 2 loose strips on the ceiling which made quite a lot of racket! I felt every bump in the road in this, not a smooth ride at all, was reasonably quick but not a nice sounding engine, and no kickdown, all rather disappointing!

Arriva North West 2515 DK55 FWZ
Service 79C from Queen Square to Hough Green
Not bad from what I can remember rather quick with a decentish interior, but thats as much as I can remember due to almost falling asleep through the majority of the journey!

[M113 YKC]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews

(05/07/2012 21:13)K853 MTJ Wrote:  Arriva North West 2310 R310 CVU
I pity 27701 having this shed up London Road!

It hit gear four before 20-MPH - nothing more to the wreck than that! I wouldn't usually form a proper opinion on a bus after a short journey like mine on 2310, however I sampled it up a hill and on a straight road... Nothing more to it!

[CX54 DKD (Moderator)]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
You may find it has considerably more to give if held through the gears by the driver as is the case with a few of our Darts i.e. 7570.

[K853 MTJ]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
Thats all it sounded like it needed mate, if the driver held the gears, it would get up to better speeds, the engine isn't able to build up enough momentum with it changing gears at such low revs.

[T42 PVM (Moderator)]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews

(05/07/2012 18:25)27701 Wrote:  12 (ANW) - West Derby, West Derby Road > Queen Square Bus Station
Marshall V631 DVU (7631)
The driver of this bus was excellent - "Good afternoon!" when I boarded and "Have a nice day!" when I got off! Give him a medal - not many like that these days! He was quite fast, too. The bus was fine! Its' engine sounded nice and it didn't rattle much.

this driver is great, he is well known on the 12/13 and the warringtons, a very happy chap and the best driver on merseyside when it comes to mannors