Lothian Group discussion (Lothian City, Lothian Country Bus and East Coast Buses)

[Lothian Buses]

I saw a Green and White Lothian Style livery near Glasgow in a place with lots of Buses called "Ferrymill Motors." It didnt have gold on it or logos though.

 

[Bus9120UK]

I saw a Green and White Lothian Style livery near Glasgow in a place with lots of Buses called "Ferrymill Motors." It didnt have gold on it or logos though.

That'll have been bus 582, I'd think. According to tracking maps it was finished yesterday and parked outside.

 

[DunsBus]

Those 51 plate tridents (606-630) were all new in the original harlequin design and were all dual doored. I believe 617 was the only one to have been repainted into the later harlequin livery that had been converted to single door. The others I’m sure all went into madder and white following conversion to single door.

629 and 630 later became 599 and 600. I believe 599 would’ve been the only one to have been in the later harlequin livery whilst retaining its dual doors. Both were later converted to single door and were repainted into madder and white.

I don’t think any were single door and in the original version of Harlequin.

The original 619 never made it to madder and white, being scrapped in 2008 after ending up as the filling in the Guideway Sandwich. Initially, it was planned to be repaired and had been converted to single door, but that was as far as things got.

 

[Graeme Duncan]

949 was out looking yesterday and in excellent condition.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The original 619 never made it to madder and white, being scrapped in 2008 after ending up as the filling in the Guideway Sandwich. Initially, it was planned to be repaired and had been converted to single door, but that was as far as things got.

Yes. 666 became 628 and then 628 became 619.

I never quite understood how that happened, was it a fault with the guide wheels?

 

[ScotlandBuses]

Those 51 plate tridents (606-630) were all new in the original harlequin design and were all dual doored. I believe 617 was the only one to have been repainted into the later harlequin livery that had been converted to single door. The others I’m sure all went into madder and white following conversion to single door.

629 and 630 later became 599 and 600. I believe 599 would’ve been the only one to have been in the later harlequin livery whilst retaining its dual doors. Both were later converted to single door and were repainted into madder and white.

I don’t think any were single door and in the original version of Harlequin.

ah alright thank you.

 

[DunsBus]

Yes. 666 became 628 and then 628 became 619.

I never quite understood how that happened, was it a fault with the guide wheels?

My understanding is that 125 had stopped, 619 ran into the back of 125, and 104 ran into the back of 619. It was a low-impact collision, but was bad enough to write 619 off.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

My understanding is that 125 had stopped, 619 ran into the back of 125, and 104 ran into the back of 619. It was a low-impact collision, but was bad enough to write 619 off.

That’s what I had considered. I know 104 was rebuilt and gained the later style LED lights at the front, which made it look somewhat unique.

I wonder what ultimately caused them to run into each other though? Because I thought 125 was stationary at a bus stop, with 619 waiting to get in after it, and that it was 104 that didn’t stop in time and ran into 619 which ran into 125. If that was true I wonder what went wrong with 104?

 

[Darklord8899]

That’s what I had considered. I know 104 was rebuilt and gained the later style LED lights at the front, which made it look somewhat unique.

I wonder what ultimately caused them to run into each other though? Because I thought 125 was stationary at a bus stop, with 619 waiting to get in after it, and that it was 104 that didn’t stop in time and ran into 619 which ran into 125. If that was true I wonder what went wrong with 104?

I might be wrong here, but was it not put down to driver error (104)

 

[DunsBus]

I might be wrong here, but was it not put down to driver error (104)

Yes. 125 had stopped and 619 was slowing down when 104 ran into the back of 619, which then ran into the back of 125.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Does anyone know if this year will see a "Doors Open Day" or "Vintage Running Day?"

 

[Graham Alexand]

Does anyone know if this year will see a "Doors Open Day" or "Vintage Running Day?"

I believe it was postponed to 2023.

 

[route101]

Does anyone know if this year will see a "Doors Open Day" or "Vintage Running Day?"

It's usually in September if there is one.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

It's usually in September if there is one [Vintage Running Day and Depot Open Day.]

Yes, that's why I'm wondering if there won't be one.

 

[route101]

Yes, that's why I'm wondering if there won't be one.

