You Wait Ages For A Bus

trophy · Post by **trophy** » Wed 14 Mar, 2012 12:58 pm

thanks for the info,the bus scene was interesting in those days .LCT leylands and aecs. farsley omnibus daimler .WY bristols .kitchins guy and atkinson.YORKSHIRE guy and of course LEDGARDS.did you drive any of the ex kitchin buses the half cab guy was my favorite. or the unusual foden and guy coaches.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Wed 14 Mar, 2012 10:47 pm

trophy wrote: thanks for the info,the bus scene was interesting in those days .LCT leylands and aecs. farsley omnibus daimler .WY bristols .kitchins guy and atkinson.YORKSHIRE guy and of course LEDGARDS.did you drive any of the ex kitchin buses the half cab guy was my favorite. or the unusual foden and guy coaches. Yes indeed trophy - I conducted three of the four ex Kitchins vehicles, these being the two Atkinsons NWW 805/6 and your favourite half cab Guy JJW 239 which, incidentally, had originally been registered GUY 3 when it was a sales demonstrator for Guy Motors. I have driven the other Kitchins motor, the second GUY 3, that being the preselector underfloor engined machine - and the gears were preselected with a full size "normal looking" gear lever - this fooled many an inquisitive passenger !! Yes I also drove the Foden/Plaxton coaches (we had six, MUA 863 - 86 and the Guy ex Northern General/Picktree super luxury coaches with offside folding stairs for use "ovver theeer" - (DCN 831 and 834 - 840) . These had rather tricky four speed plus overdrive manual gearboxes - they were the last word in luxury if a little "traditional" looking, but attractive nevertheless. By an incredible set of cirumstances I also once conducted Foden coach MUA 864 on some morning peak period jouneys from Horsforth to Otley and back on the Yeadon depot "Moorfield" routes.I felt really sorry for the Yeadon depot driver who turned white at the sight of such a mysterious vehicle, and despite some horrendous noisy attempts never managed a clean gearchange throughout the whole piece of work, bless him - a lovely chap who died on a West Yorkshire bus while travelling to Yeadon to start his late turn - if I remember rightly he was only forty two, rest his soul.There is a phantom in this message which I can't explain or get rid of - the numbers of the Foden coaches should read MUA 863 - 868 - I never pressed any keys to produce the "smiles" emoticon and it won't delete - weird !!

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Thu 15 Mar, 2012 2:25 am

Blakey - its a minor typo that produced your phantom smileyThe last number being an 8 followed by you closing the brackets is what caused it.An 8 followed by a close bracket produces the smiley in your post thus If you were to edit it and place a space between the digit and the bracket like this 8 ) it would clear the problem.Hope that helps

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Thu 15 Mar, 2012 8:35 am

BIG N wrote: Blakey - its a minor typo that produced your phantom smileyThe last number being an 8 followed by you closing the brackets is what caused it.An 8 followed by a close bracket produces the smiley in your post thus If you were to edit it and place a space between the digit and the bracket like this 8 ) it would clear the problem.Hope that helps I never knew that..........thought i was just goin round the bend,so to speak......summat else learned,cheers

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Thu 15 Mar, 2012 9:12 am

BIG N wrote: Blakey - its a minor typo that produced your phantom smileyIf you were to edit it and place a space between the digit and the bracket like this 8 ) it would clear the problem.Hope that helps It does indeed help BIG N for the future, and relieves one of those annoying "Why" situations that drive us all up the wall from time to time. Thanks very much for that.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Fri 13 Apr, 2012 5:15 pm

BIG N wrote: raveydavey wrote: I've heard a tale that a load got shipped to Malta where they are proving deeply unpopular with the locals and quite unsuited to the Maltese road network. I'll check on that for you Ravey, but I believe the new bendys working in Malta are built by King Long and were brand new last year, not totally sure but will be easy to find out because we ( Arriva ) are now the operators in Malta. Having just spent a week on these I can confirm they're king long and doing fine. The EU has dumped a load of money into road building and they run as express buses to the airport.

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Sat 14 Apr, 2012 3:01 am

Thanks Cardi - I'd completely forgot I was supposed to be checking that out lolAnd on the subject of forgetting to do things - Blakey, if your looking in then yes, I would like a copy of that photo you mentioned of a bus leaving Bradford interchange on the 268 - I just cant remember what the thread that you mentioned it in was - sorry

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Sat 14 Apr, 2012 8:51 am

To maintain the 'authentic' malta experience it feels like they've removed the shock absorbers.Locals aren't too fond of arriva as the recent investment in their bus service has increased fares. You used to be able to get a one way across the island for 47 cents. Now there are two tickets, a a two hour pass for €2.20 or a day rider for €2.60.

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Sun 15 Apr, 2012 2:49 am

Cardiarms wrote: Locals aren't too fond of arriva So I'm lead to believe Cardi - several drivers from each of our five depots were seconded out there for a month or so, along with drivers from other depots around the country, for the start of operations by Arriva. Many drivers reported that the locals were not too happy with the new service being provided, one of the biggest problems were with the existing drivers who were used to working a couple of hours in the morning then parking there buses up at home during the day, effectivley pleasing themselves if the worked or not. They were not too pleased when they realised they were expected to work a full shift for their money.

Caron · Post by **Caron** » Sun 15 Apr, 2012 3:56 am

Bring back conductors and clippies and let the drivers drive in peace.