Strangest bus destination screens?

[kez19]

There is a picture on Flickr of one of the Go North East fleet (presume it was a bus been transferred to Newcastle) but has "Up The Albion" (at a guess I am assuming it was in relation to where the bus had came from further down possibly Brighton?)

Go North East: 6163 / YN54AOM

Go North East's unallocated Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6163 (YN54 AOM), which carries Brighton & Hove's base livery, is pictured here in the yard at Hownsgill Depot, Consett, having been transferred to the Go North East fleet from Brighton & Hove. 06/10/19

www.flickr.com

 

[cnjb8]

There is a picture on Flickr of one of the Go North East fleet (presume it was a bus been transferred to Newcastle) but has "Up The Albion" (at a guess I am assuming it was in relation to where the bus had came from further down possibly Brighton?)

Go North East: 6163 / YN54AOM

Go North East's unallocated Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6163 (YN54 AOM), which carries Brighton & Hove's base livery, is pictured here in the yard at Hownsgill Depot, Consett, having been transferred to the Go North East fleet from Brighton & Hove. 06/10/19

www.flickr.com

Brighton's football team is Brighton & Hove Albion.

 

[kez19]

Brighton's football team is Brighton & Hove Albion.

I didn't know that (not a footy fan either)

 

[kez19]

Actually since we are speaking of roller blinds when Xplore was originally called Travel Dundee they had a display for "Tesco" it didn't specifically say which Tesco in Dundee other than when they ran it as part of the extension of the 17 Whitfield/Ninewells Hospital route...

Dundee has 3 Tesco's so if you weren't sure route wise I am pretty sure there would have been a bit of confusion if you seen the bus appear at Commercial St to think it took you to the one on Riverside...

I notice bus companies do display places like IKEA but would it not be a bit easier to say specifically where? Again for me I like how Go North East at times say where exactly things are ie Angel Of The North is highlighted and on the bus itself it says its there (announcement onboard)

 

[flymo]

Yonks ago when working for Tyne and Wear PTE (it was probably Busways by then) at Byker, we'd replaced one of those horrible Bright Tech destination displays and I was giving the bus a run down Shields Road in Byker to check for rattles etc. Anyway as it was not yet programmed with the local destinations I had something from Kendal on the screen just to make sure it worked but it wasn't a number you would normally find running up there (think it was a 599). Anyway you wouldn't believe the number of people putting their hand out for the bus, guess a lot of people from Byker wanted a trip to the Lakes that afternoon.. !!

 

[kez19]

Seems like today (noticed) that Xplore Dundee MAY have dropped the E from the 17 Whitfield-Ninewells route finally common sense!

I noticed that the bus (new one) 6689 the screen is flickering constantly does anyone check these displays before bus is deployed?, should the bus be off the road with this issue?

Question: How do bus companies fix the displays if they look scrambled? I have noticed this on the side and I remember on one of the Stagecoach Strathtay buses ages ago it wouldn't display properly (bus was a 73 but destination was unreadable!)

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Seems like today (noticed) that Xplore Dundee MAY have dropped the E from the 17 Whitfield-Ninewells route finally common sense!

That would be non-compliant as the destination display must show the correct route number of the service, and as it is currently registered as the 17E then it must show that.

Question: How do bus companies fix the displays if they look scrambled? I have noticed this on the side and I remember on one of the Stagecoach Strathtay buses ages ago it wouldn't display properly (bus was a 73 but destination was unreadable!)

Depends what the issue is. A reprogram may fix it, or the display unit itself may need replaced.

 

[kez19]

That would be non-compliant as the destination display must show the correct route number of the service, and as it is currently registered as the 17E then it must show that.

Depends what the issue is. A reprogram may fix it, or the display unit itself may need replaced.

It seems to me with the Whitfield route is do as they please - bring in (as mentioned the E) no clue what it means and possibly dropped it? (the route was changed during pandemic, but who knows...) - just to say the 17 was quicker to Asda Milton (5-10 mins) but it now goes long way round (about 15-20 mins) (the route change was due to happen in April but seems like this has been done by the backdoor in my book as the route is pretty much implemented) but running without the 15's

What does a "reprogram" do? Yet if it needs fixed then it should be off the road (theory)?

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

It seems to me with the Whitfield route is do as they please - bring in (as mentioned the E) no clue what it means and possibly dropped it? (the route was changed during pandemic, but who knows...) - just to say the 17 was quicker to Asda Milton (5-10 mins) but it now goes long way round (about 15-20 mins) (the route change was due to happen in April but seems like this has been done by the backdoor in my book as the route is pretty much implemented) but running without the 15's

What does a "reprogram" do? Yet if it needs fixed then it should be off the road (theory)?

No, they don't, the "e" means the "evening route". The changes due to happen in April were postponed due to the pandemic.

It just reloads the database (i.e. the full list of destinations) onto the displays themselves.

 

[kez19]

No, they don't, the "e" means the "evening route". The changes due to happen in April were postponed due to the pandemic.