There is the GVVT one in Glasgow this weekend.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Does anyone know if this year will see a "Doors Open Day" or "Vintage Running Day?"

They’ve always happened in September and considering there’s not been one since Hall left i dont think there’ll be another anytime soon. IIRC a lot of the post 1980 vehicles are broken/in bad condition so that would rule them out for a vintage running day

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Considering Richard Hall left, I would've thought the new ownership would've remembered the Vintage buses, it's a shame! Are these stored at Newbridge?

 

[ScotRail158725]

Considering Richard Hall left, I would've thought the new ownership would've remembered the Vintage buses, it's a shame! Are these stored at Newbridge?

The thing is though is that they’re an unnecessary expense when trying to run a business. I personally see why these days they’re laid to rest in the back of depots gathering dust. Its a shame having them and doing nothing with them but i suppose its better than scrap

 

[Lothianbus703]

The tridents fleet numbers were so confusing with what ones got renumbered/moved etc

 

[Lothian Buses]

I thought these couldnt turn at terminus someone said.

 

[Avenger20]

View attachment 121671
I thought these couldnt turn at terminus someone said.

It's been said many times now that XLBs can operate on all Lothian City routes except for the 8.

 

[eh1]

It's been said many times now that XLBs can operate on all Lothian City routes except for the 8.

One even made it onto the 24 last night I believe. That's brave, imagine meeting the bus coming back the way (which is actually timetabled to happen at night) down West Saville Terr...

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

For those wanting to find the first of these repainted B5LH‘s, it should be returning early this afternoon. It will most likely be 582.

The most common route from Ferrymill to Seafield is typically via Kirkintilloch, joining the M80 at J3, then it’s M80, M876, M9, M8, A720, A1, A199. It should arrive back at Seafield sometime between 12:30 and 13:30.

 

[DunsBus]

The tridents fleet numbers were so confusing with what ones got renumbered/moved etc

As I recall, the main aim was to free up 701-706 for the first batch of B7/Geminis and keep the Tridents grouped together. Tridents 701-706 became 656-661, the old 656-661 then became 629-634, and what was 629 and 630 became 599 and 600 - the first time that these two fleetnumbers had been used in 50 years. (They had been allocated to two Leyland Titans which were due in 1979 alongside the T and V registered batches of Atlanteans, but the order was cancelled and changed to what became Olympians 666 and 667, with 599 and 600 left unused.)

The four open-top Tridents 631-634 reverted to their original fleetnumbers of 31-34.

Later on, Trident 628 was renumbered to 619 following the original 619's untimely demise on the guided busway, with Trident 666 then becoming the new 628.

 

[VioletEclipse]

One even made it onto the 24 last night I believe. That's brave, imagine meeting the bus coming back the way (which is actually timetabled to happen at night) down West Saville Terr...

even the Streetairs used to have difficulty passing on that street. Although with less traffic at night it might be slightly easier.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

581 has left Ferrymill on its way back to Edinburgh.

 

[Lothian Buses]

584 is at Ferrymill now. (Image shows 584 tracking on a map)

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Myself and @Bus9120UK were having a look on the Traffic Scotland CCTV cameras and we managed to find one snap of 581 in it. Any guesses as to the colours? We think it’s dark green, but in any case it’s definitely not blue.

I’ve attached two photos of 581. Both are of it joining the M80 slip earlier on this morning. The left is unedited, the right edited to make it feel wintery. They are rather small images due to the fact it’s taken from a screenshot, so you will need to zoom in.

 

[Lothian Buses]

Myself and @Bus9120UK were having a look on the Traffic Scotland CCTV cameras and we managed to find one snap of 581 in it. Any guesses as to the colours? We think it’s dark green, but in any case it’s definitely not blue.

I’ve attached two photos of 581. Both are of it joining the M80 slip earlier on this morning. The left is unedited, the right edited to make it feel wintery. They are rather small images due to the fact it’s taken from a screenshot, so you will need to zoom in.

I think its madder.

 

[Bus9120UK]

I think its madder.

581 painted from Madder into Madder? It's previous paint job was only 3 years of age. You also said you saw a bus in green and white at Ferrymill (presumed to be 582) so why would 581 be Maroon?