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Post by SILENCED on Nov 30, 2023 11:35:31 GMT
That would be ex-KMB Wright bodied Volvo Super Olympian AVW96.
@6hp502c - how difficult was it to purchase a bus from HK, did HK bus expert Dave Rogers assist? HK buses don't seem to have second lives elsewhere to the same extent as say ex-London buses do. I imagine most are scrapped over there so does that make purchasing one (i.e. the purchase price) quite cheap compared to an equivalent aged UK bus ignoring of course the not insignificant shipping cost and duties that come afterwards. I look forward to hearing more about this bus in the upcoming months. I love HK buses, they have such a high spec compared to the pauper specced buses we have here. They also appear to be kept in very nice condition whilst in service judging by photos.
That is what I thought it would be! Nice to see no issues here considered about length!
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Post by 6HP502C on Dec 18, 2023 3:46:05 GMT
That would be ex-KMB Wright bodied Volvo Super Olympian AVW96. @6hp502c - how difficult was it to purchase a bus from HK, did HK bus expert Dave Rogers assist? HK buses don't seem to have second lives elsewhere to the same extent as say ex-London buses do. I imagine most are scrapped over there so does that make purchasing one (i.e. the purchase price) quite cheap compared to an equivalent aged UK bus ignoring of course the not insignificant shipping cost and duties that come afterwards. I look forward to hearing more about this bus in the upcoming months. I love HK buses, they have such a high spec compared to the pauper specced buses we have here. They also appear to be kept in very nice condition whilst in service judging by photos.
I did reach out to some individuals and companies (dealers and manufacturers) in the UK who I understood had experience with importing buses from Hong Kong, but either received no response or was told they had no experience of this, or was told they'd have to ask another department then heard nothing back. I was more than happy to commence the project regardless, it just meant I learned a lot of new things about importing buses from scratch ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Buying the bus wasn't difficult - KMB publicise the process for purchasing retired vehicles - www.design1933.hk/retired-bus.html . Purchase prices are always subject to negotiation - I've bought 20+ buses now and it isn't much different doing it abroad ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Hong Kong is a special place with lovely people and one of my favourite things to do there was ride on the Super Olympians. It has been an honour to be able to bring one back to the UK. Originally I wanted an ALX500 Super Olympian. The 10.6m variants can't be made PSVAR compliant as the extra axle limits floor space. My belief is the requirement for priority seating would prevent them being certified. I had some interest in a 12.0m variant but missed the boat with these as they were retired a bit earlier. So my attention turned to the AVW class. I wanted AVW68, but regrettably it was scrapped. A friend in Hong Kong who knows the fleet the way I knew the Ecomat era fleet in London recommended AVW96 as a strong performer, so I set about purchasing this vehicle. Help with this project was very much forthcoming from people in Hong Kong and the vehicle was prepared for the voyage. Ships are a bit like buses, they run to a set route and dwell at the port whenever they turn up. I decided to be present in Hong Kong when the ship arrived, the time of which was only confirmed the day before arrival. As soon as this confirmation arrived, I booked a flight and went to see the bus for the first time. Impressed at the work that had been carried out to liven it up after withdrawal, I rode it through Hong Kong to Victoria Harbour and got eyeball on it being driven onto the ship. I returned to the UK a couple of days later. Agreed that HK's buses are nicely specced, thanks for the interest ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Post by 6HP502C on Jan 10, 2024 13:59:30 GMT
General news
Still the plan to reduce the SPV fleet to three.
A Mercedes Citaro has been acquired for the London division, marking the operation's first investment in a vehicle fitted with Euro 6 exhaust equipment. The vehicle is being collected today and will be earmarked for rail replacement jobs in and around London. SPVs will now only appear on London area jobs if a spare is required or to do their customary one-off appearances to allow people to ride on them. Only SPV4 and 6 are yet to work in London for Replacement Bus Hire.
Fleet updates
23065 - stored unserviceable. Ramp proximity switch ordered and earmarked for some beam welding.
AVW96 - undergoing certification work for use on the UK's roads.
MAL99 - still in a state of component recovery and is unlikely to return to service. It has more value as a parts donor.
SPV1 - awaiting attention from an electrician. Once repaired, will be up for sale. SPV2 - although currently in daily use, will not work for Replacement Bus Hire beyond 30/01/2024 and will leave the fleet shortly after.
SPV3 - stored unserviceable. Intention is to repair then put up for sale.
SPV4 - ok, though earmarked for sale.
SPV5 - Going for MOT today. Will be up for sale with 12 months MOT, a newly replaced windscreen and the gearbox fault rectified.
SPV6 - still undergoing MOT prep, most of the mechanical element is done but awaiting attention from an electrician.
SPV7 - ok.
SPV8 - stored unserviceable. Intention is to repair then put up for sale.
TA23 - stored unserviceable.
VLA170 - up for sale.
VLA176 - stored unserviceable and likely to be sent to the scrappers minus the gearbox.
VNW32423 - stored unserviceable.
That's all for now.
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Post by VPL630 on Jan 10, 2024 14:54:37 GMT
It's always good news when there is a fleet update, one of the few threads on here where utter nonsense doesn't occur
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Post by allentc on Jan 10, 2024 17:02:19 GMT
At a guess, is this an ex-203 MCL? Ensign had one or some up for sale recently:
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tts
Conductor
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Wished he got all Tridents driven like how he got TN33186 driven!