It just reloads the database (i.e. the full list of destinations) onto the displays themselves.

Yes I understand that however the route was changed during the pandemic -- the 17 use to drive past The Crescent not go round it, it did in the evening however but thats not the point, the route was changed by the backdoor (nothing was stated on their website that this was happening), most people I spoke to in the area still thought at the time the bus was still going to be quick into town but seemed baffled by the route as it is now. You say the E stands for evening route other people have said otherwise so what is it then? So why not just have the 17 just be 17 than adding a random letter to it?

Why not just keep at as 15/17 or if its just terminating in city centre just have A?, mind you they did this with the 15s not long ago 15a (anticlockwise) 15c (clockwise) but yet St Marys is 1A via one route and 1B the other route...

So the "reprogram" just reboots (like a PC/phone)? I wouldn't be surprised then that the display needs replaced.

If you go back to Page 11 of this thread I have been told as an example with NXWM (company that owns Xplore), they use E for Exception and works as Part Route -- E for Evening up here has to be one of the stupidest things I have ever heard (nothing against you), as I thought that too but why have E on the 17 and not on the other services? (so if we went with that theory it was "part route" but it isn't it runs through mostly with no exceptions, I think someone at Xplore needs to look up a manual on when to use letters and what they are for than throwing them on buses, I maybe a bus spotter but far from an expert here either) 9/10s have A's in the evenings (so where is the E for those then?), why not apply it to all their services? As I say I just think my route I use is always used as an experiment as over the years they have altered the route that much its got a history of changes... a la 15A/C (again A isn't anticlockwise is it for St Marys and the B is for what?)

 

[MotCO]

I spotted a bus today with "We'll meet again" on the side. I think that's left over from VE Day but it could be the bus company anticipating the end of lockdown....

(I wasn't able to see what was on the front.)

Probably "Don't know where..."

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Yes I understand that however the route was changed during the pandemic -- the 17 use to drive past The Crescent not go round it, it did in the evening however but thats not the point, the route was changed by the backdoor (nothing was stated on their website that this was happening), most people I spoke to in the area still thought at the time the bus was still going to be quick into town but seemed baffled by the route as it is now. You say the E stands for evening route other people have said otherwise so what is it then? So why not just have the 17 just be 17 than adding a random letter to it?

Why not just keep at as 15/17 or if its just terminating in city centre just have A?, mind you they did this with the 15s not long ago 15a (anticlockwise) 15c (clockwise) but yet St Marys is 1A via one route and 1B the other route...

So the "reprogram" just reboots (like a PC/phone)? I wouldn't be surprised then that the display needs replaced.

If you go back to Page 11 of this thread I have been told as an example with NXWM (company that owns Xplore), they use E for Exception and works as Part Route -- E for Evening up here has to be one of the stupidest things I have ever heard (nothing against you), as I thought that too but why have E on the 17 and not on the other services? (so if we went with that theory it was "part route" but it isn't it runs through mostly with no exceptions, I think someone at Xplore needs to look up a manual on when to use letters and what they are for than throwing them on buses, I maybe a bus spotter but far from an expert here either) 9/10s have A's in the evenings (so where is the E for those then?), why not apply it to all their services? As I say I just think my route I use is always used as an experiment as over the years they have altered the route that much its got a history of changes... a la 15A/C (again A isn't anticlockwise is it for St Marys and the B is for what?)

I've replied to your post here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/xplore-dundee.169493/page-2#post-4609251 as it is more relevant to that thread

 

[upasalmon]

I've replied to your post here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/xplore-dundee.169493/page-2#post-4609251 as it is more relevant to that thread

Back to strange destinations, the recently demised Widnes/Halton undertaking had HORNS as a display( named after the Horns Hotel outside Widnes). St Helens/Merseyside PTE had CRANK , a village NE of the town.

 

[Aaron Ashton]

Usually in the Midlands, an 'E' route (ie. 50E) generally indicates 'Extra' and only does part route (generally where it needs more capacity), World's End is usually found on a bus in London...bonus points for finding out which route....

 

[WM Bus]

Usually in the Midlands, an 'E' route (ie. 50E) generally indicates 'Extra' and only does part route (generally where it needs more capacity), World's End is usually found on a bus in London...bonus points for finding out which route....

Its often used when not timetabled where the bus is running late, it will operate a Part Route and can then be adjusted.
Or where a part route is timetabled when terminating early - such as when the bus is coming off in the evening and only operating along part of the route before terminating, they display 11E.

The E means "Exception" I think.

 

[Statto]

Usually in the Midlands, an 'E' route (ie. 50E) generally indicates 'Extra' and only does part route (generally where it needs more capacity), World's End is usually found on a bus in London...bonus points for finding out which route....

In Greater Manchester it was X that indicated an extra, & here's a prime example

BS4129 VNB142L ARNDALE BUS STATION MANCHESTER TUE 30.03.1982

Explore davruss001's 22560 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[Aaron Ashton]

Its often used when not timetabled where the bus is running late, it will operate a Part Route and can then be adjusted.
Or where a part route is timetabled when terminating early - such as when the bus is coming off in the evening and only operating along part of the route before terminating, they display 11E.

