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Post by portman227 on Sept 6, 2016 23:30:52 GMT
Done my first 472 on Friday. A rather enjoyable experience. It certainly made a difference to have a change of scenery. Alas, I was back on 51 on Saturday, and my god what a horrible day. Temporary lights at the junction of Sidcup Hill and Cray Road caused huge delays on the route. I had a turn at St Mary Cray Station, and still ended up 35 minutes late for my meal relief. On 51 today, and hopefully it's better. Tomorrow, 1st day out on 96 for a couple of days. Quite enjoying being on the proper spare rota rather than the 51 nursery rota. Much prefer the variety. I beat you to the 96 lol. I did the 96 last month as spare duty and it was one of my mate and he was very ill so I helped hold out. End to end a tad over an hour, less than 1hr 10 but you don't feel it. You are constantly on the move and that's what I love about the route. Gives you a chance to give the bus some wellies. Got up to 45mph on one of the B5LHs but not enough room, and plenty of stand time at Bluewater. The only trouble I had was with coming into Bluewater, the danger of making the wrong exit, gets a bit confusing for me there. |
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Post by nickfreckle on Sept 7, 2016 6:46:00 GMT
Unfortunately, I've been dragged down to Bluewater kicking and screaming by my not very much hair by the wife, so that bit I was fine with. The only problem, if it could be called that, was through Crayford where on my first run out to Woolwich on my own I had a brain freeze and wasn't sure if I went left or right. I tentatively went left and got the display up on my MDT waiting for the little scratching head geezer to come up in the corner, but alas it didn't and I was fine after that.
I did two days on it, but I'm now back on 51 today, rest day tomorrow, and a 472 rest day on Friday followed by a weekend off and a week of 51 earlies.
I think the 14 plate Volvos are now my favourite bus.
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Post by sid on Sept 7, 2016 8:24:57 GMT
Done my first 472 on Friday. A rather enjoyable experience. It certainly made a difference to have a change of scenery. Alas, I was back on 51 on Saturday, and my god what a horrible day. Temporary lights at the junction of Sidcup Hill and Cray Road caused huge delays on the route. I had a turn at St Mary Cray Station, and still ended up 35 minutes late for my meal relief. On 51 today, and hopefully it's better. Tomorrow, 1st day out on 96 for a couple of days. Quite enjoying being on the proper spare rota rather than the 51 nursery rota. Much prefer the variety. I beat you to the 96 lol. I did the 96 last month as spare duty and it was one of my mate and he was very ill so I helped hold out. End to end a tad over an hour, less than 1hr 10 but you don't feel it. You are constantly on the move and that's what I love about the route. Gives you a chance to give the bus some wellies. Got up to 45mph on one of the B5LHs but not enough room, and plenty of stand time at Bluewater. The only trouble I had was with coming into Bluewater, the danger of making the wrong exit, gets a bit confusing for me there. You wouldn't be the first driver to come a cropper at Bluewater  |
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Post by john on Sept 14, 2016 10:29:55 GMT
So after just 6 months I'll be on rota from 1st October. What route have they given me I hear you ask?? (I don't but it sounds good!) Well it's the 287. Not too upset by that so will see what it's like full time on one route now!!
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Post by ThinLizzy on Sept 14, 2016 20:13:18 GMT
So after just 6 months I'll be on rota from 1st October. What route have they given me I hear you ask?? (I don't but it sounds good!) Well it's the 287. Not too upset by that so will see what it's like full time on one route now!! As I've said before, I'd happily drive up and down the 287 route if I could drive a bus (or car!) Unfortunately I don't think I'd get my DLR train on the A13 any time soon... |
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Post by nickfreckle on Sept 14, 2016 20:51:01 GMT
So after just 6 months I'll be on rota from 1st October. What route have they given me I hear you ask?? (I don't but it sounds good!) Well it's the 287. Not too upset by that so will see what it's like full time on one route now!! Nice. Looking at being on the spares for yonks at PD... |
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Post by VPL630 on Sept 22, 2016 17:06:10 GMT
So, yesterday I was on loan to Bow, doing a rounder on the 277, and 2 on the 8
The 277, a route I learned ages ago but never ended up driving until yesterday and ended up learning the extension about an hour before I signed on, oh well haha
Having never done the route before when it went to leamouth, I'm not sure if with the extension the running time has changed but found the times very tight and it wasn't just me, various drivers were moaning about, judging by a notice in the garage they are aware of it but as some drivers are flying round the route to keep to time, nothing is going to be done, this is a problem with many routes, certain drivers flying round to keep to time, not taking 5 mins at each end meaning the schedules don't get changed to reflect the ever increasing traffic conditions.
