Stagecoach North West Discussion

[mbonwick]

I don't know about 13296. All I know is that is was bought, along with 13297 and quite a few 132xxs from Manchester by Ensign bus.
I daresay 13297 will join it once the PB repaints slow down/ the timetbale revisions take effect.

 

[cainebj]

i was in a rush before, and meant 33168, not 33169 lol.
on the subject of those things, all i can say is BRING BACK 709D'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
was pretty rocky, it jerked on up-changes, braked quite badly, and back seat creaked really badly lol. interior condition was pretty poor TBH, paint flaking off seats, and generally scruffy basically!!!
i was on 47024 coming back home (on Moorclose 50) and it was much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much nicer than 33168!!!!!!!!!! but it was still not as good as the 08 reg ones lol. it made a farting sound quite a bit and didnt seem to like 2nd gear haha. interior condition was much better!!!

40033 was in bus station with "Cockermouth X5" on display when i got back, with one of the joncks behind it.

 

[mbonwick]

I'll be honest with you. That's Kendal maintainence for you. They just don't have the time or facilities to maintain the buses. Give Lillyhall a few weeks and they'll be much better.

 

[Dallamlad]

Yes Kendal are crap because as you say they don't have all they need and are sometimes just lazy. The Marshall's should be completely redone. Kendal used to be one of the most under privileged depots in the country. They need to get rid of their Leylands and take on some Volvo Olys from some ware. Something like that should happen soon. I would imagine the F reg will be gone in 12 months...hopefully lol.

16666 and 16667 on the 2a today

Had 14235 on D6. Still has Stagecoach in Lancaster on the side. I hate having both 14235 and 14199 as they don't have open grill heaters under the rear seat...so cold without them!!

Also 20547 has had its rear advertisement removed.

 

[mbonwick]

It's not just that at Kendal, although they have a higher % spares that Lancaster, many of their buses need to be out every day - there's no suitable replacements. Also, they don't really have any space or pits, or tools either. Anything more than basic tools (drill, etc) and it has to go to Morecambe or Lillyhall.

I image Barrow will get Olys before Kendal, as it has more of them. Kendal's only go on school work, so I don't think they'll be in a hurry to replace them.

 

[Dallamlad]

Yes I forgot that the Leylands are mainly for schools. However mostly they use 2 Tridents on Dallam School routes on a day to day basis. The interior of the F reg is awful really getting old. The others are OK though but of course they are getting slow generally. Usually takes a minute or 2 to get the doors open, just have to keep pressing the button lol. Kendal's B10's are OK. Would be good to give Kendal on of Lancaster Leylands to get rid of the F reg.

Yeah well Barrow are getting Preston s Volvo Olys, are Barrow getting rid of some stuff?

 

[K768 DAO]

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[cainebj]

God!! Some people are never happy!!! :roll:
According to every driver that has driven one so far that I have spoken to, they are actually better than the 51 plate solo's!!

they're probably better to drive (being dennis), but they're not good to be a passenger on. out of all mini's at lillyhall, i prefer 47616 and 47617! 709d's come 2nd, followed by varios, followed by 51 reg solo's, then the marshall darts lol.
i think its fair to say that yet again, cumbria been landed with the sh*te!

theres a lot of buses needing replaced lol. barrow has a few leyland oly's in service and a load of 709d's.
its becoming more common for Volvo oly's to appear on school work at St Benedicts in Whitehaven as i said in a previous post, 16652 and 16733 this evening, and this morning was 16651 and 20195 and another oly i didnt see lol.

 

[K768 DAO]

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[mbonwick]

Yeah well Barrow are getting Preston s Volvo Olys, are Barrow getting rid of some stuff?

Well technically, Barrow will end up with the ex-Lakes Link Olys that went down to Preston, as these have been displaced off the X2 by the new Scanias that are now arriving.
Incidentally, the first has arrived with reg VLT 255 so 16335 has reverted to N 335 NPN, and will have its LCF vynls removed once the Scania enters regular service.

Barrow will then use the Volvos to kick out their Leylands, they have the most old deckers in the NW, so need to get rig of em!

 

[K768 DAO]

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[Dallamlad]

Well I can see why the ex Lake Link Olys are going up there then will F and G reg deckers knocking about! Lancaster Leylands I have to say are in good condition so will last a few years yet. Would still be good to see them go as they don't half make a noise lol.

 

[K768 DAO]

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[mbonwick]

See, I think the noise that the Lancaster Leylands make is rather hellfire and a reason to keep them!


I daresay this year could be Barrow investment year, Preson is getting some, Lancaster, Kendal and Lillyhall have all had new(er) vehicles delivered...

Also, some (most? all?) of the olys at Preston have been given a refurb with BRAND NEW seats and LEDs.
pic

 

[Dallamlad]

How often are Kendal's Leylands used for public services? I think Lancaster's Leylands are mainly school runner ut sometimes turn up on the Preston/Blackpool routes.

On 14235 today we had D6 on the blinds as usual. Then when we got to Lancaster he reached up and changed it to "City Center 41" which was odd lol. Its the driver who at the beginning of a journey has, for example D1 and then changes it half way through his run to private charter lol. random haha.

