Leeds - Wakefield Buses

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Fri 31 Aug, 2012 10:14 pm

raveydavey wrote: somme1916 wrote: One for BigN,Blakey and other bus techies I suspect.Yesterday I had the pleasure of being a passenger on an Arriva single deck bus on the Morley - Castleford route(No 153 service).I asked the driver for details but he just shrugged his shoulders and said "I only drive 'em mate !".The reg no was W109EWU.....not a modern bus I would imagine but a really comfortable ride with it's coach like suspension and coach type seating(albeit a bit threadbare).It glided over potholes,bumps with ease without the usual judder and was a really quiet motor.The acceleration was impressive too as was it's all round handling.I just wished all modern buses could be built in this fashion.It would make passenger's journeys much more comfortable and enjoyable. This one...?http://flic.kr/p/8qrYbp"Arriva Yorkshire 109. This Wright Renown bodied Volvo B10BLE is in interurban livery and was previously at Selby with Arriva Yorkshire North until late last year." Yup,spot on ravey....thanks very much for that.A pleasure to be on.....just why,oh why,can't they make 'em all thus ?In my experience(riding with the now defunct Black Prince of Morley),the Volvo's they had were far superior to anything other competitor bus manufacturers provided.

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Mon 03 Sep, 2012 3:19 am

Also known as Commanders somme, not had the chance to drive one but have heard plenty of good reports about them.To be fair Wrights do build a pretty good bus, by modern standards anyway, and as for you noticing how superior the Volvo's were, well I think Blakey would agree when I say - Volvo chassis are just about the best bar non when it comes to your modern, mass produced bus.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Mon 03 Sep, 2012 8:54 am

BIG N wrote: I think Blakey would agree when I say - Volvo chassis are just about the best bar non when it comes to your modern, mass produced bus. I agree wholeheartedly BIG N - the Volvo B10B series have been superb right from their introduction. Also, although I won't have a word said against any Leyland Olympian, when Volvo took over Leyland their fine tuned version of the Olympian was the best of the lot and many are still around. Seriously speaking, I came very near to reluctantly retiring early during one period when, at Pontefract depot, we were suddenly saddled with an allocation of near derelict Mark 1 Leyland Lynxes. When you take a pride in your driving you soon get sick of passenger sneers and complaints about "heavy on his brakes" and "its time this fella learnt to drive" and "by, this is a right old crate isn't it." More seriously though, we were all suffering from spinal trouble as the "air suspension" on the dreadful heaps was almost totally ineffective - sometimes to the extent that you would think the axles were simply bolted to the underframe. They also had a dreadful habit (nearly every one had this) where they would fail to change up or down correctly, between second and third gears particularly, resulting in a screaming Cummins engine followed by a violent thud when the gear did engage - and more perhaps understandable "Ooooh what an awful driver" comments.Anyhow, in the nick of time, the decision was made to let us have a full allocation of nearly new Volvo B10Bs with Alexander bodies - most from the 110 Leeds - Kettlethorpe route and a couple from Selby. This was such a relief, both to the staff and to the passengers, and so I happily stayed on until my sixty fifth birthday which is what I always wanted to do - gliding along in powerful comfort in 415 - 433, and not a poor one among them !!Just a good natured but true dig too BIG N - sorry to say that the very worst examples of the Lynx were still in red and were from your Kingdom "In the West." Incidentally, very soon after the takeover of Leyland by Volvo the Lynx quickly disappeared from the catalogue having made barely 1,000 produced. The usual commiseration might be amended to read "Rest in pieces."

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Mon 03 Sep, 2012 9:17 am

BLAKEY wrote: BIG N wrote: I think Blakey would agree when I say - Volvo chassis are just about the best bar non when it comes to your modern, mass produced bus. I agree wholeheartedly BIG N - the Volvo B10B series have been superb right from their introduction. Also, although I won't have a word said against any Leyland Olympian, when Volvo took over Leyland their fine tuned version of the Olympian was the best of the lot and many are still around.Alexander bodies - most from the 110 Leeds - Kettlethorpe route and a couple from Selby. This was such a relief, both to the staff and to the passengers, and so I happily stayed on until my sixty fifth birthday which is what I always wanted to do - gliding along in powerful comfort in 415 - 433, and not a poor one among them !!Just a good natured but true dig too BIG N - sorry to say that the very worst examples of the Lynx were still in red and were from your Kingdom "In the West." Incidentally, very soon after the takeover of Leyland by Volvo the Lynx quickly disappeared from the catalogue having made barely 1,000 produced. The usual commiseration might be amended to read "Rest in pieces." Thanks Blakey.....always good to get your input and knowledge....Oh how I wish I could catch that type of bus (volvoB10B) more regularly,despite it's age !

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Mon 03 Sep, 2012 9:21 am

BIG N wrote: Also known as Commanders somme, not had the chance to drive one but have heard plenty of good reports about them.To be fair Wrights do build a pretty good bus, by modern standards anyway, and as for you noticing how superior the Volvo's were, well I think Blakey would agree when I say - Volvo chassis are just about the best bar non when it comes to your modern, mass produced bus. Thanks Big N......true words.Also interesting when I boarded same bus because the driver was telling an elderly lady how to present her pass to the machine(she was used to the face on job by First,not the "on top" Arriva version.He made a comment that she wouldn't be needing the pass in the near future and that there were a few major changes in the offing,but did not elaborate further.Wonder what he meant ????

