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First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)

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richw

Veteran Member
Joined
10 Jun 2010
Messages
11,213
Location
Liskeard
My chariot for the entire day today is 37011... note the nhs heart added to all buses today!
 

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83G/84D

Established Member
Joined
28 Oct 2011
Messages
5,952
Location
Cornwall
Other Volvo B7TL's noted recently and transferred from Bristol are 32546, 32619, 32625 & 32681. Additionally 37045 has arrived from York.
 

83G/84D

Established Member
Joined
28 Oct 2011
Messages
5,952
Location
Cornwall
From Cornwall by Kernow - behind the scenes:


“With cascaded vehicles joining the fleet and tendered small bus work replaced by big bus and coach work, we’re having a clear out of the Kernow fleet...

To Disposal
11117
11086
68513
68552
68555
68569
68571
24105
24106
21126
68503
68505
68534
68565
68567
33236
33240
33001
33002
33067
33142
33068
33071
33084
33113
33165
33173
33230
32755
33148
33153
33155
33164
33168
33170
42358
53154
53406
53803
53805
53814
53816
53827
32097

To BoS
33235
33242
33175
33177
33233
33234
44918
44919
44920
44921”

I think I may have seen 32097 on one of it's last days in service, 30th March on the T2:-

IMG_5038.JPG
 

TechDan2002

Member
Joined
4 Oct 2019
Messages
215
Location
Penryn
Is that your OCD kicking in? :lol:
Yep... apologies for coming across rude, I didn’t intend to. Of course I’m grateful that First Kernow are happy to share fleet information and other behind the scenes stuff for us enthusiasts, especially at tough times like this.
 

Accelerator59

Member
Joined
24 Oct 2014
Messages
363
Location
Kernow
Yep... apologies for coming across rude, I didn’t intend to. Of course I’m grateful that First Kernow are happy to share fleet information and other behind the scenes stuff for us enthusiasts, especially at tough times like this.
Didn’t even notice to be honest. I just got my silly head on today :lol:
 

Yarp1

Member
Joined
21 Mar 2020
Messages
74
Location
Cornwall
some nicer than others. 33153 has a fantastic engine tone. She absolutely roars! 33173 probably my favourite trident last summer!
33173 has a different engine to the normal. I think it's got the engine out of cargo truck
 

MrKnow

Member
Joined
25 Jul 2016
Messages
83
153 I was told has a bin lorry engine. Dvla says it’s 1000cc bigger than others

Some of them were retrofitted with the later Cummins ISBe engine which sound not too dissimilar to the three 08 plate E400's in the fleet. 33153, 65 & 73 had this done including 33052 although sadly we know how that ended :'( either way whatever engine is in the back a Trident will leave a B7TL standing!
 

richw

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Joined
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Messages
11,213
Location
Liskeard
either way whatever engine is in the back a Trident will leave a B7TL standing!

I’ve had 37012 (edit- it’s 37011) all day. I suggested it was poorly on hills to be told they’re all the same. Happily hit 50 on the A30 on the flat, second a hill came along maybe 15-20mph max. to be fair they’ve probably never seen a proper hill in Bristol!
 

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richw

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Some of them were retrofitted with the later Cummins ISBe engine

not sure what’s in 33165 but it’s the only one I’ve noticed to have a adblue cap. Maybe I’ve never paid enough attention to 153 and 173
 

carlberry

Established Member
Joined
19 Dec 2014
Messages
3,169
I’ve had 37012 all day. I suggested it was poorly on hills to be told they’re all the same. Happily hit 50 on the A30 on the flat, second a hill came along maybe 15-20mph max. to be fair they’ve probably never seen a proper hill in Bristol!
We have loads of hills in Bristol! However they're unlikely to have seen a hill without a traffic jam on it before!
 

richw

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We have loads of hills in Bristol! However they're unlikely to have seen a hill without a traffic jam on it before!
Agreed hills on open roads.

All of our fleet at Summercourt received NHS hearts at the nearside of the destination last night
 

Busaholic

Veteran Member
Joined
7 Jun 2014
Messages
14,029
We have loads of hills in Bristol! However they're unlikely to have seen a hill without a traffic jam on it before!
I lived for a short period near Totterdown in Bristol, and if Vale Street there is not the steepest city street in Britain I'd be flabbergasted. I had an old car and was afraid to negotiate it, let alone try to park on it. I once walked up it, but I wouldn't try walking down it. Totterdown indeed!
 

richw

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I lived for a short period near Totterdown in Bristol, and if Vale Street there is not the steepest city street in Britain I'd be flabbergasted. I had an old car and was afraid to negotiate it, let alone try to park on it. I once walked up it, but I wouldn't try walking down it. Totterdown indeed!

when I was doing delivery driving there was a hill in Plymouth that was at such an angle I couldn’t shut the door as the road angle created flex in the box of the van!
 

carlberry

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19 Dec 2014
Messages
3,169
I lived for a short period near Totterdown in Bristol, and if Vale Street there is not the steepest city street in Britain I'd be flabbergasted. I had an old car and was afraid to negotiate it, let alone try to park on it. I once walked up it, but I wouldn't try walking down it. Totterdown indeed!
The steepest street in Britain (and the world up until yesterday!) is in Harlech.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52215151
However none of these have bus services on them.
 

