Bus Shite

[SunnySouth]

Been to Cyprus recently for a wedding, we were treated to a surprise trip atop this ‘exclusive’ Metrobus. I’m not sure if the “Congratulations” relate to the wedding couple, or to anyone riding on the thing in 35 degree heat who manages to reach their destination.

[busmansholiday]

Nice, and doesn't match any lists I have for Cyprus and Mk II Metrobuses.  

 

[Inspector Morose]

A107WVP I believe.

[cms206]

A handful more pics - had to sort a new phone down here as the old one unceremoniously gave up the ghost.

Last shift of my first three week stint tomorrow, I fucked up the trains so off Saturday home Sunday afternoon then back to Cumbernauld 0700 Monday morning - that'll be a culture shock!

 

Next stint already booked - September 3rd-24th back at Bow.

[cms206]

Day, done. Trip, done. 11362 and 11341 are the last chariots for this trip, bringing the tally to...

11341/42/43/45/47, 11353/7, 11362/67/68, 11370(twice)/72/73, 11381/81/86(three times)/87/89, 11392/93/94/97 and 12332.

 

[Remspoor]

40 minutes ago, cms206 said:

Day, done. Trip, done. 11362 and 11341 are the last chariots for this trip, bringing the tally to...

11341/42/43/45/47, 11353/7, 11362/67/68, 11370(twice)/72/73, 11381/81/86(three times)/87/89, 11392/93/94/97 and 12332.

 

Ok it has been many many years since I left Ilford and many years since I have returned. So I did not know about the  425 route. Looked it up on TfL website. It says the route starts in Ilford along the High road a the General Havelock. Question is how does that work? I suppose you must drop off passengers and run empty to the first stop?

https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/stop/490007657V/hainault-street?lineId=425

As a side note. When the High Road was a through road and took all of the traffic I saw an accident. A Transit was towing a Mk3 Cortina with a  long rope. They were turning onto Hainault St. Crossing the carriage the van miss judged something. He started to move the Cortina had barely moved and  a car coming from the west caught the tow rope and there was a 3 car pile up. Funny how things like that stick in one's head. It must have been 40 to 45 years ago.

[High Jetter]

Ooh, up there this w/e, Oyster cards at the ready. 

[cms206]

1 hour ago, Remspoor said:

Ok it has been many many years since I left Ilford and many years since I have returned. So I did not know about the  425 route. Looked it up on TfL website. It says the route starts in Ilford along the High road a the General Havelock. Question is how does that work? I suppose you must drop off passengers and run empty to the first stop?

https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/stop/490007657V/hainault-street?lineId=425

The 425 was extended to Ilford from Stratford a few years back to replace short workings on the 25; they share a common route as far as Mile End Station where the 425 turns right to Clapton via Homerton and the 25 continues to the city via Whitechapel.

At the Ilford end the official line of route is Ilford Hill, Chapel Rd, Winston Way, Handforth Rd, Clements Rd to the stop on High Road where the service terminates; after that we run empty to the bus stands on Hainault St for layover.

Journeys to City Thameslink/Clapton leave the bus park and operate empty Ley St & Hainault St back to High Rd to start service. From High Rd both run Clements Rd, High Rd, Chapel Rd back to Ilford Hill, then a straight line to Stratford.

 

As an aside the multistorey car park on Ley St at the side of the bus stands is more or less gone now, demolition continues apace.

[SunnySouth]

On 8/9/2023 at 8:33 PM, busmansholiday said:

Nice, and doesn't match any lists I have for Cyprus and Mk II Metrobuses.  

 

Several out there, their website has plenty of pics! Various Olympians knocking about, and an Alexander bodied Scania open topper of some description too!

[MiniMinorMk3]

Some random old pics of London Transport stock.

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

[MiniMinorMk3]

[busmansholiday]

On 09/08/2023 at 23:19, Inspector Morose said:

A107WVP I believe.

Have that as MHN582.

[SunnySouth]

2 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

What’s going on with that grille?

[MiniMinorMk3]

10 minutes ago, SunnySouth said:

What’s going on with that grille?

Winter grille cover with opening flaps?

[Remspoor]

16 hours ago, cms206 said:

The 425 was extended to Ilford from Stratford a few years back to replace short workings on the 25;

When I was there the 25 ran from Becontree Heath into Aldgate. Crew change at Seven Kings garage.  Such a long route and today's traffic would mean a lot of turn arounds.

I do not remember the bus terminus at Ley street. There was one (of sorts)  at York Rd. Officially Ilford Station.

 

[Remspoor]

1 hour ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Winter grille cover with opening flaps?

 

[busmansholiday]

1 hour ago, SunnySouth said:

What’s going on with that grille?