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Mon 03 Sep, 2012 12:16 pm

somme1916 wrote: Thanks Big N......true words.Also interesting when I boarded same bus because the driver was telling an elderly lady how to present her pass to the machine(she was used to the face on job by First,not the "on top" Arriva version.He made a comment that she wouldn't be needing the pass in the near future and that there were a few major changes in the offing,but did not elaborate further.Wonder what he meant ???? Well dont take this as gospel Somme because nothing has been said officially yet but its widely believed in the industry that from next April pensioners and the disabled will be paying to travel again in West Yorkshire, much the same as they were until April 2008.Nothing to do with the operators by the way, its Metro's decision if they choose to opt out of the NCTS scheme and as they are now over five million in debt and losing more every day its looking more and more likely.In short, if the rumor is true, passes will still be needed but in West Yorkshire they will just need to be shown and money handed over just like the old days, they will of course still entitle the holder to free travel ( I hate that expression because, of course, its not free ) elsewhere in the U.K.Well its either that or the driver was referring, tongue in cheek, to the fact that after the forthcoming service cuts in January there wont be any buses for her to catch so her pass will be defunct lol

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Mon 03 Sep, 2012 1:39 pm

BIG N wrote: somme1916 wrote: Thanks Big N......true words.Also interesting when I boarded same bus because the driver was telling an elderly lady how to present her pass to the machine(she was used to the face on job by First,not the "on top" Arriva version.He made a comment that she wouldn't be needing the pass in the near future and that there were a few major changes in the offing,but did not elaborate further.Wonder what he meant ???? Well dont take this as gospel Somme because nothing has been said officially yet but its widely believed in the industry that from next April pensioners and the disabled will be paying to travel again in West Yorkshire, much the same as they were until April 2008.Nothing to do with the operators by the way, its Metro's decision if they choose to opt out of the NCTS scheme and as they are now over five million in debt and losing more every day its looking more and more likely.In short, if the rumor is true, passes will still be needed but in West Yorkshire they will just need to be shown and money handed over just like the old days, they will of course still entitle the holder to free travel ( I hate that expression because, of course, its not free ) elsewhere in the U.K.Well its either that or the driver was referring, tongue in cheek, to the fact that after the forthcoming service cuts in January there wont be any buses for her to catch so her pass will be defunct lol Oh Dear !Thanks Big N......very informative as usual.Guess we'll just have to wait and see what the "experts" come out with next !

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Mon 03 Sep, 2012 9:26 pm

What an inaugarating day ! Today was the first day in ops of YJ62JJO....a single decker chariot,whose manufacture I know not,but with the Arriva livery,on the Leeds-Wakefield 481 route.The only ID on the rear bonnet was that it's a VDL bus ???In any event,it broke down roundabouts Thorpe.The driver(who I furnished with a very cold non-alcoholic can of pop),said simply that it ran dry(overheated-no water in system).....How unfortunate.Apparently,this is the only 1 of this type of bus currently in the Belle Isle fleet.It remains to be seen how it's new relatives of the same manufacture perform.

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Wed 05 Sep, 2012 3:20 am

YJ62 JJO ( fleet No1457 ) is a Wrights bodied Pulsar 2 on a VDL chassis, we have 2 of the earlier Pulsars on "61" plates at Hecky i n the form of 1454 and 1455 and have just recieved a Pulsar 2 ( 1456 ) but it hasn't gone in to service yet because - your going to love this - we haven't got the correct hardware to programme the new, upgraded destination blind system at our depot yet - dohhh !!I find it hard to believe that 1457 was sidelined due to low water, after all its just come all the way from Ireland under its own steam ( apart from the ferry bit of course ), more likely that the gear box has got a little on the warm side after being thrashed by a un-sympathetic driver, they need running in just like a car and you wouldn't believe how close the tolerance is between operating temprature and overheating point on the gear box's.The two slightly older Pulsars we have, have given excellent service and are very pleasing to drive, once we get the new one on the road i'll let you know how its behaving itself lol

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Wed 05 Sep, 2012 9:15 am

BIG N wrote: YJ62 JJO ( fleet No1457 ) is a Wrights bodied Pulsar 2 on a VDL chassis, we have 2 of the earlier Pulsars on "61" plates at Hecky i n the form of 1454 and 1455 and have just recieved a Pulsar 2 ( 1456 ) but it hasn't gone in to service yet because - your going to love this - we haven't got the correct hardware to programme the new, upgraded destination blind system at our depot yet - dohhh !!I find it hard to believe that 1457 was sidelined due to low water, after all its just come all the way from Ireland under its own steam ( apart from the ferry bit of course ), more likely that the gear box has got a little on the warm side after being thrashed by a un-sympathetic driver, they need running in just like a car and you wouldn't believe how close the tolerance is between operating temprature and overheating point on the gear box's.The two slightly older Pulsars we have, have given excellent service and are very pleasing to drive, once we get the new one on the road i'll let you know how its behaving itself lol OK Big N,let us all know......driver didn't seem that clued up about the bus.It has quite a trying route to take though....it's all uphill out of Leeds and the stretch from Beeston - Middleton catches a few out on warmish days....moreso the older buses though ! Thanks once again for your input.