The E means "Exception" I think.

I'm sure I was told by a WM driver it stands for extra but either way is perfectly reasonable.

 

[Aaron Ashton]

In Greater Manchester it was X that indicated an extra, & here's a prime example

BS4129 VNB142L ARNDALE BUS STATION MANCHESTER TUE 30.03.1982

Explore davruss001's 22560 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

It is also only a lower case 'X' too, obviously as an 'X' before a number would indicate Express version of that route

 

[M60lad]

Yes X in Manchester always meant Extra, I remember when I was at School in Chadderton near Oldham there was always an extra 181 in the morning and evening that ran to/from the School I went to that ran as a 181x and it was known as a Schoolbus so apart from us not many other people actually used it.

 

[Deerfold]

That would be non-compliant as the destination display must show the correct route number of the service, and as it is currently registered as the 17E then it must show that.

Someone needs to tell North Yorkshire County Council that. Since they took over the 78A, I've never seen it run as anything other than '78'.
I've no idea why they don't just register it as a 78 as there's no other similar numbers in the area

 

[skyhigh]

Since lockdown Flying Tiger buses have been going past here with just 'Harrogate No LBA 747' scrolling on one line on the front display. I'm assuming they're not going into the airport at the moment but it doesn't exactly look professional...

 

[Adam0984]

Since lockdown Flying Tiger buses have been going past here with just 'Harrogate No LBA 747' scrolling on one line on the front display. I'm assuming they're not going into the airport at the moment but it doesn't exactly look professional...

Theyve been missing out the airport as it's been closed as there hasnt been any flights

 

[skyhigh]

Theyve been missing out the airport as it's been closed as there hasnt been any flights

I understand, but it'd make more sense to have Harrogate as the destination with 'Not via Airport' or similar underneath in the via line, rather than having the whole thing in large font and scrolling across the display, including the route number.

 

[Adam0984]

Probably a rush job

 

[TheSel]

Meanwhile, back on topic ... (!) I knew I had this one somewhere. 30 July 1989, and the Merseyside Bus Club's trip to the Sandtoft Gathering.

 

[PeterC]

Yonks ago when working for Tyne and Wear PTE (it was probably Busways by then) at Byker, we'd replaced one of those horrible Bright Tech destination displays and I was giving the bus a run down Shields Road in Byker to check for rattles etc. Anyway as it was not yet programmed with the local destinations I had something from Kendal on the screen just to make sure it worked but it wasn't a number you would normally find running up there (think it was a 599). Anyway you wouldn't believe the number of people putting their hand out for the bus, guess a lot of people from Byker wanted a trip to the Lakes that afternoon.. !!

Common enough, I have posted two different anecdotes in the past:

1. passenger trying board the wrong bus because the driver "looked familiar" despite being not only different destination and route number but also different operator / livery

2. People at bus stop trying to hail a trolleybus being towed to a rally. (story from Buses Illustrated back in the 60s)

Plenty of cases in London of people expecting rail replacement buses to call at all stops.

EDIT: correcting typo

 

[Statto]

Common enough, I have posted two different anecdotes in the past:

1. passenger trying board the wrong bus because the driver "looked familiar" despite being not only different destination and route number but also different operator / livery

2. People at bus stop trying to hail a trolleybus being towed to a ralley. (story from Buses Illustrated back in the 60s)

Plenty of cases in London of people expecting rail replacement buses to call at all stops.

I think the last one could include anywhere not just London.

 

[Statto]

How about this one on a PMT RedRider Bristol RE which showed both destinations.

Red Rider - 227 PVT227L

Red Rider (PMT) Bristol RE 227 seen turning from Lime Street to head down towards the Gyratory on a damp day in the late eighties.

www.flickr.com

& this one which was just for fun, as it just been delivered to Gillmoss & not entered revenue service yet

Merseybus 0802 (F802YLV)

Seen in Gillmoss when new, in fact I don't think there's a ticket machine fitted yet. Note the saucy blind...how original.

www.flickr.com

 

[Dave The Bus]

That Merseybus reminds me of when I used to work at Timeline in the late 90's, they had destination boxes that allowed you to independently set 'route' and 'destination' ... the route option had every number AND letter available along with a digital version of a roller blind (all types of towns and destinations around Lancashire and Greater Manchester, presumably done so any routes that changed or got won on tender could easily be set without the constant need to reset the destination boxes) .. a couple of the regular tame ones I can post were usually someone putting 'S' as a route number and 'HAG FOLD' (Nr. Atherton) ... Route BEN going to DOVER LOCK in Abram... or the always witty 1ST (or 2ND) MANCHESTER.... which ended up owning them anyway

 

[M60lad]

Another one I remember from Timeline Travel was the numbers/letters set to NOT and the destination set to TIMELINE TRAVEL