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Lothian Group discussion (Lothian City, Lothian Country Bus and East Coast Buses)

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CN04NRJ

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Question, are repaints ongoing at the moment? As in, have they been stopped specifically because of COVID?

I think 424 was the last vehicle to be done, 425 is still in the old livery for now. I think all of the 11 plate B9TLs now have Hanover units (or at least, I haven't seen any with rollers/mobitec side rears for a long time) and are slowly having the electronic ramps replaced with manually operated ones and reupholstered seats.

Will be nice to see the 551-570 batch repainted/refurbished eventually as I think they look quite dated in the older livery.
 

scosutsut

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I think 424 was the last vehicle to be done, 425 is still in the old livery for now. I think all of the 11 plate B9TLs now have Hanover units (or at least, I haven't seen any with rollers/mobitec side rears for a long time) and are slowly having the electronic ramps replaced with manually operated ones and reupholstered seats.

Will be nice to see the 551-570 batch repainted/refurbished eventually as I think they look quite dated in the older livery.

Agreed, that was when the bodies got far too "edgy" for the curves of the older livery in my opinion and it's the same reasoning why the current fleet of the future livery looks crap (again in my opinion) on original generation Geminis and Eclipses as they are too curvy.

Although sounds like they will be all but extinct in the next year or so!
 

Nawm8

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Speaking of the old roller destination blinds, what happens with them? Are they sold off or scrapped, as I'd like to get a set, numbers and intermediate included, for the wall.
 

CN04NRJ

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Agreed, that was when the bodies got far too "edgy" for the curves of the older livery in my opinion and it's the same reasoning why the current fleet of the future livery looks crap (again in my opinion) on original generation Geminis and Eclipses as they are too curvy.

Although sounds like they will be all but extinct in the next year or so!

It looks good on the Gemini 2 B9TLs and pre-facelift B5TLs, not so great on the Gemini B9TLs though it's growing on me.
 

ScotRail158725

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I think 424 was the last vehicle to be done, 425 is still in the old livery for now. I think all of the 11 plate B9TLs now have Hanover units (or at least, I haven't seen any with rollers/mobitec side rears for a long time) and are slowly having the electronic ramps replaced with manually operated ones and reupholstered seats.

Will be nice to see the 551-570 batch repainted/refurbished eventually as I think they look quite dated in the older livery.
424 still in the old livery, was 421 that was repainted. other than that 841-843 and 397/398 during the first lockdown were the last repaints. there might still be a couple blinds on the 11 plates but think those might be updated now
 

lewisjn

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Speaking of the old roller destination blinds, what happens with them? Are they sold off or scrapped, as I'd like to get a set, numbers and intermediate included, for the wall.
Same here - though I wondered what happened with the full colour LED displays before they were replaced with brilliant white ones in the original B5s, E400Hs and 7900s. If they went back to Mobitec, there must be a large store of them somewhere.
They go in the skip - largely.
A shame!
 

FlybeDash8Q400

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424 still in the old livery, was 421 that was repainted. other than that 841-843 and 397/398 during the first lockdown were the last repaints. there might still be a couple blinds on the 11 plates but think those might be updated now
No more 11 plates with blinds afaik. In fact only Gemini2’s with them are 346-350 and 926-927. And as you said should be 422-425 out of the 64 plates to be done.
 
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I don't know if this is on topic or not but....

I've attached two images below of a Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 headlight fixture.

What is the bit that I've circled for?

I've seen a couple Gemini 2's with the left hand cover bit missing (sorry I don't know what its called).
Thanks.
 

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Bus9120UK

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I don't know if this is on topic or not but....

I've attached two images below of a Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 headlight fixture.

What is the bit that I've circled for?

I've seen a couple Gemini 2's with the left hand cover bit missing (sorry I don't know what its called).
Thanks.
I think it could be a place for fog lights? Here is an image of a London bus that does have lights there:
1612009642754.png
 

SpeedbirdA350

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I don't know if this is on topic or not but....

I've attached two images below of a Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 headlight fixture.

What is the bit that I've circled for?

I've seen a couple Gemini 2's with the left hand cover bit missing (sorry I don't know what its called).
Thanks.

I think it could be a place for fog lights? Here is an image of a London bus that does have lights there:
View attachment 89523
I called them dimples in my question last week. But yes, they are for fog lights to go in to, although it might also be just for design (although I am 99% it's the former).

I wondered if anyone here knows; buses registered pre-2000 often (if not always) had front fog lamps installed, but since 2000, I don't recall a single post 2000 registered bus in the fleet with them. I note the new eVoRa has 2 dimples under the headlight assembly that could be pushed out for fog lamps, but I am not certain if that is why the dimples are there or if that is just design.

Was it a Lothian (LRT then) decision to have front fog lamps pre-2000 and not to have them post 2000 or was that bus manufacturers?
 
