As much as it's a relief to see some trace of the system's history retained, I really think they've utterly ruined 700.
She was clearly an ideal candidate as a heritage car; already in near-original condition, well kept and looking absolutely superb. Why on earth did they have to go and carry out a bizarre half-rebuild?! She now looks awful, with heritage-spec destination screens, cab visors and square-edged windows, but with a bloody great pair of automatic doors each side and now a totally mis-matched modern livery as well, it makes you want to weep. As sad as it is to see those other cars stuffed and in a museum instead of out on the steel where they should be, I can't help feeling that 700 would have been better off joining them
And yet, we have 717 - which looks amazing I must say, all credit to the depot staff - which already has the front end mods, and surely would have been a far more logical candidate? Seems
BT have lost the plot in every sense.
Anyway, excellent pics by the way!