First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

[TheGrandWazoo]

The A17 isn’t that busy in the winter and runs fairly regularly and until quite late in the day. Thinking about it are the Solos ordered of a size that can fit into Mousehole?

Presumably not as none are ordered with that route in mind. The A17 doesn’t need the smallest versions and the rest of the order are for services 22/50/51 which should be okay going down to Portloe regardless of model. A Dart and E200MMC will get down there (just)!

I have not seen a confirmed list of Solo versions due and whether any will get into Mousehole but it will be interesting to find out.

Hi there

I probably didn't phrase that quite right . I meant that if you had Solos that were small enough to get into Mousehole, would they be big enough to cope with the winter A17 loadings. I'd assume that there must be some A17 runs with decent loads, hence why they specified bigger Solos?

 

[Blackpudding]

The A17 isn’t that busy in the winter and runs fairly regularly and until quite late in the day. Thinking about it are the Solos ordered of a size that can fit into Mousehole?

Presumably not as none are ordered with that route in mind. The A17 doesn’t need the smallest versions and the rest of the order are for services 22/50/51 which should be okay going down to Portloe regardless of model. A Dart and E200MMC will get down there (just)!

I have not seen a confirmed list of Solo versions due and whether any will get into Mousehole but it will be interesting to find out.

'6 short ones in fleet livery for 22/50/51; 3 x long ones in Atlantic Coaster livery for A17; 3 x long ones in Lizard livery for L1/L2; 2 x long ones in fleet livery for Helston lines' is the quote from First Kernow - behind the scences (fkbs?). No mention of lengths at this stage.

 

[Busaholic]

Hi there

I probably didn't phrase that quite right . I meant that if you had Solos that were small enough to get into Mousehole, would they be big enough to cope with the winter A17 loadings. I'd assume that there must be some A17 runs with decent loads, hence why they specified bigger Solos?

The short ones wouldn't be adequate for some journeys, I'd say. Whenever one of the current crop gets out on to the A17 it doesn't seem to stay out for long.

 

[ClawzOneThirty]

Any word on the fleetnumbers of those solo SRs, along with their license plates?

 

[83G/84D]

Hi there

I probably didn't phrase that quite right . I meant that if you had Solos that were small enough to get into Mousehole, would they be big enough to cope with the winter A17 loadings. I'd assume that there must be some A17 runs with decent loads, hence why they specified bigger Solos?

Agree with this,Mousehole size Solos are probably too small for the A17.

 

[MB162435]

Unbranded Lizard East Lancs Lolyne 32756 on 231 duties this evening from Truro College to Falmouth Moor

 

[Volvodart]

My guess either from 53861 or 53871 and possibly from 53761 for the smaller Solos. As for registration numbers, either starting with WK68/19 or YJ68/19 being from Yorkshire.

From Behind the Scenes Facebook:-

For those asking about the fleetnumbers of the new Optare Solos, the longer ones are 53251-53258 and the shorter ones are 53860-53865.
No registrations booked yet.

 

[Accelerator59]

From Behind the Scenes Facebook:-

Had a feeling 53860-5 would be used following on from the Bristol Solos. Thanks for that

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Had a feeling 53860-5 would be used following on from the Bristol Solos. Thanks for that

Bristol????

Baff, thank you

 

[Accelerator59]

Bristol????

Baff, thank you

That’s where I meant

 

[MB162435]

Pride Trident 33143 on the 19:10 87 service from Truro to Newquay this evening, making a change from the usual E400 MMC

 

[83G/84D]

Also making a change from the usual E400MMC was an E200MMC on the last Bodmin to St Austell service 27.

 

[83G/84D]

Wonder why the new Solo fleet numbers start at 53251 when nothing after 53206 has been used previously?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Wonder why the new Solo fleet numbers start at 53251 when nothing after 53206 has been used previously?

They did get 53207-9 from Veolia (via Ensign) but perhaps a gap as they’re SRs??

 

[Penwithian]

Okay fair enough.


33242 was parked at Camborne for months in unbranded Atlantic Coaster colours with a defect sticker on the windscreen. It then disappeared before later reappearing in full Atlantic Coaster colours.

Saw Trident 33242 (LT52WVL) this morning in Pendeen working the 10.05 A17 to St Ives looking very fresh in Atlantic Coaster livery with a full rear advert for The National Trust. Will be interesting if it will inherit a Northern Ireland registration.