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Post by tts on Jan 10, 2024 19:15:51 GMT
A Mercedes Citaro has been acquired for the London division, marking the operation's first investment in a vehicle fitted with Euro 6 exhaust equipment. The vehicle is being collected today and will be earmarked for rail replacement jobs in and around London. At a guess, is this an ex-203 MCL? Hoping it's an ex-203 MCL! Some had musical ZF's and it would be a nice treat to hear them working in their 5th and 6th gears when kickdown is used as they were capped at 42mph (assuming their limiter is upped)
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Post by 6HP502C on Jan 10, 2024 20:47:06 GMT
Yes, it's an ex 203 Citaro which is welcomed to the Replacement Bus Hire fleet and will be numbered MCL5. It does 54mph at the moment but the limiter will be changed to 59mph and the shift pattern will be changed to Ecomat Super Power.
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tts
Conductor
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Wished he got all Tridents driven like how he got TN33186 driven!
Posts: 76
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Post by tts on Jan 10, 2024 22:12:17 GMT
Yes, it's an ex 203 Citaro which is welcomed to the Replacement Bus Hire fleet and will be numbered MCL5. It does 54mph at the moment but the limiter will be changed to 59mph and the shift pattern will be changed to Ecomat Super Power. Good to hear! It was apparently the worst of the batch towards the end of service but I'm sure you can work your wonders to this bus
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Post by 6HP502C on Jan 11, 2024 0:33:50 GMT
Yes, it's an ex 203 Citaro which is welcomed to the Replacement Bus Hire fleet and will be numbered MCL5. It does 54mph at the moment but the limiter will be changed to 59mph and the shift pattern will be changed to Ecomat Super Power. Good to hear! It was apparently the worst of the batch towards the end of service but I'm sure you can work your wonders to this bus Nothing wrong with it. It has power, comparable with the better of the 09/59 plate MECs, gets to 54mph no bother, goes through the gears nicely, great ride quality. Whatever criteria is used to define “worst” in this case is probably not the same as I’d use as someone who takes an interest in performance and as an operator!
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Post by LK65EBO on Jan 24, 2024 19:06:33 GMT
6HP502C Does this MCL only have the 203, H37 and H98 on the blinds?
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Post by 6HP502C on Jan 25, 2024 9:50:48 GMT
6HP502C Does this MCL only have the 203, H37 and H98 on the blinds? Yes, those are the only routes on there.
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Post by 6HP502C on Jan 26, 2024 21:45:16 GMT
General news
Work is ongoing to prepare most of the SPVs for disposal. No further vehicles are planned to be added to this class and the plan is to reduce the number to two or three.
Two vehicles have been acquired and will be entering the fleet in the near future. A long single decker and a shorter one for use on routes the Citaros aren't suitable for.
Fleet updates
23065 - is at the workshop in the queue for MOT prep. The proximity switch which would theoretically fix the ramp costs £1200. No interest in maintaining a cassette ramp for occasional workings so a VTP5 will be done to get that taken off the system and an alterative way to comply with the PSVAR will be found.
AVW96 - continues to undergo certification work for use on the UK's roads. Although it has a demister switch, it doesn't have any demisters so parts have been ordered to liven the function up. The air conditioning functions but the heating element isn't currently working so this is also being resolved. Meanwhile the speed limiter will be changed from the Hong Kong legal limit of 70kph to 90kph. No interest in upping to the maximum of 100kph. While the mechanical side is being tended to, work is ongoing to register the vehicle in the UK. The process is new to me so I'm learning as I go along. It can now have a logbook issued and a registration has been chosen and purchased - the Certificate of entitlement arrived today. It's an ongoing project to complete both elements of this while preparing it for a COIF and MOT.
MAL99 - component recovery continues.
MCL5 - ok. Awaiting new level sensors and exhaust clamps. The transmission shift programme will be changed to "Ecomat Super Power 2400" and the speed limiter increased to be in line with the SPV class.
Volvo B10M - substantive repairs required to the drag link to get its ticket back.
SPV1 - awaiting attention from an electrician. Once repaired, will be up for sale. SPV2 - the plan was to withdraw it on the 31st January 2024 and a 5 button gear selector has replaced the 3 button while awaiting the shift pattern change to Ecomat Super Power. However it has developed an air leak which is inhibiting its ability to level itself, water is suspected to be exiting the circuit into the engine and a high level tail light is out. Its final working has already happened and will be prepared for exit from the fleet in short order.
SPV3 - at a workshop with repair works authorised to the cooling fan and pulleys/tensioner, the oil sump and the suspension system, after which it will be disposed of.
SPV4 - ok, to be disposed of.
SPV5 - Recently passed its MOT. Once repairs are carried out, it will be up for sale.
SPV6 - although MOT prep has commenced, it's now 50/50 as to whether it will return to service. It will either be back out in anger or go to the scrappers, unlikely to put up for sale in its current condition.
SPV7 - ok.
SPV8 - stored unserviceable. Intention is to repair then put up for sale.
TA23 - stored unserviceable.
VLA170 - to be disposed of.
VLA176 - stored unserviceable and likely to be sent to the scrappers minus the gearbox.
VNW32423 - stored unserviceable.
That's all for now.
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Post by allentc on Jan 29, 2024 8:07:07 GMT
Was that a couple of your Citaros that I spotted yesterday on Southern RR work between Clapham Junction and East Croydon?
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Post by 6HP502C on Jan 29, 2024 12:20:36 GMT
Was that a couple of your Citaros that I spotted yesterday on Southern RR work between Clapham Junction and East Croydon? Yes, MCL5 and SPV5 were both covering duties.
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Post by 6HP502C on Feb 11, 2024 17:39:56 GMT
I did call as soon as I saw the advert. I understand there were multiple offers at the asking price so the seller could pick who to sell to! They could have set the price a lot higher, BN17 JVC is on the market for almost double that!
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