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Post by M1104 on Oct 29, 2013 11:55:27 GMT
I don't have an out & out favourite but I like SW, Q, N, QB TC, TH & TB mainly for decent standards. TH is the most improved garage - back in 2009, standards there were diabolical but they've really improved. BN must not be mentioned at all If I remember this correctly BN used to be one of the best garages in LT days for bus maintenance but nowadays the bus companies have got to put money in the shareholders pockets so costs have to be reduced (wages longer duties etc) mechanics used to be a skilled job so wages can't drop as such but there is now fewer mechanics to deal with more vehicles. When CN was mothballed I believe the mechanics were transferred to TH and TC more mechanics mean more maintenance. When I worked at BN the mechanical standards were still reasonably good but a lot of the LT trained mechanics have now retired/severence and not been replaced. That may partially explain why some unique buses were allocated there, ie Dennis Hestair Dominator H1-3, M214 (or was it M205) with the retrofitted experimental turbo and the Cummin engined batch Metros M1084-1105. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2013 14:18:51 GMT
The erstwhile Mortlake Garage
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Post by paulsw2 on Oct 29, 2013 14:30:45 GMT
If I remember this correctly BN used to be one of the best garages in LT days for bus maintenance but nowadays the bus companies have got to put money in the shareholders pockets so costs have to be reduced (wages longer duties etc) mechanics used to be a skilled job so wages can't drop as such but there is now fewer mechanics to deal with more vehicles. When CN was mothballed I believe the mechanics were transferred to TH and TC more mechanics mean more maintenance. When I worked at BN the mechanical standards were still reasonably good but a lot of the LT trained mechanics have now retired/severence and not been replaced. That may partially explain why some unique buses were allocated there, ie Dennis Hestair Dominator H1-3, M214 (or was it M205) with the retrofitted experimental turbo and the Cummin engined batch Metros M1084-1105. It was M205 (the heaters were crap) also BN ended up with DMS2205 fitted with a maxwell gearbox a friend of mine used to try and get that when he was on the N78's and they also had DMS2456 which had the prototype door set up that was used for the Olympians. |
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Post by paulsw2 on Oct 29, 2013 14:33:14 GMT
The erstwhile Mortlake Garage Is it true they used to wash there buses twice because they always gleamed. |
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Post by M1104 on Oct 29, 2013 14:51:25 GMT
That may partially explain why some unique buses were allocated there, ie Dennis Hestair Dominator H1-3, M214 (or was it M205) with the retrofitted experimental turbo and the Cummin engined batch Metros M1084-1105. It was M205 (the heaters were crap) also BN ended up with DMS2205 fitted with a maxwell gearbox a friend of mine used to try and get that when he was on the N78's and they also had DMS2456 which had the prototype door set up that was used for the Olympians. I also remember DMS2456 with forward staircase. I remember being told it was the test bed for the design of the Leyland Olympian's London spec interior. I almost forgot to include the two Mark2 Metrobuses, M1441 being with the Gardner engine, M1442 The L10 Cummin unit like M1084-1105. I think L1-3 were there briefly before going to SW with VoithboxH2 and H3, H1 having a faulty Maxwell gearbox. |
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Post by M1104 on Oct 29, 2013 14:51:35 GMT
That may partially explain why some unique buses were allocated there, ie Dennis Hestair Dominator H1-3, M214 (or was it M205) with the retrofitted experimental turbo and the Cummin engined batch Metros M1084-1105. It was M205 (the heaters were crap) also BN ended up with DMS2205 fitted with a maxwell gearbox a friend of mine used to try and get that when he was on the N78's and they also had DMS2456 which had the prototype door set up that was used for the Olympians. I also remember DMS2456 with forward staircase. I almost forgot to include the two Mark2 Metrobuses, M1441 being with the Gardner engine, M1442 The L10 Cummin unit like M1084-1105. I think L1-3 were there briefly before going to SW with VoithboxH2 and H3, H1 having a faulty Maxwell gearbox. |
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Post by John tuthill on Oct 29, 2013 14:59:47 GMT
The erstwhile Mortlake Garage Absolutely! Their RMs were always immaculately turned out, and towards the end they had chrome headlamp rings and polished nut guard rings. My own favourite has to be SW, as a kid rows and rows of RTLs, the last eastbound 37 used to show: "CLAPHAM COMMON STN" Butr the conductors would let mw travel to the Binfield Road entrance, as I lived in the flats opposite. We always had the 'prototype's' i.e. V1-V3, H1 & H2, plus the shopping link RMs, and the Scottish coaches which were turned around there. I remember in the '60s there was a BBC O/B from the garage, a motoring programme called 'Wheelbase' the precursor to 'Top Gear' There is one scene in that brilliant DVD called 'All that mighty heart' where an RM is coming out of the garage the wrong way, displaying route number 48 and PR garage code. Happy days |