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I think it could be a place for fog lights? Here is an image of a London bus that does have lights there:
View attachment 89523

I called them dimples in my question last week. But yes, they are for fog lights to go in to, although it might also be just for design (although I am 99% it's the former).
Oh right thanks.

See when 1029 was deroofed, what bus did they get to replace it?
 

OmniCity999

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I think it could be a place for fog lights? Here is an image of a London bus that does have lights there:
View attachment 89523
I called them dimples in my question last week. But yes, they are for fog lights to go in to, although it might also be just for design (although I am 99% it's the former).
Its a postion for fog lights. Although it's possible to get the fog lights integrated into the top lamp cluster too.

It's cheaper to make one design instead of two hence the blank space on most of our fleet.

Oh right thanks.

See when 1029 was deroofed, what bus did they get to replace it?
It hasn't been directly replaced I don't think?
There wasn't a replacement. Just like when Lothians 390 was torched, no replacement.
 

DunsBus

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Its a postion for fog lights. Although it's possible to get the fog lights integrated into the top lamp cluster too.

It's cheaper to make one design instead of two hence the blank space on most of our fleet.



There wasn't a replacement. Just like when Lothians 390 was torched, no replacement.
Ever since a replacement Dart 75 was supplied as an extra bus with the 86-100 batch of Darts as a replacement for the original Dart 75, which was toasted when just six months old, some enthusiasts have assumed that whenever an LB vehicle is damaged, it gets replaced. Indeed, I remember a lot of rumours about 390 getting replaced when it got torched.

It doesn't work like that. The only reason 75 was replaced was because it was established that a defect caused the fire which burnt it out. As it was still in warranty and with another batch of Darts due, a replacement was supplied.
 

FlybeDash8Q400

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Ever since a replacement Dart 75 was supplied as an extra bus with the 86-100 batch of Darts as a replacement for the original Dart 75, which was toasted when just six months old, some enthusiasts have assumed that whenever an LB vehicle is damaged, it gets replaced. Indeed, I remember a lot of rumours about 390 getting replaced when it got torched.

It doesn't work like that. The only reason 75 was replaced was because it was established that a defect caused the fire which burnt it out. As it was still in warranty and with another batch of Darts due, a replacement was supplied.
I think the thing with 390 was it was still fairly new (just over two years old I want to say), the Gemini2 was admittedly very close to end of production though. As far as I know at that point Lothian were in the process of bringing back the 51 plate tridents that had been stored for a bit so I’m guessing that’s where the shortage was made up. I can understand why some thought it would be replaced, I can equally understand why people didn’t think it would. I’m guessing 390’s warranty had just gone (probably at 2 years) and the warranty doesn’t always cover everything, not sure arson would’ve meant cover in any case.

1029 on the other hand was around 9 years old, bus well out of production and yes could’ve been repaired (unlike 390) but was not worth it. Had 1029 been written off at 2 years old like 390 was I’m sure it would’ve been repaired. I’d say age/production ending ultimately sealed its fate. And as others have mentioned 942 may not have been repaired had it been older.

I do agree with you though about 75 getting replaced and this expectation. In 1029’s case LC probably had more than enough buses to make up the shortfall anyway.
 

OmniCity999

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Ok thanks, come to think of it it wasn't that old not even two years old.

Is there any news on Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 LXZ 5408 (1023) in regards to the crash on the 1st?
Thanks :).
It was only just over a year in service.

Again, storage, awaiting repairs/decision.

Do you intend on asking about every member of the fleet and its exact movements? cause ive just sat down with my jam on toast and tea.

All that matters is neither have been in service for a while.

Their service history can be viewed at LVF.io - thats when you'll know their back in service etc.
 

DunsBus

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Given that there are rather important things going on in the world right now, is the current status of LC 1023 and LB 1076 really all that important? At the end of the day, they're both just buses and if they both end up not getting repaired then it's no big loss.
 
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Given that there are rather important things going on in the world right now, is the current status of LC 1023 and LB 1076 really all that important? At the end of the day, they're both just buses and if they both end up not getting repaired then it's no big loss.
Admittedly some bus chat bores me to tears too. But people are free to start new threads for anything they feel is more important.
 

GusB

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Could I please remind everyone to remain as civil as possible. I realise that it can be frustrating reading the same questions over and over again, but it might be better in some situations to ignore certain posts rather than react to them. We do have the report function and, but there isn't a lot we can do if there is no clear breach of forum rules.

Thanks
:)
 
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Could I please remind everyone to remain as civil as possible. I realise that it can be frustrating reading the same questions over and over again, but it might be better in some situations to ignore certain posts rather than react to them. We do have the report function and, but there isn't a lot we can do if there is no clear breach of forum rules.

Thanks
:)
How can I make a new thread/forum to discuss matters such as Lothian fleet things rather than cluttering up this one with questions about specific buses?
Thanks :).
 

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