First Potteries Discussion

[G760XRE]

They were definitely operated - plenty of photos on flickr with the 101 being a regular haunt. So regular Streetdecks would be fine on there or the 18.

Sorry, totally forgot about the 5 x 63 plates they kept, which eventually went to Halifax after the ex York Streetdecks arrived. I was thinking of the 58 plate examples that came up and weren't really operated, ending up at Taunton.
Route 18 would no longer be an option as that now interworks with the 6/6a which has a low bridge on the route in Longton. In the past the route interworked with the 101, including around the time the E400s were here.

 

[AlexE]

Rumours of 8 low height StreetDecks moving to Olive Grove. The current single deck only on 272 struggles with loadings particularly at weekends

It's not a rumour its happening 3 are coming over to Olive Grove this afternoon.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Sorry, totally forgot about the 5 x 63 plates they kept, which eventually went to Halifax after the ex York Streetdecks arrived. I was thinking of the 58 plate examples that came up and weren't really operated, ending up at Taunton.
Route 18 would no longer be an option as that now interworks with the 6/6a which has a low bridge on the route in Longton. In the past the route interworked with the 101, including around the time the E400s were here.

Funnily enough, I though you were referring to the 63 plates and never considered the older ones that headed back to Somerset. I remember the 18/101 were interworked at some point but slept since then so don't know about current arrangements

 

[Simon75]

They were definitely operated - plenty of photos on flickr with the 101 being a regular haunt. So regular Streetdecks would be fine on there or the 18.

I've travelled on the 101 with them on , before they moved away

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 May 2025 ==

Looks like the Newcastle outstation is planned to close

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 May 2025 ==

25/5/25 disruption in the south of Stoke-on-Trent

22/23 missing out parts of Blurton at different times

6A 14.13 Blyth Bridge to Hanley commenced at Longton 14.42

Also noticed in the evening an Badgerline Streetdeck at Hanley bus station

 

[43055]

It's not a rumour its happening 3 are coming over to Olive Grove this afternoon.

The other 4 ex York Streetdecks have gone to Olive Grove.

 

[RealTrains07]

Guess that explains the sudden appearance of ex badgerline stock as ive only been seeing those or the keele constellations on the 25 recently.

Also will mean a big reduction in how colourful the 25 route has become as now its either going to be blue constellation buses or the badger units (which most are in the new first livery) appearing on the route.

Separate point: does anyone know why first are starting to repaint all the orange mainline units into the new corporate branding. Very odd decision really considering the mainline is meant to unique to stoke?

 

[capitalpotter]

Guess that explains the sudden appearance of ex badgerline stock as ive only been seeing those or the keele constellations on the 25 recently.

Also will mean a big reduction in how colourful the 25 route has become as now its either going to be blue constellation buses or the badger units (which most are in the new first livery) appearing on the route.

Separate point: does anyone know why first are starting to repaint all the orange mainline units into the new corporate branding. Very odd decision really considering the mainline is meant to unique to stoke?

Because first are replacing all local branding.

 

[Simon75]

Because first are replacing all local branding.

But there are other buses still with the old livery and leather , which could be done first

 

[RealTrains07]

Because first are replacing all local branding.

I can see why but also with the orange mainline buses in particular, they were only refurbished a few years ago.

The constellation streetdecks have only been in service for not even 2 years yet. Are they going to turn grey and blue too?

 

[43055]

I can see why but also with the orange mainline buses in particular, they were only refurbished a few years ago.

The constellation streetdecks have only been in service for not even 2 years yet. Are they going to turn grey and blue too?

I don't think there is much of an order to how they are being painted except for the ex Bristol streetdecks and eventually I would imagine the full fleet will be in the new livery.

Only 1 of the mainline vehicles have been done so far and by the looks of things E200MMC 67158 is in for paint which is one of the original batch for Stoke.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

But there are other buses still with the old livery and leather , which could be done first

I can see why but also with the orange mainline buses in particular, they were only refurbished a few years ago.

The constellation streetdecks have only been in service for not even 2 years yet. Are they going to turn grey and blue too?

Perhaps the logic is this...

They've done one example AFAIK - perhaps that vehicle needed a number of replacement panels and vinyls and it just was considered more cost effective to repaint in the ultraviolet scheme?

I'd imagine that the ex Badgerline ones will be prioritised, and then the ex Eclipse e200mmc. That will remove a couple of the existing rogue legacy liveries. However, they will also repaint any vehicles opportunistically when they're VOR for a while/require a repaint if several new panels are required/vinyls are removed and it really impacts the appearance.

 

[G760XRE]

Perhaps the logic is this...

They've done one example AFAIK - perhaps that vehicle needed a number of replacement panels and vinyls and it just was considered more cost effective to repaint in the ultraviolet scheme?

I'd imagine that the ex Badgerline ones will be prioritised, and then the ex Eclipse e200mmc. That will remove a couple of the existing rogue legacy liveries. However, they will also repaint any vehicles opportunistically when they're VOR for a while/require a repaint if several new panels are required/vinyls are removed and it really impacts the appearance.

Spot on with this I think. Certainly evidenced with 3 ex-Leicester long term VOR streetlites 63349/59/61. Does anyone know what parts these are waiting for? 2 of them haven't been in service for 9 months, with the other not far behind that.

 

[Simon75]

Perhaps the logic is this...

They've done one example AFAIK - perhaps that vehicle needed a number of replacement panels and vinyls and it just was considered more cost effective to repaint in the ultraviolet scheme?

I'd imagine that the ex Badgerline ones will be prioritised, and then the ex Eclipse e200mmc. That will remove a couple of the existing rogue legacy liveries. However, they will also repaint any vehicles opportunistically when they're VOR for a while/require a repaint if several new panels are required/vinyls are removed and it really impacts the appearance.

One of the Ex Streetlites repainted has new upholstery (moquette)

 

[RealTrains07]

Perhaps the logic is this...

They've done one example AFAIK - perhaps that vehicle needed a number of replacement panels and vinyls and it just was considered more cost effective to repaint in the ultraviolet scheme?

I'd imagine that the ex Badgerline ones will be prioritised, and then the ex Eclipse e200mmc. That will remove a couple of the existing rogue legacy liveries. However, they will also repaint any vehicles opportunistically when they're VOR for a while/require a repaint if several new panels are required/vinyls are removed and it really impacts the appearance.

There was an unbranded badger line unit running around last week though it has disappeared this week with a blue and grey unbranded unit taking its place. Possibly gone for repaint?