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First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

Busaholic

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I did my usual afternoon attendance at the PZ Running Day and it was well attended, despite the earlier inclement weather and a lousy forecast, though fewer people than last year or the year before, I'd say. I didn't see any open toppers other than FK's Atlantic Coasters, both on their own A1 and A17 routes and a 'special' 507 local circular route. I saw another 3 (or 4?) ACs standing to the rear of PZ depot. The programme incidentally confirmed, in the form of a back page ad, that Lands End to St Ives would once again comprise one of the open top routes come Whit.
 
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R

RailUK Forums

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Had a lovely day at the rally! Saw quite a variety of things including the Tamar link beaver & some Bristol things!

I'm now waiting till later on in the year to catch P430ORL and A754VAF if they decide to pop out for rallies
 

83G/84D

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I had a good day at Penzance despite the indifferent weather and enjoyed it. E400MMC 33302 made an appearance on service U4 and apparently a green E400MMC made a debut in service in
St Austell on Wednesday according to what I was told today?!
 
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You're right! Me being a lucky bugger got a ride on it! Engine wasn't as good as the old tridents but at least it's comfortable and fast!
 

DaveHarries

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I had a good day at Penzance despite the indifferent weather and enjoyed it. E400MMC 33302 made an appearance on service U4 and apparently a green E400MMC made a debut in service in
St Austell on Wednesday according to what I was told today?!
You're right! Me being a lucky bugger got a ride on it! Engine wasn't as good as the old tridents but at least it's comfortable and fast!
What route was the green E400 MMC on? I guess either 21, 22 or 27: I can't see them getting a decker onto Fowey on the 24 or 25.

Dave
 

richw

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Had a lovely day at the rally! Saw quite a variety of things including the Tamar link beaver & some Bristol things!

I'm now waiting till later on in the year to catch P430ORL and A754VAF if they decide to pop out for rallies

Did you get to ride on many?
 

MB162435

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32027 made its passenger debut in Atlantic Coaster livery on the 507 circular route, plus it was nice to many past and present members of the First Kernow fleet all together for a reunion
 

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I forgot which route it was, though I only normally go on 21s and 27s, so it'd have been either of those

@richw Got there just as it hit eight dead on, so I got to go on a lot! I was on things like the Beaver 2, Bristol VRs and a lodekka or two, had a nice look at 32027's livery which in my opinion suits it very well!

One of the vehicles I'll remember was that smashing Olympian K803ORL, I had never been on it before though as it was sadly never on my local routes
 

richw

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I forgot which route it was, though I only normally go on 21s and 27s, so it'd have been either of those

@richw Got there just as it hit eight dead on, so I got to go on a lot! I was on things like the Beaver 2, Bristol VRs and a lodekka or two, had a nice look at 32027's livery which in my opinion suits it very well!

One of the vehicles I'll remember was that smashing Olympian K803ORL, I had never been on it before though as it was sadly never on my local routes

K803ORL is a great ride. Had it on the feeder from Hayle in the morning.
 

richw

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Green mmc 33303 WK18CFU has just arrived in Bodmin on a 27 I’ve just been facebook messaged. (Along with a photo I don’t have permission to share)
 

83G/84D

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I have seen 3 green E400MMC's on the way to Cornwall this morning. They were seen in the space of 5 minutes mid morning on.the M18 motorway in Yorkshire.

Registrations were covered over but think one ended in J.
 

richw

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Passed A trident 1 hooked up to the winkleigh wrecker this morning near Fraddon. No prizes for guessing where it’s off. I was westbound it was eastbound so no I.D of it now.
 

richw

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Passed A trident 1 hooked up to the winkleigh wrecker this morning near Fraddon. No prizes for guessing where it’s off. I was westbound it was eastbound so no I.D of it now.

32883 being taken to Barnsley for bean can conversion.
The Barnsley wrecker doesn’t come to cornwall if avoidable as scrap price too low
 

Whiteway215

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The latest First list states 32844/59/80 plus 32930 have 'left the fleet.' We know about 32930 but presumably the others have gone the same way as 32883.
 
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--edit: Most of the old style presidents seem to be going to Barnsley at the mercy of a metal claw at the moment, I wouldn't blame them for their age but there is definitely still a bit of life left in a select few of them.

I have a list here of all the "old style" presidents still in service with First, these are:

32801, 32809, 32810, 32818, 32819, 32849, 32850, 32853, 32855, 32866, 32872, 32873, 32874, 32887, 32905, 32954, 32955, & 32961.

If anybody wants to see them in service, they are based at Camborne, Bridgwater, Taunton, Penzance, Newquay, Great Yarmouth, Hoeford, & Weymouth.
 
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83G/84D

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The ones at Great Yarmouth were 32801 plus 2 others. They were on a seasonal Bernard Matthews contract which I seem to recall has finished now. I think they are stored.
 

MrKnow

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25 Jul 2016
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Stumbled across Trident 33176 in Camborne this morning painted in this all over pink livery, yet another colour to go with the already colourful KERNOW fleet. Be interesting to see what route adaptation it carries depending on where they plan to use it. Also seen in Camborne more Trident 2's painted in Olympia, couldn't remember what the fleet numbers were though. Jersey Dart 43863 is poorly at the moment having spent over a week now parked in the same spot with half its back seats taken out.
 

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I'm thinking either something Mousehole, or possibly a new route altogether.

OR maybe being painted for a different part of First?

..Or my brain is telling me that there is going to be a new form of the route 400 with open top presidents..
 

richw

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I'm thinking either something Mousehole, or possibly a new route altogether.

OR maybe being painted for a different part of First?

..Or my brain is telling me that there is going to be a new form of the route 400 with open top presidents..

It won’t fit Mousehole, and it’s the wrong pink.

And on Facebook FK have said there won’t be a 400 opentop this year
 

TheGrandWazoo

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It won’t fit Mousehole, and it’s the wrong pink.

And on Facebook FK have said there won’t be a 400 opentop this year

Most importantly, it won’t fit Mousehole unless you don’t want to go into the village and so turn short.

The 400 is officially dead (so catching up with patronage!) and can’t see it going elsewhere when similar vehicles are being transferred in.

Could be a new brand but doesn’t seem to fit the common template? Perhaps a base for an all over commercial advert or, in a related manner, similar to those in West of England that advertise mTickets and act as neutral spares on branded services.
 

richw

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Could it be a charity livery, but not really something First do. Plymouth Citybus have 2 charity liveried deckers with a third in the paint-shop.
I do expect it’ll be a new route branding though. I’m trying to work out what route it could be eliminating the routes getting the MMCs or already route branded. It doesn’t leave many decker routes!
 

Goldfish62

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An unidentified Trident did a few hours on the M6 yesterday. Subbed by a Solo during the afternoon.
 

MB162435

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Uni E400 MMC 33476 was on the 16:25 239 service from Truro College to St Ives whereas Uni E400 33422 and Tridents 33112 and Atlantic Coaster 33172 were on the 16:25 231 services from Truro College to Falmouth Moor
 
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MB162435

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Volvo B7TL 30872 was on the 16:20 T2 service from Truro, Victoria Square to St Ives
 

Whiteway215

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Steve White's website reports First West of England 42897 and 44907 have transferred to First South West.
 

richw

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Just passed W771DWX outbound at treliske on a T1. Can’t get much further from the normal on the tinner!
 

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