|
Post by mkay315 on Aug 29, 2024 16:24:21 GMT
This is going to be interesting to say but here goes. When the 25 got those ALX400S in 2000 and when the 207 got it's plaxtons as well in that year I wished they had swapped it so the 25 got the longer plaxtons and West London got the Alexanders instead. I mean West London did eventually get those buses by proxy of the 7 in 2004 and the 25 got some newer plaxtons when it had its pvr increased in the early 2000s. But I did like those V/W reg tridents and miss them
|
|
|
Post by M1104 on Aug 29, 2024 16:54:53 GMT
I actually found the DB250s more aligned to the Metros but more for their whining axles and most of them being three speeders. Also, the earlier euro² DLAs in particular had similar general performance to the Metros whereas the euro³.variants were closer to supped up Cummin unit M1104 and Gardner engined M205, the latter having such a supped up turbo for a trial period only I found the same which makes perfect sense given the DB250 chassis was first used on the Optare Spectra, a bus which was a joint effort between Optare & DAF and based off the MCW Metrobus design. Indeed they were and would love to have driven one of those K reg Spectras to have gain personal comparisons against the Metros
|
|
|
Post by busoccultation on Aug 29, 2024 17:20:21 GMT
Sitting on a DB300 on the 158 and I feel as though those engines are more closely aligned to the Metrobus rather than the DB250. I can see some resemblance on the DB250 but it's more evident on the 300s I actually found the DB250s more aligned to the Metros but more for their whining axles and most of them being three speeders. Also, the earlier euro² DLAs in particular had similar general performance to the Metros whereas the euro³ variants were closer to supped up Cummin unit M1104 and Gardner engined M205, the latter having such a supped up turbo for a trial period only So do myself, I do think DB250 does have the old school vibes with the engine and gearbox sounding like more from the 1980's like a Metrobus which I find them similar to each other, despite me not coming from the Metrobus era, I do enjoy riding them and love the sound of a Metrobus where I try to put an effort to ride one at most rallies. With the OP question on the DB300, I do think those are lot more similar to a Euro 5 Voith E400, having fitted with the same Cummins engine and Voith gearbox like with the DB300 than its predecessors like the DB250 which has a completely different engine over the DB300.
|
|
|
Post by WH241 on Aug 29, 2024 19:20:39 GMT
There have been on going works on Silvertown Way E16 for almost a year now (Cycle works / Road narrowing). The works have been shambolic to say the least with workers spending more time talking / wasting time on phones. As a result of this the resurfacing works overran by one night yesterday so I happened to see where the 147 and 474 were diverted to still serve Canning Town Bus Station. I assume the diversion was the same on other nights depending on what section was closed.
I am not sure who thinks up diversions but they thought it was worth sending both routes via Silvertown Way, Lower Lea Crossing and East India Dock road. Surely they could have curtailed the 147 back to Keir Hardie / Prince Regent and just had the 474 maintaining the station connection from 8pm until the last bus. I understand emergency diversions can be a bit random but do think they should think a bit more logical with planned disruption.
