[mbonwick]

Ah yes, Maynes. Heard a lot about what Stagecoach plan to do with the fleet.
I think most is up for disposal, although deliveries of the new Enviros are running behind schedule.

[mbonwick]

Just heard about 11100.

Was towed down from kendal to morecambe on friday, apparently Queensbridge came today to put the rear axle of 11003 on!

Alos, I'm told that the allocation list has bourne no resemplance to reality for some time, presumably to with all the movements. This is the offical Stagecoach one, not the one I quoted eariler, which was from a fansite.

[driver9000]

I see 14204, 14205, 14208, 14210 are still out and about. 205 was working a 55A at about 18:00 yesterday, it passed me heading towards Lancaster Bus Stn at about 19:30

14210 was running around on the 42 a couple of days before too.

What does the future hold for 11100? is servicable or is its next appointment with the cutters torch?

[mbonwick]

Got an email, as of today 14205 and 14210 have been withdrawn.

This leaves just 14204 and 208 in service, as planned. 204 is in Morecambe and Heysham Corporation livery and 208 was the most recently refurbished.


11100 - Queensbridge apparently fixed it, serviceable again now, though it won't see another season I wouldn't have thought. Gez was quoting a month per Trident for open topping.

[driver9000]

Originally Posted by mbonwick

Got an email, as of today 14205 and 14210 have been withdrawn.

They must have been on their last jobs when I saw them then

Ive recently been back up to Edinburgh to see the folks and noticed Lothian have converted their Trident/ALX400s to full open top leaving only the windscreens and former rear emergency exit in place. They are the same age as Stagecoach Lancasters so Im now wondering why there would be structural issues with the S-BWC batch that prevents them being fully opened up. The Lothian Buses Tridents (501-505) are identical to their East London sisters of the same age.

[Tom B]

The ALX400s have, IIRC, all been converted - they're non-standard. However, Lothian actually maintain their vehicles - unlike most operators who will leave things broken until the bus won't move.

[mbonwick]

I think you may be right To, the fleetlist has 170xx as "Alexander ALX400 10.5m H51/26F" and the 18xxx as "Alexander ALX400 H47/28F"


I wonder if leaving some of the roof is to do with the likelihood of collecting trees?

[mbonwick]

20775 has probably been written off, after having had a disagreement with a wide load:




From www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/

Fortunately, the driver got off with only relately minor injuries.
30342 has recently arrived at Kendal, presumably as cover for the los of 20775.

From www.bus-enthusiast.com , when 30342 was with SC Merseyside.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Yep, I've just had an e-mail confirming that 20775 is going for scrap, along with Titan 11100 and several B6s.

[driver9000]

Noted 14195 & 14196 working out of Morecambe garage alongside 14204 & 14208 the other day.

[mbonwick]

Yes, they're the only Leyland Olympians left at Morecambe, along with 14235.

IMHO it seems pointless keeping 14195/6 and removing 14201-03,205-7, 209-10 because 1419x are H reg and 142xx are J reg, and so are newer!

All the ex-LakesLink Olympians (16330-340) have come out of the paintshops after refurb and are waiting to enter service. I don't know where as yet though.

FWIW, 30342 is a B6 with Wright Endurance bodywork. It's actually numbered wrongly as it's low floor and therefore should be 31xxx. It's believed it was/is a prototype of some sort.
I've heard that at some point in it's life it had some major welding done on it's chassis to cure sever rusting/corrosion.

[mbonwick]

Lancaster's Trident 18362 was unveiled in Morecambe & Wise livery today. Pictures to follow when I find 'em.

[RJ]

I was on 17001 the other day (we still have a few "heritage" Tridents down here), it seemed like a strong performer - although it's technically not Stagecoach any more.

[mbonwick]

Yeh, although about IIRC 1.1tonnes heavier than a Volvo Olympian, Tridents do seem to get off the mark quicker. Possibly due to larger engines, but I don't really know.

[RJ]

I wouldn't have thought the S-reg batch were that quick off the mark - their 3-Speed Voith gearboxes ensure that the pullaway is smoother but slower. ZF boxed buses are a bit quicker off the mark - the Volvo Olympians such as this one put the acceleration on low floor lower-rated buses in London to shame.

[mbonwick]

Northern Counties body We used to have some of them round here - standard engine, but really really light. Went like **** off a shovel.

I don't think the 170xx we have here are 3 speed - they do some fairly long runs with a lot done at high speed.