Dennis Super Pointer Darts still in service

EnviroExplorer · 2 Apr 2019

Hi all,

Having recently found some videos of SPDs with a few companies, I was wondering where I could go to still have a chance of riding one. Pretty sure I have had a few preserved ones, but where are they still in service?
I know Cardiff Bus, First South West, Arriva Cannock and Ipswich Buses have some

RailUK Forums

iantherev · 2 Apr 2019

First Cymru have some in the Neath/Port Talbot area.

richw · 2 Apr 2019

Plymouth citybus have loads. First kernow only have 6 MPDs left now.

90sWereBetter · 3 Apr 2019

The ones with Ipswich Buses will be leaving fairly soon, once the ex-Trent Optares come into service.

TheGrandWazoo · 3 Apr 2019

richw said:
Plymouth citybus have loads. First kernow only have 6 MPDs left now.

FSW = Somerset? They still have a pair?

richw · 3 Apr 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
FSW = Somerset? They still have a pair?

Don’t know about Somerset. But saves anyone a trip to cornwall if they read FsW

TheGrandWazoo · 3 Apr 2019

richw said:
Don’t know about Somerset. But saves anyone a trip to cornwall if they read FsW

They did have two of the three ex Lothian ones - Ron (aka CD) will be able to confirm as they were frequent visitors to Yeovil.

Cavendish1 · 3 Apr 2019

First Manchester still have a few, based at Oldham depot.

CD · 3 Apr 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
They did have two of the three ex Lothian ones - Ron (aka CD) will be able to confirm as they were frequent visitors to Yeovil.

43905/6 are indeed resident in Yeovil. Normally found on route 77.

EnviroExplorer · 3 Apr 2019

Thanks to all commenters so far! It has since occured to me that Grant Palmer Travel have a few, and Select Bus Services, Staffordshire have 4, both of which I should have remembered as have encountered them!

richw · 3 Apr 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
They did have two of the three ex Lothian ones - Ron (aka CD) will be able to confirm as they were frequent visitors to Yeovil.

Is TT03TRU a SPD? Can never remember!

Blackpudding · 3 Apr 2019

richw said:
Is TT03TRU a SPD? Can never remember!

No, it's 10.2m 'richw'.

Blackpudding · 3 Apr 2019

Cavendish1 said:
First Manchester still have a few, based at Oldham depot.

Welcome 'Cavendish1'. Just for the record those at Oldham are 10.7m and not the SPD version.

richw · 3 Apr 2019

Blackpudding said:
No, it's 10.2m 'richw'.

What length are the SPD?

Blackpudding · 3 Apr 2019

richw said:
What length are the SPD?

I always thought they were 11.3m but feel free to shoot me down.

richw · 3 Apr 2019

Blackpudding said:
I always thought they were 11.3m but feel free to shoot me down.

I ain’t shooting you down, I don’t know any better! the recently retired SN53*** plates in Kernow are 10.7m, and the SPD are longer than them.

Blackpudding · 3 Apr 2019

richw said:
I ain’t shooting you down, I don’t know any better! the recently retired SN53*** plates in Kernow are 10.7m, and the SPD are longer than them.

I think the only SPD in Kernow going by the fleet number may well be 43907, the bike bus?

awsnews · 3 Apr 2019

Blackpudding said:
I always thought they were 11.3m but feel free to shoot me down.

All the online sources confirm the 11.3m length. I believe that the Pointer 2 bodied examples can be identified by the rear window being fitted higher up to acommodate the larger engine as seen on this ex Lothian example with Glasgow Citybus
https://flic.kr/p/bCckuy

richw · 3 Apr 2019

Blackpudding said:
I think the only SPD in Kernow going by the fleet number may well be 43907, the bike bus?

I maybe wrong but thought it was a 10.7m too.

Blackpudding · 4 Apr 2019

richw said:
I maybe wrong but thought it was a 10.7m too.

