Bit of an open question here...
Not been about too much as have been working away. However, not seeing too many deckers on the Wells to Bath corridor, seeing mainly Eclipses (69437/44/45/57). Also appears that Wells have a few of the 667** Eclipses on loan for the 126. Curious as to the reason why?
Deckers still can't be used on 173 and Streetdecks are being yet again incredibly unreliable. 3 Streetdecks off each day this week. Been at least 1 B9 and/or B7 on 376 every day for last few weeks.
They've swapped 69439-42 with temporary B7RLEs from Bristol. Since the Streetdecks keep failing as well, they've had to bring in cover, made up of 63078 and B7s (plus 32286 the other day).
66720, 66726, 66728, 66729, 66731, 66942 have all been spotted in Wells recently.
Two B9s were on 376 today - 37772 and 37610.
Also pvr of 172/3/4 has increased by 1, since they have decided to waste more money in using deckers on Bath's - bus and driver goes up to Bath as 173/4 with a B7 single. Then swaps over onto B9 at Bath for 172. Does 172 for 2 hours (whilst B7 is parked on back wall), then comes back and swaps onto a B7 single back to Wells on 173/4. That was supposed to be the theory behind it, but since B9s are more regularly on 376, they don't tend to be found on 172 at the moment. B9s can also be used on 174, so rather than swapping onto a single, they're sometimes just keeping the same B9. Its all rather confusing and complicated.
With 37608 and 37609 being painted into Unibus colours, it might be that something has changed and management have at last cottoned onto the idea that B9s don't work on the corridor* and its a waste of time and money. Although I'm relatively sure that they're determined to carry on with the plan regardless - I suspect 126 will end up with 69437/8, 66720 and 66726 and all other B7RLEs will go to Bristol (some for Yate).
*Before Wazoo gets there to argue my opinion - the only decent B9 down here is 37606 at the moment. 37771 was filmed doing 3mph up from Dunkerton to Peasedown and also doing 7mph another time. 37772 is better, but they just aren't meant for country work. These B9s were designed for town and just can't get up the hills, although they are very welcome on 376.
How very dare you? I've not been out on the B9s since they began appearing at Wells and so I've not had chance to ride on them and see what they are like, and so can't argue with what you say in terms of performance.
). I do still like the B9s - however, appreciate that these are now 9/10 years old and well worked!! If the 172-4 have grown to need greater capacity, then clearly it’s more cost effective to have deckers rather than Eclipses - just gotta have the right deckers!