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I was backshift today; light to Helensburgh for 1600 to do a short 310 to the airport, light to Springboig, route 36 in, 36 out, light back to the airport, 310 back to Helensburgh and light to the garage. Today's chariot was this somewhat severe looking 2013 Mercedes Vario O816D, which I try to pull for my backshifts where possible because it's warm and it goes like fuck.

POP QUIZ - What are the headlights from?

It was light at 6pm when I started my 36s which was nice.

It was dark and fucking pissing down when I got back in at midnight.

Bus swept, mopped, fuelled and run through the wash then parked up; it's back out at 7am, I am thankfully not.

One of the lads I work with became a dad for the first time last year at the age of 53. His missus is 29 years his junior.

Today is his 54th birthday.

Another colleague chose to wish him a happy birthday on facebook... 😂

Can't remember if I replied to this before... no idea what order they came in, can remember all the registrations though just about. 

Buses:  Dodge S56 D702 EES

Leyland Leopard GCS 57V, GCS 69V, HCS 793N

Leyland Nationals NIL 7242 (AHH 206T), PIL 7013 (AFM 2W), SHH 389X

Mercedes 608D D124 NUS

Dennis Lancet D631 BPL

Seddon Pennine VII - DSD 983V 

 

Cars 

Austin: 2 

Maestro 1.6L E532 TYD

Montego EFi F312 GKN 

 

Fiat: 2 

126 H207 AYS

Ducato K187 JGY 

 

Ford: 8

Focus Mk1 SJ54 NZF

Focus Mk2 SJ57 OEY

Mondeo Mk2 x2 W676 WCS, X448 TSS

Mondeo Mk4 SG60 WKZ

Orion Ghia A787 XSD

Fiesta Courier Combi 3U8 1442

Transit L420 EAB 

 

Hyundai: 3

Accent: P842 RGG

Stellar: E312 SKN, E591 BRM

 

Peugeot: 7 

205 x2 - D782 DTR, K457 FKW

206 x1 - WL54 FKA

406 x3 - P622 MFL, KV03 ZJK, SP02 YGU

407 x1 - SD56 MOU

 

Proton: 2 

1.5GL - J512 PVC

Persona TDi - R772 ESX 

 

Rover: 2 

414i Sprint - M497 KVP

Montego LX - J714 MCK 

 

Toyota: 1 

carina E: N840 MNS 

 

Vauxhall: 9 

Cavalier Mk3 x4 - G341 NTO, K658 BBD, M726 TMJ, N702 UVN

Senator - J455 PKX

Astra Mk3: K730 ANV

Astra Mk4: KF54 ZMV

Astra Mk5 x2: SB07 DVT, KC56 YTY

 

Volvo: 21  340 x2: NGB 508Y, B719 WAT

440: M751 TBF

740 x4: E113 MFK, E29 XGA, G476 WOY, G214 UYE

760 x2: E33 XGD, D466 OJS

850 x5: P811 UGB, E101 UNS, L113 WNH, N425 HOY, P685 TFC

940 x2: R168 NBM, K321 UOD

V40: Y369 XRM

S60: Y983 JFC

V70: NL60 HJX

XC90: CV53 TGK 

 

Wartburg: 1 

353 Tourist: 5U0 2742

 

59 Cars, 10 buses? Something like that. May have missed a handful. Been driving since mid 2004.

2 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Gosh I've never seen a Superkings Suzuki SJ before!

Me either! Would absolutely add to my collection, it looks ace!

On 3/7/2023 at 11:53 AM, willswitchengage said:

I believe those MEN are integral, the rear staircase is funky too and cleverly designed around the corner mounted longitudinal flat D20 engine.

East Lancs tried to make a MAN DD over here based on a smaller 6-litre chassis but believe it wasn't a sales success, think it originally was with Stagecoaches. Looked smart imho.

I've driven that, 2013 IIRC. Drove really well actually, though if memory serves the price of rear tyres was eyewatering - 455/50R22.5s weren't that common back then.

It was a demonatrator but originally operated for Reading.

I've barely seen this sodding thing in daylight; go to work in the dark, come home in the dark...

Only updates to note are it's booked in for a cambelt change (no record, though the rest of the sizable history file suggests it has been done) and it's now lost it's private plate.

Reverse is occasionally a bit of an arse to engage, but on my mixed commute it's sitting at 49.5mpg on the computer. I'll take that.

Big brother seems to approve also...

31 minutes ago, loserone said:

Ah, so this is a way to get this engine without presenting Mrs286 with a Peugeot 🤔

Pffft.

You act like I've got a history of unannounced silver diesel 406 purchases.

Just now, wuvvum said:

Never driven a 4-pot diesel Volvo before.  I'm assuming it's a bit* slower than Fowler's?

It's not as slow as I expected to be honest but I wouldn't want to try the 1.6D in a V70.

Pulls well through the gears, seems to be mega on fuel too. Absolutely unstressed on the 200-odd mile journey home.

I've done had a clear out recently; things have been... a bit shite. My fleet size has been halved, for various reasons, while the daily XC90 grenaded on January 3rd leaving me without transport.

I bullied my former apprentice into loaning me one of his fleet (a BMW 120D); when it sold, work provided me with a 1.3 diesel Corsavan. I had said I'd use the train but I couldn't start before 7am but that was fucked right out the window and they insisted.

The search started. I viewed some truely horrific specimens, from an 04 Zafira which died spectacularly on the test drive to an 07 Passat with no wheelarches, via a very tidy Mazda 6 which turned out to have no floor.

An appeal on facebook yielded a few likely candidates more or less in my meagre budget and I was set to go today to collect an 11-plate Seat Exeo estate.

That, alas, did not pan out. The deal collapsed yesterday. Panic set in... I've been without a car for eight weeks. I really need to get something. Anything.

A chance encounter turned up something that fitted the bit. The owner was willing to do a deal in budget.

The car however, was in Elgin.

So I went to Elgin, handed over more money than I've ever spent on a car in my life, and brought home the newcomer for judgement...

As a wise man once said...

Well... we are home and the results are in.

I'll take that.

It was only going to end one way, wasn't it?

Bye bye driver

Inverness has been achieved.

No pictures though as it is getting dark and there was literally seconds between connections.

Next train!

43152 provides the next part of the journey...

There are a number of strong looks today.

At this point I've been in so many stations I don't know if it's Sheffield Tuesday or Pancake Wednesday.

smol chrain is smol

fwend

1 minute ago, Rust Collector said:

Looking at the dog in picture 1 and the lady's expression in picture 2; what is it they say about pets looking like their owners? 😅

"Is that your dog love? It looks a helluva like you!"

Two smol dogs are in a perambulator on the train

It is a modern world.

 

*UPDATE* one of the smol dogs is now out.

Exciting times.

Stage the second.

 

But first, an interval.

Good morning people of the internet.

 

I have killed all my cars so have had to buy a new one.

It is 11.15am as I type this and I have done three poos and one small vomit as a result of a choking fit.

Stage one was returning a 1.3 diesel Corsavan to my work, where today's caper starts.

Two of this week's high mileage heroes, Volvo B12Bs KEZ 9120/21 new to Ulsterbus in 2006.

Been away for a while again.

Still driving buses, but also now done this... standby* for a manky old Plaxton Ford suitably branded for Beige Package Holidays, under the ARSE (Autoshite Recreation Services & Excursions) banner.