Leeds - Wakefield Buses

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Sat 23 Jun, 2012 9:12 pm

I guess most of you lads 'n lasses out there know that the flagship Arriva 110 service is the best,direct route between the 2 cities.There are though,1 or 2 alternative services depending on where you want to be.One such is the Arriva 481 service which I have been known to use occasionally.Tonight was one such example.I think I may have witnessed the death in service of an old workhorse.Namely R457 KWT....This unfortunate bus was selected to attempt this quite unyielding journey.Alas.......It became a victim of overheating mid journey registering 120deg C on the thermometer.It was struggling all the way.Not very good,despite a few "rests" for the old lady.Why do they run these aged buses on trying routes ? Why do they have such old buses anyway ? Is this particular specimen the oldest in current use by Arriva Yorks ? It would appear to be on that list ! ........I really felt sorry for the old girl.

Loiner1960 · Post by **Loiner1960** » Sun 24 Jun, 2012 11:02 am

Did it die on the hill out of Thorpe? Non-Arrival have legacy buses from Yorkshire Traction, Yorkshire Woollen and West Riding...

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Sun 24 Jun, 2012 11:49 am

Loiner1960 wrote: Did it die on the hill out of Thorpe? Non-Arrival have legacy buses from Yorkshire Traction, Yorkshire Woollen and West Riding... It "packed in" along Middleton Lane towards Leeds......rather undignified exit for the old dear.There were a few unfortunates on the bus who were going all the way into Leeds.Rather foretellingly,the driver had suggested in Wakefield Bus Station that an easier and quicker route might be afforded on the 110 service,however they declined to accept his useful information as valueable advice.Such is the mis-fortune of those who seek not to better their position.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Sun 24 Jun, 2012 12:56 pm

[quotenick="somme1916"Is this particular specimen the oldest in current use by Arriva Yorks ? It would appear to be on that list ! ........I really felt sorry for the old girl. Oh dear, what a very sad tale, but I have "bad" news for you Sir. The delightful old girl you mention is one of a large batch - 440 to 491 - from 1998 and most, if not all, are still in service. She is a DAF SB220 with Alexander bodywork and I have driven many of them after SYRT were bought out by Caldaire. In their heyday I found them very pleasant indeed to drive and ride in but I daresay, as you mention, that at 14 years old they are past their best.My only bad experience of one was when Caldaire took over K Line and that Firm's north Leeds routes. While well stuck in a traffic jam in Domestic Street one busy teatime, en route for Moortown, I accidentally pressed a button somewhere - a button which I couldn't find again - and set off the assault alarm - a row which must have alerted every police station from here to New Scotland Yard. After the worst few minutes of my life a Belle Isle driver going the other way crossed the road ans showed me how to silence it

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Sun 24 Jun, 2012 1:00 pm

Loiner1960 wrote: Did it die on the hill out of Thorpe? Non-Arrival have legacy buses from Yorkshire Traction, Yorkshire Woollen and West Riding... I'm always willingly open to correction Loiner, but I don't know of any from Barnsley based "Tracky" in the Arriva fleet ??

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Sun 24 Jun, 2012 2:28 pm

BLAKEY wrote: [quotenick="somme1916"Is this particular specimen the oldest in current use by Arriva Yorks ? It would appear to be on that list ! ........I really felt sorry for the old girl. Oh dear, what a very sad tale, but I have "bad" news for you Sir. The delightful old girl you mention is one of a large batch - 440 to 491 - from 1998 and most, if not all, are still in service. She is a DAF SB220 with Alexander bodywork and I have driven many of them after SYRT were bought out by Caldaire. In their heyday I found them very pleasant indeed to drive and ride in but I daresay, as you mention, that at 14 years old they are past their best.My only bad experience of one was when Caldaire took over K Line and that Firm's north Leeds routes. While well stuck in a traffic jam in Domestic Street one busy teatime, en route for Moortown, I accidentally pressed a button somewhere - a button which I couldn't find again - and set off the assault alarm - a row which must have alerted every police station from here to New Scotland Yard. After the worst few minutes of my life a Belle Isle driver going the other way crossed the road ans showed me how to silence it Oh dear ! looks like trip to menders then before resurfacing as a "born again" clapped out old banger.Rather unpleasant news for those unfortunate to board it(driver included).One of these could incorporate an on-board aquarium as one of the larger nearside passenger windows is 90% full of water between the double glass panes.These particular buses invariably "do the business" of getting from A to B,at the great personal expense of passenger comfort,hearing deficiencies and the overall customer travel experience.That these models may appear on the flagship 110 flight route,seems extremely hard to envisage.Will keep you all posted on their fortunes traversing our difficult highways and bye ways.

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Sun 24 Jun, 2012 2:30 pm

somme1916 wrote: BLAKEY wrote: [quotenick="somme1916"Is this particular specimen the oldest in current use by Arriva Yorks ? It would appear to be on that list ! ........I really felt sorry for the old girl. Oh dear ! looks like trip to menders then before resurfacing as a "born again" clapped out old banger.Rather unpleasant news for those unfortunate to board it(driver included).One of these could incorporate an on-board aquarium as one of the larger nearside passenger windows is 90% full of water between the double glass panes.These particular buses invariably "do the business" of getting from A to B,at the great personal expense of passenger comfort,hearing deficiencies and the overall customer travel experience.That these models may appear on the flagship 110 flight route,seems extremely hard to envisage.Will keep you all posted on their fortunes traversing our difficult highways and bye ways.

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Mon 25 Jun, 2012 3:02 am

The 400's are, to be honest, past their best but I would still prefer one to some of the newer stuff we have replaced them with at our depot. we had 460 to 472 at Hecky for a little over three years, they came to us in turn from Dewsbury and replaced our Dennis lances ( 801 to 830 ).Yes they are slow on hills, dont like going backwards and are prone to overheat if they pass as much as a fire place shop but they were comfortable to drive ( once our fitters sorted out the ill fitting, rattling cab windows ), had great visability and a cab you could swing a cat in.Given a choice between a 400 or an Enviro 400 ( 1900 series or one of those abismal 1600's ( East lancs / VDL's )) I would take a 400 any time.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Mon 25 Jun, 2012 10:01 am

BIG N wrote: they came to us in turn from Dewsbury and replaced our Dennis lances ( 801 to 830 ). Big N, My own lasting impression of the Dennis Lances - I drove a few of the Castleford Depot ones - is of an excellent vehicle except for one very annoying and uncomfortable feature - the very heavy hard brakes, and it was advisable to apply the handbrake or engage neutral at all but the very briefest of stops, or they were likely to sneakily "ease off" and allow the bus to move. Your right knee certainly knew about it after a few hours in one of the Lances !!

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Mon 25 Jun, 2012 10:41 am

BLAKEY wrote: BIG N wrote: they came to us in turn from Dewsbury and replaced our Dennis lances ( 801 to 830 ). Big N, My own lasting impression of the Dennis Lances - I drove a few of the Castleford Depot ones - is of an excellent vehicle except for one very annoying and uncomfortable feature - the very heavy hard brakes, and it was advisable to apply the handbrake or engage neutral at all but the very briefest of stops, or they were likely to sneakily "ease off" and allow the bus to move. Your right knee certainly knew about it after a few hours in one of the Lances !! Both interesting views from the driver's(Blakey/Big N) perspective.....hopefully,there is a bit of room also for the....err,passenger ? Don't worry lads,not having a dig.....you both give extremely useful comment with your knowledge and I know Blakey sees the flip side of the coin these days.I'm sure this,and similar threads,will rumble on.....so to speak !