The noise is fine but when your sitting at the back it can be blumin annoying lol and you can hear them from a mile away haha. The ones in the pic are the ones Barrow are getting aren't they?

 

[K768 DAO]

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[cainebj]

it would be nice if all Lillyhall's we refurbed like that! 16654 needs done to match the other R reg oly's, and 16358 desperate for some work!
was just thinking, that when 22609 crashed, H118SAO went into service to replace it, but there will have been a newer slightly faster volvo oly sitting in the depot! 7 volvo oly's, only 4 used in service, the rest end up on schools (most schools served were closed), BNG or other services (tesco free bus and some others lol)

 

[Dallamlad]

The refurbs look great! Got to say I like school Runner branding. I think Leylands now should only be used for school runners and maybe even get the same fittings as Kendal's B10 School Runners. Although this may be a waste of time lol would still look good. Hey I can dream lol.

Lancaster's Vol Olys could do with an interior refurb. New seats and CCTV would be good. the screens are OK so LED's not needed but would look good anyway lol.

http://www.paulsbuses.fpic.co.uk/p55072931.html

http://www.paulsbuses.fpic.co.uk/p50923367.html

http://www.paulsbuses.fpic.co.uk/p42188588.html

http://www.paulsbuses.fpic.co.uk/p50923330.html

 

[K768 DAO]

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[Dallamlad]

Where are the R regs Olys going?

 

[K768 DAO]

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[Dallamlad]

Fair does fair does. I don't think Lancaster will be getting much in the near future which is a shame. If we do get anything it will be something to replace our B6s and thats it

 

[K768 DAO]

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[cainebj]

wouldnt suprise me if the R reg oly's went to Preston to replace ex PB's. something is needed for 554 like, suppose we'll have to wait and see!

 

[Dallamlad]

You never know with SC. Lancaster don't need anything desperately to be honest so we are not a priority atm which is fair enough I guess.

 

[K768 DAO]

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[cainebj]

hopefully lillyhall gets sorted this year! and barrow! carlisle depot seems fine at minute, its just their allocations that annoy me lol, but so does lillyhall's lol, as i've probably mentioned somewhere on the forum. if not, i'll happily post the things that annoy me about allocations lol, even though there will be reasonable reasons for the "stupidness"

 

[driver9000]

Sorry its a long post!
Ticket machine in use was Wayfarer Mk3.
Lancaster operated routes in 2001 vehicle types in brackets:

2 Heyham Towers-University (Leyland/Volvo Olympian)
2A Overton/Combermere Rd-University (Leyland/Volvo Olympian)
X2 Lancaster Bus Station-University (Leyland Titan)
3/3A Morecambe Battery-University via perimeter roads (MAN 18.220)
*Sunday 3A from Combermere Rd.
Summer 3A additional Heysham Village-Happy Mount Park
4 Combermere Rd-University via perimeter roads (MAN 18.220)
5 Overton-Carnforth Windermere Rd (Optare Metrorider/Mercedes 709D)
*07:50 from Overton, 15:31 from Carnforth ran with duplicate buses
6 Morecambe-Westgate via Carleton Street (Mercedes 709D)
6A Morecambe-Lancaster Bus Stn via Westgate (Mercedes 709D)
6B Morecambe-Branksome-Westgate-Morecambe circle (Mercedes 709D)
6C Morecambe-Westgate (Mercedes 709D)
7 Vale-Lancaster-Marsh-Lancaster (Mercedes 709D)
8 St Chads-Lancaster-Moor Hospital-Lancaster-St Chads circle (Merc 709D)
10 Lancaster Bus Stn-Ridge (Mercedes 709D)
16 Lancaster Chapel St-Preston College
17 Lancaster Railway Stn-Heysham Harbour (Volvo B10M) ended 2002.
40/41 Morecambe Battery-Preston (Leyland/Volvo Olympian)
X41 Morecambe Battery-Preston via M6 'Stagecoach Express' (Volvo B10M/Leyland Tiger/Merc 709D)
42 Morecambe Battery-Blackpool Talbot Rd (Leyland/Volvo Olympian)
49 Lancaster Bus Station-Halton (Mercedes 709D)
55 Lancaster-Warton/Silverdale (Volvo B10M/Javelin)
55A Lancaster-Carnforth Windermere Rd (mix of saloon and decker)
*55A evening service was allocated Mercedes 709D and ran to Warton
55B Ripley school-Silverdale (Volvo B10M)
X71 Morecambe Battery-Trafford Centre Saturdays Excursion (No.2262)
80/80A Lancaster-Ingleton (Volvo B10M/Javelin)
81/81A/81B Lancaster-Kirkby Lonsdale (Volvo B10M/Javelin)
89A Lancaster-Knott End (Grammar schools service) (Volvo B10M
146/147 Lancaster-Abbeystead (Leyland Titan/Merc 709D saturday)
555 Lancaster-Milnthorpe (Volvo B10M/Javelin) 07:25 ex-LBS
*bus went dead back to Burton and worked a schools to Heversham
940 Preston-Lancaster Boys Grammar (Volvo Olympian)
941 Broughton-Lancaster...I think this was mixed Boys & Girls grammar (Volvo Olympian)
942 Preston-Lancaster Queens Square for Girls Grammar (Volvo Olympian)
40X Garstang High School-Cabus Hamilton Arms (Leyland Titan)
46X Overton-Granby Garments works contract (Leyland Titan off schools)
*usually the bus off the 500 from ripley school in the afternoon
48X Combermere Rd-Forton Motorway Services (Mercedes 709D)
*this bus then worked a duplicate 5 at 07:58 from Heysham
80X Combermere Rd-Bentham Grammar School (Volvo B10M)
*during school holidays this was an additional 80A leaving Lancaster at 07:55
S20 Our Ladies High-Combermere Rd via By-pass. (Leyland/Volvo Olympian)
S28 Overton-Morecambe high School (Leyland/Volvo Olympian)
*school services shown in public timetables