 

[83G/84D]

Been around for like that for a couple of months. Thanks for the posting.

I don’t know if it’s officially withdrawn however Trident 33151 has been at Camborne since before Christmas looking rather poorly. Doubt it will be back in service soon.

I don’t do Facebook so can’t ask on ‘behind the scenes’.

 

[83G/84D]

They did get 53207-9 from Veolia (via Ensign) but perhaps a gap as they’re SRs??

Possibly the reason, I had overlooked the Veolia one’s as they weren’t in my old fleetbooks.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Possibly the reason, I had overlooked the Veolia one’s as they weren’t in my old fleetbooks.

Only remembered as 53209 has only just arrived in Somerset from Essex

 

[Blackpudding]

Been around for like that for a couple of months. Thanks for the posting.

I don’t know if it’s officially withdrawn however Trident 33151 has been at Camborne since before Christmas looking rather poorly. Doubt it will be back in service soon.

I don’t do Facebook so can’t ask on ‘behind the scenes’.

See #7402 (page 247) '83G/84D'. They also advised in the last couple of days that Dennis Trident 33239 has been withdrawn. Apologies for forgetting to post that previously.

 

[83G/84D]

See #7402 (page 247) '83G/84D'. They also advised in the last couple of days that Dennis Trident 33239 has been withdrawn. Apologies for forgetting to post that previously.

Thanks- 33239 has been at Camborne for nearly a week with a defect sticker on it.

Wonder if any replacement Tridents will be needed? Lost the one that got toasted as well and 33007 recently withdrawn.

 

[Blackpudding]

Thanks- 33239 has been at Camborne for nearly a week with a defect sticker on it.

Wonder if any replacement Tridents will be needed? Lost the one that got toasted as well and 33007 recently withdrawn.

FKbs said no immediate replacements needed because of the winter schedule. 33239 has terminal engine issues,

 

[83G/84D]

Stated on the First Kernow behind the scenes FB page that they're being signed off at the factory on 10 January. They're Optare, not ADL.

Other news is that 5 mid-life Volvo Gemini double decks are due. No idea where from.

One of the batch that was on loan at Bristol (36218) has returned to Yorkshire in the last few days.

 

[Blackpudding]

The latest post on Facebook from FKbs

'Our latest acquisitions are four Volvo Wrights double deckers.
37058 and 37729 will be joining the open top fleet in due course.
37178 and 37179 will join the fleet after painting.'

37058 is a Volvo B7TL from Bradford with no roof following an accident.
37178/37179 are Volvo B7TL from Glasgow.
37729 is a Volvo B9TL from Leeds (Bramley) with roof damage following an accident.
37058 and 37729 are to be additional open top vehicles.

 

[ClawzOneThirty]

Could the entry of these B7s and B9s spell the end of presidents/tridents in Cornwall?

 

[Blackpudding]

Could the entry of these B7s and B9s spell the end of presidents/tridents in Cornwall?

No. They won't even make a dent and I assume the Volvo B7TL are to be used to boost the summer fleet

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

No. They won't even make a dent and I assume the Volvo B7TL are to be used to boost the summer fleet

Indeed - it’s two additional closed tops so will barely be noticed.

A 2009 vintage open topper - imagine that will have a long life in Cornwall. Naturally, there’s been a few accident victims that have ended up getting longer lives as a result. Think 34137 and 34626 were (did one hit the bridge in Falmouth?) and 32027 hit a tree in Bristol.

 

[83G/84D]

Atlantic Coaster 32097 out on Tinner services this afternoon.

 

[Goldfish62]

Indeed - it’s two additional closed tops so will barely be noticed.

A 2009 vintage open topper - imagine that will have a long life in Cornwall. Naturally, there’s been a few accident victims that have ended up getting longer lives as a result. Think 34137 and 34626 were (did one hit the bridge in Falmouth?) and 32027 hit a tree in Bristol.

It's good news about the additional open tops. There were too many closed top buses being used last summer.

Also good that the other two are being repainted before delivery.

 

[Blackpudding]

I thought it worth posting, for our future reference, this comment from Marc Huws of First Kernow on the FB page FKbs when referring to the incoming Volvo B7TL:

'planned replacements. The new singles in effect replace some doubles too. We’re reducing the overall number of Doubles in the fleet through having a number of suitable alternative new, cascaded and refurbished types available.'

 

[richw]

33172 in padstow this afternoon.