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Post by moz on Jun 29, 2011 11:17:21 GMT
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Post by moz on Jun 22, 2011 9:40:49 GMT
I believe that all volvos at WL doesn't have 157 on thier blinds Of course, BC could alter the blinds when the volvos are finally transferred. Volvos on the 3 were disliked by us drivers because of the slow pullaway and the poor visibility of the side mirrors. Accidents were happening with drivers who otherwise were accident free on the tridents. The nearside mirror is obstructed by the frame of the cab door as well as the frame of the entrance doors. The interior mirror is also an obstruction (it is difficult to move it as the cctv camera is there!) as well as the screen wipers ;D I know of one driver who complained to an official 'upstairs' about the large offside mirrors on them and i believe that they have been changed to the smaller mirrors. Also, some drivers couldn't reach the pedals so refused to drive them. I actually think the seat adjustment was broken on some of them. I know some of the drivers on the 157 are not too keen on them either. One thing I must admit is that they are more of a smoother ride than the tridents we have at BC I used to have that problem with the mirrors and a lot of WVLs in Go-Ahead have had the mirror relocated by the door (like a PVL) which is much no problem for visibility. However this has not been done on the ex-East Thames VWL's which still have the large nearside mirror at the front. Driving them regularly on the 185 I have actually got used to it and prefer that position now. I've driven WVLs at SW and the nearside mirrors were an absolute pain, mainly due to the shunters forgetting to remove them before they took them through the wash. Arriva DWs with similar bodywork also have the mirror protruding ahead of the windscreen but on a far longer bar which actually provides excellent visibility down the nearside from front to rear corner. Moz
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Post by moz on Jun 10, 2011 13:36:53 GMT
Also, while I'm here I was having a scroll through the SMS messages and found an intriguing one that reads something like "Announcement not working OBNSS". What is an OBNSS? You've not had the most recent CPC training then? No, but I do enjoy CPC days as I can catch up on some sleep. Moz
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Post by moz on Jun 9, 2011 13:50:15 GMT
I know that the driver can press the relevant bus stop name as many times as they want. That doesn't seem to work anymore either, used to be handy when coming off diversion as you could play the next stop, as it is now it doesn't play until your right on top of it. I've found a workaround! Scroll down the stop name you want to announce so it is second from bottom (where the highlighted stop name is), press the button alongside (MDT should beep), then press Esc, then press the button alongside again and it will play the stop name. Also, while I'm here I was having a scroll through the SMS messages and found an intriguing one that reads something like "Announcement not working OBNSS". What is an OBNSS? Moz
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Post by moz on May 14, 2011 18:40:22 GMT
Controllers. GRRRRRR!
Out today we had a big diversion at London Bridge and thus were losing lots of time and mileage. My second half was a rounder and I went through to Liv. Street, actually arriving only five late. Got called by control and asked "You'll be late on the way back. Do you want the O/T or would you prefer to finish on time?". I've got two days off so I said "Sod it, I'll take the docket!".
Anyways, had a leisurely drive back south and just after I left Brixton Station stop I got another call from the evening controller who had just taken over. He asked "What destination are you showing?". I replied "St Leonard's, the morning bloke asked if I was OK to go through". He replied "Well there's one right behind you going through so you may as well show Telford and dump on him".
I didn't have time or patience to argue and I only had five people on anyway so I shot up to BN, gave them all 9999s and made it back to the shed one minute late......
I do wish controllers would talk to each other!
Moz
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Post by moz on May 4, 2011 16:14:57 GMT
Made these up on my computer, took 5 minutes and saves any argument with passengers; Please? Please? You are far too polite! When the new fares came in in January one of our drivers did up some rather good stickers for putting on the cash tray and they really did help avoid argument. Pic: Moz
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Post by moz on Apr 23, 2011 13:52:41 GMT
415 should be withdrawn to be honest with the 432 replacing the Brixton to Elephant section. I would leave P13 as it is, divert the 201 to run along all of Christchurch Road and extend the P4 via the 2/432, then 201's current route and then Christchurch Road to stand at Tulse Hill. The 432 actually does quite a critical job at the southern end of the route. A lot of passengers use it from Anerley/Palace to feed through into Norwood and Tulse Hill for both trains and buses into town. The Brixton finish is ideal as it only has one area of major congestion to fight through, sending it to Elephant would probably ruin its performance. As for the P4, the best thing that could happen to that is double decking. That route sees some horrendous loads, not just during rush hours but at weekends too, especially through Dulwich Village and along through to Brockley Rise. There are no restrictions along the route but I think it may be a couple of NIMBYs preventing it. With the 415 another thing they could change is the routing between the bottom of Tulse Hill and Brixton Station. If they were to send it along Brixton Water Lane and Brixton Hill rather than Effra Road it would provide a direct link for Tulse Hill/Norwood residents to the Lambeth council offices opposite Rush Common as well as to the Surgery on Water Lane. It would only need a couple of new stops along Water Lane, one in each direction about halfway along. Lastly, is there a more relevant area of the Forum where we could 'divert' to to discuss route planning/wishes as this looks like becoming increasingly off topic! Moz