|
|
|
Post by capitalomnibus on Aug 29, 2024 21:40:20 GMT
That will be due to the gearboxes on both vehicles being Voith. The actual engines on each sound completely different even taking into account some Metrobuses had Cummins engines just like the DB300 does - most Metrobuses were Gardener engined which are quite distinctive in sound. If you compare ZF box Volvo engined Volvo Olympians with Euro II ZF box Tridents and Voith box Volvo engined Volvo Olympians with Euro II Voith box Tridents, you’ll find a rather similar sound despite the two vehicles having completely different engines (Tridents have Cummins engines). The biggest difference between the two was the iconic Volvo whine on the Volvo Olympian, quite distinctive when moving up the gears. The Voith boxed Volvo Ailsa (V1 - A101SUU) sounds great when thrashed, it's a TfL preserved bus, and had the engine at the front. The DB300 does sound great when thrashed as well - sometimes this happens on the 123. I need to take a DW ride on the 217 one day as it's a fast route. Occasionally they appear amongst the T's and HV's. I remember Metrobuses when I went to school in west London, the ones on the 207 used to clunk when going into 3rd gear after holding onto 2nd for ages. They do have some interesting characteristics. The new ADL E400 electrics feature Voith drive, and the Volvo BZLs have a 2 speed box but not sure if it's Voith or not Ailsa are as ugly as sin, hated them back in the 80's
|
|
|
Post by M1104 on Aug 29, 2024 21:42:23 GMT
I remember Metrobuses when I went to school in west London, the ones on the 207 used to clunk when going into 3rd gear after holding onto 2nd for ages. They do have some interesting characteristics. The new ADL E400 electrics feature Voith drive, and the Volvo BZLs have a 2 speed box but not sure if it's Voith or not Yes the Metros 'clunking' into 3rd was more or less a universal trait throughout the bonnet numbers I've driven, my lowest being V reg M211 with my highest being C reg M1410. They often even still changed up after the foot brakes were applied, dependant on the speed the driver's come off the throttle. I must try to hunt down the Volvo BZL demonstrator on the 213 so as to witnesses gear changing on that EV bus
|
|
|
Post by ServerKing on Aug 29, 2024 21:50:41 GMT
The Voith boxed Volvo Ailsa (V1 - A101SUU) sounds great when thrashed, it's a TfL preserved bus, and had the engine at the front. The DB300 does sound great when thrashed as well - sometimes this happens on the 123. I need to take a DW ride on the 217 one day as it's a fast route. Occasionally they appear amongst the T's and HV's. I remember Metrobuses when I went to school in west London, the ones on the 207 used to clunk when going into 3rd gear after holding onto 2nd for ages. They do have some interesting characteristics. The new ADL E400 electrics feature Voith drive, and the Volvo BZLs have a 2 speed box but not sure if it's Voith or not Ailsa are as ugly as sin, hated them back in the 80's I think V3 was the worst one with the odd rear door at the very back (they were experimental London Buses vehicles) but V1 with its Alexander bodywork wasn't bad. Some of the ones at South Yorkshire Transport and West Midlands PTE (as was) had faces only its mother could love Brilliant exhaust note though, I think it was the type of gearbox / turbo that gave it its unique wailing sound. Was not as pronounced on the Voith ones. Engine at front to one side which was odd for a "modern" decker
|
|
|
Post by enviroPB on Aug 29, 2024 22:00:55 GMT
There have been on going works on Silvertown Way E16 for almost a year now (Cycle works / Road narrowing). The works have been shambolic to say the least with workers spending more time talking / wasting time on phones. As a result of this the resurfacing works overran by one night yesterday so I happened to see where the 147 and 474 were diverted to still serve Canning Town Bus Station. I assume the diversion was the same on other nights depending on what section was closed. I am not sure who thinks up diversions but they thought it was worth sending both routes via Silvertown Way, Lower Lea Crossing and East India Dock road. Surely they could have curtailed the 147 back to Keir Hardie / Prince Regent and just had the 474 maintaining the station connection from 8pm until the last bus. I understand emergency diversions can be a bit random but do think they should think a bit more logical with planned disruption. The 147 does not have Kier Hardie Estate as a curtailment point. Strangely the N551 is assigned it and the 241 474, but not the 147. In the old Trident days, drivers on the 147 used to manually select Kier Hardie Estate on the blinds; probably under the direction of the route controller. That is impossible now with power blinds.