I think you could well be right 'richw'. I don't know the length and was just applying some sort of logic based on the fleet number which follows on from the few remaining SPD's in the First fleet.
Having said that when you compare this photo of it
https://www.flickr.com/photos/benbe...yA1-X3mcus-AgXP6w-WCXYHY-BNP3Rx-C1C9k2-ANXr9U which is not mine by the way to the photo in the link posted by 'awsnews' (thanks by the way) the rear overhang on 43907 is shorter.

richw · 4 Apr 2019

Blackpudding said:
I think you could well be right 'richw'. I don't know the length and was just applying some sort of logic based on the fleet number which follows on from the few remaining SPD's in the First fleet.
Having said that when you compare this photo of it
https://www.flickr.com/photos/benbe...yA1-X3mcus-AgXP6w-WCXYHY-BNP3Rx-C1C9k2-ANXr9U which is not mine by the way to the photo in the link posted by 'awsnews' (thanks by the way) the rear overhang on 43907 is shorter.

I was comparing photos last night with the ex Lothian and a recent photo i took of 42875. The offside windows and overhang appear the same as 42875, and the rear window doesn’t look like the link above on 43907.

Chris217 · 4 Apr 2019

We used to have 5 SPD Darts at Gilmoss.
33175-179.
Voith 3 speed gearbox,ex CMT Buses.
Loved these.
33175,176 have recently been sent for scrap out of Stagecoach in Ashford.
Not sure about the other 3 as yet.
I suspect they have long gone but would like to know for sure if they still exist.

Blackpudding · 4 Apr 2019

richw said:
I was comparing photos last night with the ex Lothian and a recent photo i took of 42875. The offside windows and overhang appear the same as 42875, and the rear window doesn’t look like the link above on 43907.

Couple of links attached to photos of SPD's. Neither are my photos. One is of First 43902 and the second of Stagecoach 33175 as per the comments of 'Chris217' above. Both these vehicles have one wide window to the rear of the emergency door.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joshs...c9-ypkfjb-27QX6ss-y5G9bm-y8EmGq-xNYkpy-xNYj11

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark1...Hg-D4i3oV-dcg3H4-9HrhNH-nBXCeN-2djcNjs-7H9zaR

I looked at your photo of 42875 and the photo of 43907 again and both have a narrow window to the rear of the emergency door. I know angles can be deceptive but I now think 42875 and 43907 are both 10.7m and my assumption about 43907 because of the fleet number is completely wrong.

Chris217 · 4 Apr 2019

33175 was my favourite of the 5
to drive.
My claim to fame with this was having it on 215/216 route which was normally in the hands of MPD Darts.
Also,had it on route 135 Bootle Strand to Aintree Station.Another MPD route as well as 86H.
175 also made an appearance in Southport when I took it out when we did Royal Birkdale Golf buses.The only single decker that was used lol
Have driven this to Carlisle depot too.
Lovely bus. I do miss her though.

richw · 4 Apr 2019

Blackpudding said:
know angles can be deceptive but I now think 42875 and 43907 are both 10.7m

42875 is definitely 10.7m. I had a look when I needed to shunt to get round a turn on the 85!

156443 · 4 Apr 2019

Bus4 | KE04 UMD by Dylan Thomas Transport Photography, on Flickr

Bus4 (formerly known as Stagecarriage) based in Middlesbrough have recently acquired one

Blackpudding · 4 Apr 2019

richw said:
42875 is definitely 10.7m. I had a look when I needed to shunt to get round a turn on the 85!

Ha. Good man!

EnviroExplorer · 4 Apr 2019

Thanks again to all further posters! Those Stagecoach ones look rather interesting, wish I was into buses as much as I am now back then!

Strathclyder · 17 Apr 2019

To give this thread a jumpstart (no pun intended lol), JMB Travel of Newmains still operate a motley bunch of ex-Lothian SPDs in a mix of liveries despite a influx of off-the-shelf E200s and ex-Stagecoach Pointers. Some have ageless reg plates, while some retain their originals.

Heading overseas, Park Island Transport of Hong Kong have been a operator of SPD Darts for some time now, including the last five Pointer bodies built (MW3648, MW3441, MW3933, NE3283 & LU2001; new May 2007 (3648/3441/3933), Jan. 2008 (3283) & Mar. 2008 (2001) respectively). 2001, being the last 'classic' Dart SLF ever built and the last Pointer body ever built, is a rather signifcant vehicle indeed.

NorthernSpirit · 17 Apr 2019

Transdev in Keighley (trading as The Keighley Bus Company) has a few, Compass Bus in Worthing did have a handful but I think that they have left the fleet. I'm sure that First Halifax has one still unless its been transfered to another depot, Yorkshire Tiger (Arriva's scrapyard) has/had a few - usually working on the Halifax routes.

Dennis Super Pointer Darts still in service

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