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Post by WLT892 on Oct 29, 2013 16:45:41 GMT
If I remember this correctly BN used to be one of the best garages in LT days for bus maintenance but nowadays the bus companies have got to put money in the shareholders pockets so costs have to be reduced (wages longer duties etc) mechanics used to be a skilled job so wages can't drop as such but there is now fewer mechanics to deal with more vehicles. When CN was mothballed I believe the mechanics were transferred to TH and TC more mechanics mean more maintenance. When I worked at BN the mechanical standards were still reasonably good but a lot of the LT trained mechanics have now retired/severence and not been replaced. That may partially explain why some unique buses were allocated there, ie Dennis Hestair Dominator H1-3, M214 (or was it M205) with the retrofitted experimental turbo and the Cummin engined batch Metros M1084-1105. Well in fairness Brixton did win garage of the year back in 2007  But that was years ago anyway. BN did have unique buses back then, M205 had Deutz engine whilst M597 had Maxwell gearbox and of course the Ogle Designs DMS2456. But what fascinated me the most was BN was the only garage to progress to Ms and gradually regress back to DMSs. |
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Post by vjaska on Oct 29, 2013 18:28:07 GMT
That may partially explain why some unique buses were allocated there, ie Dennis Hestair Dominator H1-3, M214 (or was it M205) with the retrofitted experimental turbo and the Cummin engined batch Metros M1084-1105. Well in fairness Brixton did win garage of the year back in 2007 But that was years ago anyway. BN did have unique buses back then, M205 had Deutz engine whilst M597 had Maxwell gearbox and of course the Ogle Designs DMS2456. But what fascinated me the most was BN was the only garage to progress to Ms and gradually regress back to DMSs. The poor standards began to grow around 2010 - have to say, at least the drivers have remained good throughout. I rode the M's at BN but I'm too young for all the rest - sounds like good times. |
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Post by LX09FBJ on Oct 29, 2013 19:19:04 GMT
My favourites are:
London United: AV, S and V
Go-Ahead London: AF (FYI my least favourite is MW)
Stagecoach: TL and PD
Metroline HT (if they lose the 43 it would be better), AH and AC
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Post by COBO on Oct 29, 2013 20:25:44 GMT
My favourites are: London United: AV, S and V Go-Ahead London: AF (FYI my least favourite is MW) Stagecoach: TL and PD Metroline HT (if they lose the 43 it would be better), AH and AC Why would it be better for HT if it lost 43? |
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Post by vjaska on Oct 29, 2013 20:44:04 GMT
My favourites are: London United: AV, S and V Go-Ahead London: AF (FYI my least favourite is MW) Stagecoach: TL and PD Metroline HT (if they lose the 43 it would be better), AH and AC What's wrong with MW, they operated the 133 well. |
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Post by IanF on Oct 29, 2013 21:09:19 GMT
My favourites are: London United: AV, S and V Go-Ahead London: AF (FYI my least favourite is MW) Stagecoach: TL and PD Metroline HT (if they lose the 43 it would be better), AH and AC What's wrong with MW, they operated the 133 well. MW are a good garage imo they run the 453 which goes through horrible areas for traffic with a pretty good service. |
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Post by M1104 on Oct 29, 2013 21:19:58 GMT
That may partially explain why some unique buses were allocated there, ie Dennis Hestair Dominator H1-3, M214 (or was it M205) with the retrofitted experimental turbo and the Cummin engined batch Metros M1084-1105. Well in fairness Brixton did win garage of the year back in 2007 But that was years ago anyway. BN did have unique buses back then, M205 had Deutz engine whilst M597 had Maxwell gearbox and of course the Ogle Designs DMS2456. But what fascinated me the most was BN was the only garage to progress to Ms and gradually regress back to DMSs. I remember that time with them going back to DMSs, I think it was something to do with a route going OPO (possibly the 49) where Metrobuses were needed at AK. I believe strike action was considered because of the influx of older buses. The only Metros that remained were the Cummin engine examples |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2013 21:36:00 GMT
Got to be Stockwell for me, a great barrel of a building. It makes you realise quite how much of a ground breaking organisation LT was in its day
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But that was years ago anyway. BN did have unique buses back then, M205 had Deutz engine whilst M597 had Maxwell gearbox and of course the Ogle Designs DMS2456. But what fascinated me the most was BN was the only garage to progress to Ms and gradually regress back to DMSs.