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on Aug 29, 2024 22:52:05 GMT
Ailsa are as ugly as sin, hated them back in the 80's I think V3 was the worst one with the odd rear door at the very back (they were experimental London Buses vehicles) but V1 with its Alexander bodywork wasn't bad. Some of the ones at South Yorkshire Transport and West Midlands PTE (as was) had faces only its mother could love Brilliant exhaust note though, I think it was the type of gearbox / turbo that gave it its unique wailing sound. Was not as pronounced on the Voith ones. Engine at front to one side which was odd for a "modern" decker I think the Alexander Ailsas look decent including V3 (rode V1 & V3 and enjoyed both rides). However, the West Midlands ones, whilst ugly looking, are a different animal under the hood including that brilliant wailing sound you mention - had one at Potters Bar running day one year and the thrash to Hatfield and back was epic 🙂
|
|
|
Post by WH241 on Aug 30, 2024 8:37:01 GMT
There have been on going works on Silvertown Way E16 for almost a year now (Cycle works / Road narrowing). The works have been shambolic to say the least with workers spending more time talking / wasting time on phones. As a result of this the resurfacing works overran by one night yesterday so I happened to see where the 147 and 474 were diverted to still serve Canning Town Bus Station. I assume the diversion was the same on other nights depending on what section was closed. I am not sure who thinks up diversions but they thought it was worth sending both routes via Silvertown Way, Lower Lea Crossing and East India Dock road. Surely they could have curtailed the 147 back to Keir Hardie / Prince Regent and just had the 474 maintaining the station connection from 8pm until the last bus. I understand emergency diversions can be a bit random but do think they should think a bit more logical with planned disruption. The 147 does not have Kier Hardie Estate as a curtailment point. Strangely the N551 is assigned it and the 241 474, but not the 147. In the old Trident days, drivers on the 147 used to manually select Kier Hardie Estate on the blinds; probably under the direction of the route controller. That is impossible now with power blinds. I am aware the 147 doesn’t have the curtailment point and have mentioned this several times in the past. Buses have used Keir Hardie in the past to terminate when there has been incidents at Canning Town like a recent fire. Whilst not ideal buses could still display Canning Town and the driver makes announcements informing passengers there are only going to Keir Hardie. Hopefully the curtailment point will be added back in the future.
|
|
|
Post by COBO on Aug 31, 2024 14:07:36 GMT
There was 2x 395 due in 3 and 4 minutes and there’s just one in 18 minutes. They can’t have been cancelled.
|
|
|
Post by martynl on Aug 31, 2024 14:30:54 GMT
Hi, can I ask if Superloop drivers are obliged to stop at normal stops if a person with a visible disability or impairment wishes to board? The reason is that the SL5 I was just on stopped to pick up a young lady with Down's Syndrome at the Upper Shirley Road stop opposite The Crown pub when the next booked stop should've been Shirley Library. If it isn't policy then I think the driver should be commended for his kindness. Here's a shot of the bus as I got off at Westmoreland Road, perhaps someone at TC knows who the driver is based on the running number. This was around 3.00 this afternoon. Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by DE20106 on Aug 31, 2024 16:22:56 GMT
A couple of general observations on my travels today.
1) After spending the day mostly on RATP services, there has been a huge night and day improvement in their operations. Didn’t notice any large gaps today. Their improvements in the league tables definitely corroborates with what’s observed in service.
2) The Bakerloo line trains are absolutely knackered. I don’t know how they’re even still in service quite frankly, new trains can’t come soon enough for this line. I can’t even see them lasting another 2/3 years let alone another 7/8. I think there’s a pretty good chance of the Bakerloo Line grinding to a halt/closes down from the trains not being fit for service before new trains actually arrive
|
|
|
Post by towerman on Aug 31, 2024 16:58:11 GMT
Speaking as one who worked on 72TS on the Bakerloo,as long as the maintenance regime is followed they will be OK,the only problem is sourcing spares due to age.
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on Aug 31, 2024 18:18:54 GMT
Speaking as one who worked on 72TS on the Bakerloo,as long as the maintenance regime is followed they will be OK,the only problem is sourcing spares due to age. I still prefer them to some of the newer stuff despite their elderly status, especially those forward facing seats
|
|