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Post by moz on Apr 22, 2011 17:54:51 GMT
These roads shouldn't be a problem. I've taken long wheelbase VLAs round here when there have been diversions in the local area and even earlier I used to drive Metros on what was then the 200 round there! Moz Except that Metros are around 9.9m and the LWB VLA's are 10.6m. Was it not tight in the VLA around there? Not especially. Bear in mind that DDs tend to have larger tyre circumferance and slightly shorter wheelbase so where a 10.2m Minibus can go, a 10.6m 'decker can too! As for Roupell Road and Upper Tulse Hill it might be worth sending the 415 round there as most locals want the Brixton direction anyway, with the 201 taking over the P13 routing from Streatham to Tulse Hill. Not sure what the P13 would do though. Moz
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Post by moz on Apr 22, 2011 11:26:42 GMT
I doubt that 11m buses would not be able to get around Upper Tulse Hill/Roupell Rd section. Exactly what I was thinking - unless the route is diverted away from that section to run through the full length of Christchurch Road. Such a diversion without replacement would mean Upper Tulse Hill residents would have to walk about five minutes from existing stops such as Christchurch or High Trees. These roads shouldn't be a problem. I've taken long wheelbase VLAs round here when there have been diversions in the local area and even earlier I used to drive Metros on what was then the 200 round there! Moz
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Post by moz on Apr 14, 2011 16:51:43 GMT
Incidentally, any idea why they had to sub 2516 for 2283? According to Ian's Bus Stop 2516 is now in preservation in private hands, yet it was always LG's pet RM back in the day. Although it's nice to know they didn't send her to the scrapyard. Information on the 'net seems a bit vague on this - I did a quick search on a specialist RM forum I am a member of and the only mention I could find was someone suggesting that the original DRM2516 was in a poor mechanical condition. It was - badly. While it was RA we used to do anything we could to get it subbed. I once managed to shear the gear selector handle off just to get shot of it. The thing was an absolute DOG. We did get it back for a short while, but that was more fun as it had the Commercial blind sets fitted so you could spend your entire second half driving an 11 going to 'LONDON'. ;D Moz
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Post by moz on Mar 21, 2011 19:41:50 GMT
Would you believe he had a customer complaint for not going up West Hill in the snow - even though the road was closed. Yes I can believe that ;D Anyway a request from me (perhaps if I put it in early enough something can be done ) New Years Eve, would it be possible for the correct destinations to be on the system, now shouldn't be too hard seeing as schedules are being changed. It's the one night of the year we really need to have the iBus switched on as we get a lot of irregular bus users, however by not having the correct destination we are having to turn it off. I've already had my moan at our night controller to get BX buses fitted with Elephant & Castle blinds and a destination code put on the cards If you need to quote precedent on this then gently remind them that all the RMs at Camberwell had an 'Aldwych' destination on their blinds even though this was only ever a NYE terminal point for the 12. Moz
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Post by moz on Mar 21, 2011 19:33:44 GMT
Two new announcements on the 133 recently. King William Street stop Northbound is followed by the "This Bus is on diversion after this stop" announcement, whilst Kennington Church both ways now has "Alight here for Oval Station" after it. Knowing the average IQ of the locals it won't be long before one of them sets themselves on fire....
Moz
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Post by moz on Mar 2, 2011 19:55:59 GMT
Must admit I assumed by his description (and knowing he is with the big A) it would be Ts on the 133 - DLAs, VLAs and (old) DWs should be OK. I am sure he will confirm though. Yes, they are a big A. I was of course referring to our luxuriously upholstered Ts on the 133. I did eventually get comfortable by spreading myself across both front seats and barricading myself away from intending grannies by having a small picnic and doing the crossword. Moz
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Post by moz on Mar 2, 2011 16:36:18 GMT
This starts upbeat so be warned. Got into work today and was told I'd have a route learner with me today. Result! He told me he'd gone out yesterday after he'd finished and had a few journies up and down (in his own time) and thought he had it nailed. Anyway, I drove the first rounder and he was more than happy to take over driving for the rest of the shift while I became mentor (Well, sleeping mentor for one trip). Here comes the complaint.....
HOW THE HELL do passengers manage to spend more than 10 minutes sat on those rotten seats? My arse is numb from spending four trips sat on the things and it's not like you can move elsewhere because they're all the same. There's little or no padding and the shape of the backrest keeps pitching me forward. I think I know why I sit in the cab now.
Moz
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Post by moz on Feb 10, 2011 13:56:12 GMT
Don't know what you're trying but that link is funny ;D I'll leave it up for a bit longer then! If anybody is wondering it's from a Radio 4 series called Ed Reardon's Week. Moz
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