Incidentally the Bristol VRTs made occasional appearances on service buses standing in for failed buses, and were almost guaranteed on the University 'dupes' in the peak times. I know that 2024 spent a night on the 2A working right upto the last X2 off the University at 01:08 one Saturday night - with 2174 appearing several times on other Saturdays.

Various schools services were operated on behalf of LCC serving Ripley, Morecambe High, Carnforth, Heysham High, Our Ladies, QES Kirkby Lonsdale. Most of which are still operated today, exceptions are a couple of QES contracts that ran to Lancaster & Morecambe (514/515), 435 Pilling-Knott End, 567 Knott End-Lancaster Queens Sq LGGS. The 435 was normally a Volvo B10M coach and the 567 was normally a Leyland Tiger coach. in addition to the scheduled buses on routes 2/2A/3 after working schools services most buses then ran 'dead' to Common Garden St in the mornings to work unadvertised and advertised extras to the University on routes 2 & 3. in the evenings buses ran 'dead' to the University Underpass. Routes 3 & 4 were linked together buses swapping routes on arrival at the first stop on the southern perimeter road (SW campus wasnt built). The X2 ran at peak times and wasnt increased to all day until the beginning of the autumn term in 2002 when it was allocated 2 Leyland Titans (normally 10056/10684). At the beginning and end of the university terms unnumbered specials were operated between the railway station & the underpass. The Sainsburys contract operated Mondays only until its cancellation and subsequent reinstatement when it ran Wednesdays only. The 42 was in a dedicated roster because of its length it was operated under EC rules and generally worked by the senior drivers. The X71 was normally operated by Volvo 2262 because it was one of the few fitted with a Tachograph. 2174 stood in when 2262 was unavailable. Only 2 buses were in the then new livery MAN 818 and Titan 964 (which became 10684). Sample fares were Lancaster-University was 80p single £1.10 return. NW Explorers were £6, Long distance day returns were capped at £5. Stagecoach Express had period returns available valid for 1 calendar month and connection fares were available to all parts of the 'Express' network. Megarider 7 day passes were £10, Dayriders and Goldriders werent available. When the Dayrider was introduced in late 2002 it was £3. Over the period I worked at Lancaster other routes came and went mostly these were short lived LCC contracts namely the Sundays 490 (Railway station-Halton/Kellets/Carnforth) which was renumbered 85 when it was altered to miss Halton. After Blackpool Transport lost the contract for the 89 Fleetwood depot ran the weekdays service and Lancaster ran the Sunday service with a 709D. The Summer X55/555 started in 2003.

There is probably more but this is all from memory. If anyone wants to know something Ive not included just ask and I'll see if I have the answer

 

[Dallamlad]

Didn't Lancaster get its Trident 2's in 1999? If so how come their not on the list?

Great info really interesting!!! I guess the prices haven't gone up that much in terms of dayriders and stuff which is good

The Sainsbury's bus is still going. Spotted it today been run by 18364. One of the 2001 Optares was on the 3 today as well as 20540 on the 2 and a Volvo Oly on the 2/2a. Also on the 4 was a B10 but couldn't see the number. Whats with all the odd allocations?

 

[driver9000]

17012-17019 (TA12-TA19) arrived in 2003 from East Londons Leyton garage.
The only low floor buses before them were the MANs Numbered 815-827. The 51 reg Solos are very recent additions to the fleet coming from Preston, the 04 reg ones were first in 2005 coming from LCC after Kirkby Lonsdale coaches lost the contract for the 81 group. The Sainsburys contract was cancelled for a couple of years for some reason and the reinstated carrying the same number 42X although it was rarely displayed. the P reg B10Ms 20540 etc came from Glasgow along with a couple of H registered B10Ms for use when the 2/2A was converted to B10M operation when most of the G/H reg Leylands went off to Newcastle. They were originally numbered 440 onwards the H reg ones were numbered lower than the P regs. We soon lost 3 of them to Oxford, the H regs leaving for East Midlands after the Tridents entered service.

I have just remembered another service we operated, and have added it to the list, Im sure it was numbered 80X and was a schools contract service that ended when the school closed down.