TheGrandWazoo

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Somerset with international travel (e.g. across th
I’ve had 37012 all day. I suggested it was poorly on hills to be told they’re all the same. Happily hit 50 on the A30 on the flat, second a hill came along maybe 15-20mph max. to be fair they’ve probably never seen a proper hill in Bristol!

As @carlberry says, there's plenty of hills in Bristol. That's the problem - it's been hammered up and down them!!!

If you're free in November, you can run the Harlech one and get a medal https://alwaysaimhighevents.com/worlds-steepest-street-run/worlds-steepest-street-run-home
 

Goldfish62

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Joined
14 Feb 2010
Messages
9,934
The steepest street in Britain (and the world up until yesterday!) is in Harlech.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52215151
However none of these have bus services on them.
The steepest hill I've come across in Cornwall is Bowjey Hill in Newlyn. It starts at Higher Green Street at the southern end of the harbour and climbs up to the bottom of Gwavas Estate. When I was a kid I used to be scared going up there in a car because I thought it was going to tip over backwards.
 

TheGrandWazoo

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November which year?

This year - enough time for you to get training and hit your/the peak ;)

37011-4 were based on the 17 Keynsham to Southmead Hospital which would go past Cossham Hospital at the top of Lodge Hill in Bristol - the highest point in Bristol at 369 ft above sea level (which given Bristol is on the tidal Avon tells you something!
 

Accelerator59

Member
Joined
24 Oct 2014
Messages
363
Location
Kernow
The steepest hill I've come across in Cornwall is Bowjey Hill in Newlyn. It starts at Higher Green Street at the southern end of the harbour and climbs up to the bottom of Gwavas Estate. When I was a kid I used to be scared going up there in a car because I thought it was going to tip over backwards.
I know that hill very well as I make deliveries along that road.
 

richw

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This year - enough time for you to get training and hit your/the peak ;)

37011-4 were based on the 17 Keynsham to Southmead Hospital which would go past Cossham Hospital at the top of Lodge Hill in Bristol - the highest point in Bristol at 369 ft above sea level (which given Bristol is on the tidal Avon tells you something!

the 91 was 3 of those 4 yesterday and one of our green e400mmc.
 

martyjon

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19 Feb 2020
Messages
108
Location
Bristol Area
I would guess that the steepest hill in Bristol used by buses is St Michaels Hill negotiated by the Stagecoach service 77 Bristol City Centre to Thornbury.
I am surprised at that because the Traveline timetable shows it going via Horfield Road but bustimes.org trackings show it going via Cotham Road and and St Micheals Hill.
 
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Lizard1324

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19 Feb 2020
Messages
685
Location
Cornwall
Just a thought what is the steepest hill that a kernow bus goes up, or did at this point in time?
I know the buses always struggled with pholdu hill and would kick down heavily and travel at 5mph trying to get around the very steep top curve of the hill
 

richw

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Joined
10 Jun 2010
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11,213
Location
Liskeard
Just a thought what is the steepest hill that a kernow bus goes up, or did at this point in time?
I know the buses always struggled with pholdu hill and would kick down heavily and travel at 5mph trying to get around the very steep top curve of the hill

the one at Newlyn on the A1 jumps out. There’s a couple of steep hills on the A5 too
 

Marcus Fryer

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Joined
27 Dec 2014
Messages
732
I would guess that the steepest hill in Bristol used by buses is St Michaels Hill negotiated by the Stagecoach service 77 Bristol City Centre to Thornbury.
I am surprised at that because the Traveline timetable shows it going via Horfield Road but bustimes.org trackings show it going via Cotham Road and and St Micheals Hill.
That is strange. The 20 (which the 77 replaced) definitely did use Horfield Rd, and the stop at Kingsdown Parade had a timetable for the 77 posted last time I looked (late last year).
 

TheGrandWazoo

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Just a thought what is the steepest hill that a kernow bus goes up, or did at this point in time?
I know the buses always struggled with pholdu hill and would kick down heavily and travel at 5mph trying to get around the very steep top curve of the hill

Sennen Cove possibly/probably. Can remember a trip on a A-VAF Olympian - could have outwalked it!!!
 

carlberry

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19 Dec 2014
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3,169
That is strange. The 20 (which the 77 replaced) definitely did use Horfield Rd, and the stop at Kingsdown Parade had a timetable for the 77 posted last time I looked (late last year).
It's supposed to go up Horfield Road however their are roadworks on that road at present so, I assume, it cant get through. Very few bus routes have ever gone up the whole of St Micheals Hill as it's quite steep!
 

jammy36

Member
Joined
28 Aug 2013
Messages
295
Sennen Cove possibly/probably. Can remember a trip on a A-VAF Olympian - could have outwalked it!!!

The only time I've ever had a bus come to a complete stop on a hill due to running out of puff was on one of the A-VAF Olympians. This was on a 40B service into Truro with a very full standing load heading up Edward St in Truro (the hill with the courts at the top). It was a passengers off job and then all back on board for the run back down Castle Street. I don't think buses have to do this loop anymore?
 

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