|
|
Post by VPL630 on Feb 24, 2016 23:57:41 GMT
As tempting as it would be to take the bus home I don't think my neighbours would be too appreciative having a bus parked down their road I did however manage to return 10305 safely back to NS and what a lovely machine it was to drive, I'm amazed that ADL have built a half decent bus, with great visibility and it really is focused for the driver the only thing that lets it's down is the typical ADL ride quality but it is an improvement on the Enviro 400. Almost effortless to drive, the brakes are great and effective, there is minimal delay despite everything going through a multiplex system which normally has some sort of delay of the driver controls but none is apparent except for when you want to kneel the bus, other than that it's just great, doors are really quick. I'm also on the route every night until Friday  Only downside I would say is the indicators, too flipping loud! Ours are standard stagecoach spec and don't have indicator sounds |
|
|
|
Post by VPL630 on Feb 25, 2016 1:20:18 GMT
Now just remember to drive the bus back to the garage and not the space outside your home.   Why not? It was know when LT ran GS buses to lightly used locations, it was known for the last duty to end up at the drivers front door Because you can't do things like that now, if say something were to happen to the bus I would get the blame as the bus shouldn't have been there in the first place, I would also be deviating from my duty card, it's just not worth the risk or hassle |
|
|
|
Post by John tuthill on Feb 25, 2016 10:23:53 GMT
Why not? It was know when LT ran GS buses to lightly used locations, it was known for the last duty to end up at the drivers front door Because you can't do things like that now, if say something were to happen to the bus I would get the blame as the bus shouldn't have been there in the first place, I would also be deviating from my duty card, it's just not worth the risk or hassle I wasn't advocating 'taking your work home with you' just to show in more innocent and respectful of property times past, it had been done  |
|
|
|
Post by rambo on Feb 27, 2016 16:07:15 GMT
Really enjoyed this thread, you are a credit to london buses!
|
|
|
|
Post by John tuthill on Feb 27, 2016 18:42:52 GMT
Really enjoyed this thread, you are a credit to london buses! Happy Birthday |
|
|
|
Post by VPL630 on Mar 2, 2016 13:05:16 GMT
So in my week at Romford, I got to drive all 3 types of deckers on the 498, MMC's which are the nicest buses I've driven can't really fault them other than they like to change up a bit early for my liking but on acceleration they are quicker than Euro 5 examples and the ride feels somewhat compared to the old enviro, the all have stickers saying they are speed limited to 100kph but would only do an indicated 57mph, wish we had some at Leyton, hopefully we get some of the hybrid versions for the 48/56. The bog standard Euro 5 Enviro 400 flic.kr/p/DXfjx6 19741 which to my shock didn't need a starter key which pretty much the entire fleet needs (excluding boris buses because we don't own them), while it wasn't the fastest of buses on take off, it was much faster up the hill on London road towards Brentwood where the MMC's would love to change up early allowing for not much fun, having just driven MMC's for the last few days which have a lovely big N/S mirror, I wasn't over the moon having to adjust to the tiny mirrors fitted to the enviro but such is life, you can also notice the big difference in driving positions compared to the MMC which is 100% driver focused, the normal enviro still feels like a toy to me it just doesn't feel like a bus at all Now the oldest generation of ADL products the TA, much faster on acceleration than both of the newer forms, nicer to drive compared to the normal enviro (Well I think so anyway) and by far the fastest up the hill, lovely and warm cab heaters, good mirrors, can't really beat a TA, another reason why I like NS as there are loads of TA to drive Driving the 498 wasn't something I expected to be doing any time soon, I had asked a few times if I could do rest days at NS but no 498 jobs were ever available, the only way I managed to get the jobs I had were by swapping mine with rota driver as he wanted my earlies and I like doing lates, still it was a nice experience seeing quite a few people I know both friends and other people in the bus industry, everyone at NS seems welcoming and friendly but there still isn't the same atmosphere as at Leyton, The route itself is quite nice bar gallows corner as the traffic the can accumulate from the traffic building up on main road seems to be never ending and can quite easily soak up a lot of time then again this isn't helped by the double roundabouts in Brentwood causing traffic all down the High Street, around 3-6pm is where the stand time at the Brentwood end diminishes and this can effect on time departures but if you have a clear run back to Romford due to the flexible timings you can easily get yourself back on time, I only lost mileage once and that was due the ramp failing on my MMC which was quite annoying even more so when the ramp fully retracted but the bus still thought the ramp was out so wouldn't release the halt break  oh well, I'm back at Leyton for now, although I am looking to transfer to Romford or Rainham now that there are very few places you can park at Leyton |
|
|
|
Post by VPL630 on Mar 4, 2016 13:08:54 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by ThinLizzy on Mar 4, 2016 18:28:19 GMT
How about popping over to BK for a day on the 5s? Or even a spin in a Versa on the 62s? |
|
|
|
Post by capitalomnibus on Mar 4, 2016 22:56:01 GMT
So do you mean the time it finishes at Whipps Cross at 0109, till it would leave the garage at 0505 there is nothing to do. |
|
|
|
Post by VPL630 on Mar 5, 2016 0:12:22 GMT
How about popping over to BK for a day on the 5s? Or even a spin in a Versa on the 62s? The 5 is boring, busy and slow, I'm not really interested, I was given the option of doing an 5/N15 job but the N8 sounded easier but maybe one day if it mean I get to drive a TA The 62 I have no idea of the route and I'm not type trained on Versa's, I don't particularly want to drive one either |
|
|
|
Post by VPL630 on Mar 5, 2016 0:13:48 GMT
So do you mean the time it finishes at Whipps Cross at 0109, till it would leave the garage at 0505 there is nothing to do. Correct as far as I know |
|
|
|
Post by ThinLizzy on Mar 5, 2016 9:11:15 GMT
How about popping over to BK for a day on the 5s? Or even a spin in a Versa on the 62s? The 5 is boring, busy and slow, I'm not really interested, I was given the option of doing an 5/N15 job but the N8 sounded easier but maybe one day if it mean I get to drive a TA The 62 I have no idea of the route and I'm not type trained on Versa's, I don't particularly want to drive one either Don't blame you regarding the Versas, I've never seen anyone look happy driving one. The late night/early morning 5 is quite a bit quicker as is the N15, takes roughly 20-25 minutes Canning Town to where I live just past BK at night,it's at least 45 during the day. |
|
|
|
Post by nickfreckle on Apr 6, 2016 8:31:01 GMT
Hi,
I've been following this thread with much interest. I would just like to say a good job done by the original poster for being very informative and putting things in a concise and clear way, and for giving an excellent first hand account of what training is like with Stagecoach London.
I start driver training myself at WH this Monday coming, and thanks to this thread, I have a very good idea of what to expect.
Thank you!
|
|
|
|
Post by capitalomnibus on Apr 6, 2016 11:09:12 GMT
You seemed to be in a rush to get back to Leyton yesterday on the 55, lol. Thought that LT would soon spread its wings ready for take-off
|
|
|
|
Post by VPL630 on Apr 12, 2016 12:47:17 GMT
You seemed to be in a rush to get back to Leyton yesterday on the 55, lol. Thought that LT would soon spread its wings ready for take-off No Greenroad events were recorded for April the 5th so can't have been going that fast  didn't see you, guess you were on a 106 ? |
|
oh well, I'm back at Leyton for now, although I am looking to transfer to Romford or Rainham now that there are very few places you can park at Leyton 
didn't see you, guess you were on a 106 ?