"Non-Olympian" step entrance operators 2016

[ChrisPJ]

Inspired by the Olympian operators thread, are there any other models of step entry double decker still in normal service this year? Eg Scania, Dennis Dominator or Arrow, Volvo Citybus (forget open toppers and half cabs for simplicity)

 

[SpacePhoenix]

There might be some old Optare Spectres around the country, though I would have thought that most of the Spectres with entry steps would have been retired by now

 

[455driver]

There might be some old Optare Spectres around the country, though I would have thought that most of the Spectres with entry steps would have been retired by now

Thanks for making me feel old, I can remember going to the dealer and picking a brand new one of those up and taking it back to the depot.

 

[90sWereBetter]

In East Anglia, Dews still run a couple of Citybuses, as do the Norwich School for their closed contracts, although the latter have just bought some Tridents to replace them.

Other than that, I think pretty much everything left is Olympians. I'd be especially surprised if there were any Metrobuses and Dominators still in service anywhere, given production of both more or less stopped 25+ years ago (I think barely 10 Dominators were built after 1990). Most of the Dennis Arrows ended up with First, so they've probably all been scrapped.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

In East Anglia, Dews still run a couple of Citybuses, as do the Norwich School for their closed contracts, although the latter have just bought some Tridents to replace them.

Other than that, I think pretty much everything left is Olympians. I'd be especially surprised if there were any Metrobuses and Dominators still in service anywhere, given production of both more or less stopped 25+ years ago (I think barely 10 Dominators were built after 1990). Most of the Dennis Arrows ended up with First, so they've probably all been scrapped.

Johnsons of Hodthorpe have still got 4 VRs going? So many good condition ex Lothian and Dublin Olympians came onto the market (and latterly, low floor ex London stuff) that it has skewed things quite a bit!

 

[fgwrich]

There might be some old Optare Spectres around the country, though I would have thought that most of the Spectres with entry steps would have been retired by now

Some of the earliest models owned by Wilts and Dorset / Go South Coast were retired back in 2009/2010 due to underfloor corrosion. A sizeable batch ended up being stored at the back of Eastleigh Works, with their replacement at the time coming in the form of displaced Leyland Olympians from the Vectis operation on the IOW.

I'm not sure if Go South Coast's Damory operation is still operating anything non step enterance - They did have a good few ex IOW Leyland & NC Olympians, as well as ex W&D Spectras as well. Although they may have been replaced now with cascades from B&H, Vectis, Bluestar or W&D.

 

[Zamracene749]

There is at least one known regular metrobus working, but you'll need to be pretty dedicated to catch it- Saturdays only 292 Belton to Doncaster, Selwyns coaches.

 

[Strathclyder]

NcNairn Travel of Coatbridge have at least one Northern Counties Palatine I-bodied Volvo Citybus. Recently acquired from JMB Travel, G647 SGT is it's identity.

 

[Aaron Ashton]

pilkingtonbus regularly use some nice old motors, they use in daily service:-

DXZ5956/7 previously E328/9MSG

F638YRP

G301/6UYK

they are moving to newer models with N721LTN/R109XNO in the fleet I think the days are numbered...

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

pilkingtonbus regularly use some nice old motors, they use in daily service:-

DXZ5956/7 previously E328/9MSG

F638YRP

G301/6UYK

they are moving to newer models with N721LTN/R109XNO in the fleet I think the days are numbered...

Aren't they Olympians though?

Hylton and Dawson were running a Metrobus 2 on what looked to be a schools run registered for public use this morning near Leicester

 

[carlberry]

pilkingtonbus regularly use some nice old motors, they use in daily service:-

DXZ5956/7 previously E328/9MSG

F638YRP

G301/6UYK

they are moving to newer models with N721LTN/R109XNO in the fleet I think the days are numbered...

If they're not for closed schools contracts the 'newer' ones days are numbered as well!
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There might be some old Optare Spectres around the country, though I would have thought that most of the Spectres with entry steps would have been retired by now

A few still survive with Abus in Bristol, I've seen at least one in the last couple of weeks on one of their public services. This was the operator who ran the very first low floor vehicle as well (by a couple of hours!).

 

[Robertj21a]

Aren't they Olympians though?

Hylton and Dawson were running a Metrobus 2 on what looked to be a schools run registered for public use this morning near Leicester

That's only in Hylton & Dawson livery, it's owned by Andrews. There's a number of Metrobuses still with Roberts, some of which may well be used on registered school runs.

 

[embers25]

Buses of Somerset seemed to have a few in Bridgwater and Taunton yesterday and none looked in that good shape...but then most of their buses aren't exactly in great shape...compare and contrast with Webberbus or Crossville and they show First at their worst.

 

[6Gman]

I know they had a mixed reputation but may I point out that they were Spectras not Spectres!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

That's only in Hylton & Dawson livery, it's owned by Andrews. There's a number of Metrobuses still with Roberts, some of which may well be used on registered school runs.

I thought it was a resurrection of an old name (a la Crosville) - Leicester ain't one of those places I know really

 

[stuart81]

There might be some old Optare Spectres around the country, though I would have thought that most of the Spectres with entry steps would have been retired by now

Is Ipswich Buses step Spectra P442 SWX still around on school routes?