I saw 32097 departing the Lizard this afternoon whilst 37177 was taken off a westbound A17at Penzance and replaced by a Solo seemingly due to a reversing light stuck on?!
-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
First South West (Kernow & Buses of Somerset)
- Thread starter RPI
- Start date
I saw 32097 departing the Lizard this afternoon whilst 37177 was taken off a westbound A17at Penzance and replaced by a Solo seemingly due to a reversing light stuck on?!
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Goldfish62
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 10,030
Tender close date is in a couple of weeks time, so towards the end of the year I reckon. Contracts start in April and will last eight years to encourage fleet investment.
Busaholic
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 7 Jun 2014
- Messages
- 14,078
When Brookside of Rosudgeon were competing against Western National in the 1990s, reversing lights showing as they drove along were an everyday occurrence!
Apparently 32097 needed a bit of TLC at Redruth earlier, wouldn't start so needed the engineer out, not sure whether they got it working or not
Goldfish62
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 10,030
You've reminded me of Brookside. A right outfit, although their Penwith network still hangs on in truncated form in the shape of the 7, 16A, 409 and 515.
AllanMacF
Member
Many thanks Gentlemen for your very useful help on my forthcoming visit to see the Truro College fleet. I can let my wife OD on coffee and buy useless things in The Range, while I shoot off a couple of hundred images! Presidents aplenty, I hope!
Busaholic
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 7 Jun 2014
- Messages
- 14,078
One of the new single deckers that operated for a while on the A17 in Atlantic Coaster livery was in Penzance this morning, but not in service. It was being driven by a regular driver, with two others seated immediately inside, and was trailing an A1 open top down Market Jew St. I believe its fleet no ended in -53?
Good luck Allan and enjoy your visit. The majority of services will be deckers but some are worked by the E400MMC’s.
Sadly the days of wall to wall Olympians are long gone but you should see some Tridents for sure.
Looks like they may have to soldier on for a good while yet given the uncertain future of First Bus UK.
Goldfish62
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 10,030
I should imagine they'll be back on the A17 soon once tourist numbers die down.
Goldfish62
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 10,030
Solo SR 53251 back on the A17 this morning.
Busaholic
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 7 Jun 2014
- Messages
- 14,078
I've a feeling that it was being trialled over the A1 routeing(s) to see what problems might be encountered in view of its length, which might explain three senior drivers on board.
Optare Solo 53503 is being used in unbranded dark green on the GWR car park shuttle at St Erth station today. It has had some seats removed to make more space for buggies etc.
Attachments
Last edited:
Goldfish62
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 10,030
They have already operated regularly on the A1, early mornings and late afternoons.
Busaholic
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 7 Jun 2014
- Messages
- 14,078
As Brenda from Bristol might well say 'WHAT? AGAIN?' in the case of this particular bus (see my post last week).
Goldfish62
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 10,030
Solo SR 53253 joining 53251 back on the A17 this morning.
Goldfish62
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 10,030
Just leaves 53504 in BoS livery.
Busaholic
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 7 Jun 2014
- Messages
- 14,078
Their website has scant mention of the buses, implying that they finished at August Bank Holiday for instance, so I doubt it.
Goldfish62
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 10,030
It's only mileage. There's no PVR or duty cost. Minimal extra cost.
Bizarre. Maybe there are busier journeys at times I've not been in there.
Out of interest does anyone know if some of the Atlantic Coaster B7TLs have had the re-map to 250hp and ZFs changed to Power mode recently. The ones I was on this week on my visit sounded like they had the treatment!
Talking of PVR and duties, is the entire A1/2/3 operated and crewed by Penzance? I noticed the 1705 A2 ex Penzance formed the 1820 A4 at St Ives.
Goldfish62
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 10,030
What's the difference that it makes?
Quite a bit. Almost a different bus. As delivered, B7TLs were 215hp with ZF Ecomat boxes set in Eco mode. The London deliveries also had the accelerator inhibitor that slowed acceleration to a crawl to prevent falls on pulling away from bus stops. All this along with the speed limiter can be removed to create a much better interurban bus.