The odd shaped grill of this bus was part of an experiment in noise reduction. Also the inside of the engine compartment was lined with a foam type substance. RM 738 stayed like this until about mid 1970 when a driver crashed the bus and broke the grill. It was then replaced with a regular grill.  

[quicksilver]

2 hours ago, busmansholiday said:

The odd shaped grill of this bus was part of an experiment in noise reduction. Also the inside of the engine compartment was lined with a foam type substance. RM 738 stayed like this until about mid 1970 when a driver crashed the bus and broke the grill. It was then replaced with a regular grill.  

I don't recall ever seeing a picture of RM738 with that weird grille before. One of Chiswick's many experiments no doubt.

[Leyland Worldmaster]

This link didn't work for some time. It does work now:

https://youtu.be/J3b9sHPSJGM

[SunnySouth]

On 8/12/2023 at 5:48 PM, busmansholiday said:

The odd shaped grill of this bus was part of an experiment in noise reduction. Also the inside of the engine compartment was lined with a foam type substance. RM 738 stayed like this until about mid 1970 when a driver crashed the bus and broke the grill. It was then replaced with a regular grill.  

Fairy nuff! Cheers

[MiniMinorMk3]

[Remspoor]

@cms206 A work colleague?

https://www.youtube.com/@RennoHundred/videos

Diver from Bow and/or WH. Management are watching his videos in case he says something wrong*.

 

[cms206]

10 hours ago, Remspoor said:

@cms206 A work colleague?

https://www.youtube.com/@RennoHundred/videos

Diver from Bow and/or WH. Management are watching his videos in case he says something wrong*.

 

Watching the videos I'm surprised he's still employed at all; Stagecoach have a strict no phones in the cab policy.

I don't recognise him from Bow, must be WH based.

[cms206]

https://news.stv.tv/west-central/bus-driver-fighting-for-life-after-crash-with-van-near-galston-a77-junction?fbclid=IwAR1h7U_NvtU0Vhcge3V2z17qXZuNcf2ZX3dhpr1At_t3pl3jHWdOpyusBT0

 

One of my colleagues was involved in a serious accident driving a 4 service on Monday afternoon and sadly lost his life last night in hospital. He was Kilmarnock based but had been doing foreign service at Cumbernauld recently too. 23 years old is no age.

[Matty]

7 minutes ago, cms206 said:

https://news.stv.tv/west-central/bus-driver-fighting-for-life-after-crash-with-van-near-galston-a77-junction?fbclid=IwAR1h7U_NvtU0Vhcge3V2z17qXZuNcf2ZX3dhpr1At_t3pl3jHWdOpyusBT0

 

One of my colleagues was involved in a serious accident driving a 4 service on Monday afternoon and sadly lost his life last night in hospital. He was Kilmarnock based but had been doing foreign service at Cumbernauld recently too. 23 years old is no age.

Awful. Sorry to hear that. Like you say 23 years old is basically still a kid. 

[High Jetter]

Jeez, that's rough. I guess busses don't have much in the way of front protection. Awful for his family, friends & colleagues.

[Eyersey1234]

4 hours ago, cms206 said:

https://news.stv.tv/west-central/bus-driver-fighting-for-life-after-crash-with-van-near-galston-a77-junction?fbclid=IwAR1h7U_NvtU0Vhcge3V2z17qXZuNcf2ZX3dhpr1At_t3pl3jHWdOpyusBT0

 

One of my colleagues was involved in a serious accident driving a 4 service on Monday afternoon and sadly lost his life last night in hospital. He was Kilmarnock based but had been doing foreign service at Cumbernauld recently too. 23 years old is no age.

I'm so sorry to hear this, my condolences to all his friends, family and colleagues. My brother is 23, no age at all.

[SunnySouth]

On 8/20/2023 at 3:54 PM, cms206 said:

https://news.stv.tv/west-central/bus-driver-fighting-for-life-after-crash-with-van-near-galston-a77-junction?fbclid=IwAR1h7U_NvtU0Vhcge3V2z17qXZuNcf2ZX3dhpr1At_t3pl3jHWdOpyusBT0

 

One of my colleagues was involved in a serious accident driving a 4 service on Monday afternoon and sadly lost his life last night in hospital. He was Kilmarnock based but had been doing foreign service at Cumbernauld recently too. 23 years old is no age.

Jesus, sorry to hear that fella. Absolutely devastating, hope everyone rallies round. Certainly makes ya think

[Metal Guru]

On 20/08/2023 at 19:53, High Jetter said:

Jeez, that's rough. I guess busses don't have much in the way of front protection. Awful for his family, friends & colleagues.

You’d have thought a bus would have come off better than a Transit in a crash even allowing for the driver’s position. Didn’t look like a place where the collision would have involved high speed either. Anyway shouldn't speculate without the facts , very tragic for those involved esp considering  the driver’s age.