Post by galwhv69 on May 25, 2021 6:43:47 GMT
Apologies for not noting down fleetcodes, I just went on what was coming so it wasn't planned so didn't have time
Had nothing to do today, apart from having to go to Paddington Station to sort something out. Managed to get 3 different electric bus models which was I plan I made whilst on the move (the hydrogen is technically electric?)
170 (SE) - Dover Park Drive to Putney Heath/Green Man (Got this as 85 was meant to come but this came first and thought change at Putney Heath/Green Man will be quicker)
39 (SE) - Putney Hill/Green Man to Lytton Grove (Got this, went one stop before the dreaded service regulation announcement)
85 (VH) - Lytton Grove to St Marys Church/Putney Pier (Got the bus behind, which was the 85 I was meant to catch, which was bunched with another 85)
220 (ADH) - St Marys Church/Putney Pier to Hammersmith Bus Station (Nice and nippy, unfortunately would've missed a WHD on the 7 had I stayed on so I got off at Hammersmith)
23 (OE) - Hammersmith Bus Station to Paddington Station (First time on an OE, and all I can say is wow, no rattles, bright and airy inside, sleek and just generally a very smooth and nice ride)
*Went to Paddington Station*
7 (WHD) - Paddington Station to Oxford Circus (Bus Stand) (Didn't have long to wait, however I did notice that every so often these buses start making a noise as if they're about to take off like an airplane or F1 car. Took photos and had a chat with the driver (He hates these and prefers "old school"))
7 (WHD) - Oxford Circus (Bus Stand) to Brunel Road (Took this end to end, generally a nice ride, and apart from the occasional jet engine style noise it was decent, though fairly loud for an electric. These seem to have ISA fitted )
7 (VWH) - Brunel Road to East Acton Station (So I was going to go back on the WHD towards Zone 1, however the driver had to go out of service to the garage. Whilst getting off, a lovely old lady realised she was in the wrong place (We were at East Acton Industrial Estate and she wanted to go to Acton Morrisons). As I had nothing to do, I made sure that she got to Morrisons. (Also, partially because I misread my maps and thought that Morrisons was close to Acton Green!)
70 (BE) - East Acton Station to Steyne Road (Had a lovely chat with the lady, then made sure she got off at Morrisons
*At this point my Instagram got hacked, so I spent a good 15 minutes at the bus stop trying to stop it and managed to finally disable my account *
207 (MMC)- Acton Old Town Hall to Shepherd's Bush Station (Was going to get a 607, however just missed one and didn't fancy waiting 10 minutes as it started raining)
94 (BCE)- Shepherd's Bush to Charles II Street (Just missed one, however next one was only 3 minutes away (with no regulation during the trip!). The driver was being assessed by 2 staff with checklists, and I overheard them saying how the ISA hasn't been programmed for the majority of the area the 94 serves! (Apparently only programmed at the Acton end). Got some photos at the stand, tried getting a blind change (staff thought these had 72 on blinds, however controller showed that these only have 94 & 148))
38 (LT)- Piccadilly Circus to Buckingham Palace Road/Bressenden Place (Regulation galore! As the bus was close to the one in front. Believe I was also the only passenger for a few stops. Driver had to regulate just before Victoria Bus Station so I got off there.)
*Went to Victoria Station for toilet and to M&S for food (come on, Is M&S the only supermarket in the area!! Overpriced lol)*
V170 (Baby SE) - Victoria to Exeter House (Driver was great, greeted all passengers, waited for me to take photos, and safely let off people in horrendous traffic. Fr some reason, the V extra was nearly empty throughout the whole journey, including me there was maximum 2 other people at any one time and for a few sections I was the only passenger. Normally the V extra would be full! Traffic was horrendous on Lombard Road so took a good 10 minutes just to turn the corner. (I looked at the schedule and this seems accounted for so horrendous traffic there must be normal))
Overall, a great trip. I managed to sample an ADL, Optare & Wright Electric (/Hydrogen), as well as go through a few areas and get a few routes I wouldn't otherwise use or go through
Will try to upload some photos later
Great read! I think the thing with the ISA on the BCEs is the new 20mph main roads in RBKC and Westminster are still set to 30mph on the buses. It’s similar to the 65s VHs where the ones that actually have it installed are allowed up to 30mph except between The Dysart and just after Sandy Lane where the bus limit changes to 20mph. There seem to be more VHs that don’t have ISA recently.
What’s also interesting is the Abellio Smart Hybrids on the 285 and 482 show the correct limit on the dashboard but doesn’t actually have any sort of limiter. I’ve been on many 285s absolutely caning it through Teddington, especially when it had that tight COVID timetable.