Anyway, the route is quite nice, quite busy but some nice clear wide open sections where you aren't stuck in traffic, the loop round canary wharf is causing a bit of confusion even more so with passengers not looking at what destination the bus is showing but over all, on both my trips I had quite a few people to crossharbour, so can see it picking up a little more, as of yesterday there were still a few stops missing 277 Tiles
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Post by ThinLizzy on Sept 23, 2016 8:38:37 GMT
So, yesterday I was on loan to Bow, doing a rounder on the 277, and 2 on the 8 The 277, a route I learned ages ago but never ended up driving until yesterday and ended up learning the extension about an hour before I signed on, oh well haha Having never done the route before when it went to leamouth, I'm not sure if with the extension the running time has changed but found the times very tight and it wasn't just me, various drivers were moaning about, judging by a notice in the garage they are aware of it but as some drivers are flying round the route to keep to time, nothing is going to be done, this is a problem with many routes, certain drivers flying round to keep to time, not taking 5 mins at each end meaning the schedules don't get changed to reflect the ever increasing traffic conditions. Anyway, the route is quite nice, quite busy but some nice clear wide open sections where you aren't stuck in traffic, the loop round canary wharf is causing a bit of confusion even more so with passengers not looking at what destination the bus is showing but over all, on both my trips I had quite a few people to crossharbour, so can see it picking up a little more, as of yesterday there were still a few stops missing 277 Tiles I'm half way through 3 weeks leave, it's going to be really weird seeing 277s on the stand at Crossharbour |
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Post by VPL630 on Sept 23, 2016 8:57:36 GMT
So, yesterday I was on loan to Bow, doing a rounder on the 277, and 2 on the 8 The 277, a route I learned ages ago but never ended up driving until yesterday and ended up learning the extension about an hour before I signed on, oh well haha Having never done the route before when it went to leamouth, I'm not sure if with the extension the running time has changed but found the times very tight and it wasn't just me, various drivers were moaning about, judging by a notice in the garage they are aware of it but as some drivers are flying round the route to keep to time, nothing is going to be done, this is a problem with many routes, certain drivers flying round to keep to time, not taking 5 mins at each end meaning the schedules don't get changed to reflect the ever increasing traffic conditions. Anyway, the route is quite nice, quite busy but some nice clear wide open sections where you aren't stuck in traffic, the loop round canary wharf is causing a bit of confusion even more so with passengers not looking at what destination the bus is showing but over all, on both my trips I had quite a few people to crossharbour, so can see it picking up a little more, as of yesterday there were still a few stops missing 277 Tiles I'm half way through 3 weeks leave, it's going to be really weird seeing 277s on the stand at Crossharbour You'll be lucky to see one on the actual stand, on all my trips there was no space so was forced to use the overflow stand  Stagecoach London 15110 LX09 FZG Route 277 by David McKay, on Flickr |
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Post by nickfreckle on Oct 8, 2016 12:55:30 GMT
Well I'll be buggered. I speculatively applied for a GS position at PD (If you don't try, you don't get) - and I've got a selection test in a couple of weeks at WH  |
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Post by VPL630 on Oct 8, 2016 14:43:19 GMT
Well I'll be buggered. I speculatively applied for a GS position at PD (If you don't try, you don't get) - and I've got a selection test in a couple of weeks at WH Best of luck, If I didn't live so far away I would have applied |
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Post by nickfreckle on Oct 8, 2016 16:26:37 GMT
Well I'll be buggered. I speculatively applied for a GS position at PD (If you don't try, you don't get) - and I've got a selection test in a couple of weeks at WH Best of luck, If I didn't live so far away I would have applied Cheers dude. In all honesty, I thought they would have slung my application out immediately, and I didn't expect in a million years that I would get to the first stage of the process. Don't suppose anyone on here knows what the selection test entails do they? |
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Post by snoggle on Oct 8, 2016 16:44:47 GMT
Best of luck, If I didn't live so far away I would have applied Cheers dude. In all honesty, I thought they would have slung my application out immediately, and I didn't expect in a million years that I would get to the first stage of the process. Don't suppose anyone on here knows what the selection test entails do they? I suspect Stagecoach like people who show some initiative and "get up and go". Even if you don't succeed at the first go you will get some pointers and hopefully feedback to allow you to develop for a second go. They seem to have a knack for growing their own talent as you'll see from the regional appointments with people working in different roles and being transferred across the country (at more senior level). |
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Post by john on Oct 8, 2016 17:18:13 GMT
Best of luck, If I didn't live so far away I would have applied Cheers dude. In all honesty, I thought they would have slung my application out immediately, and I didn't expect in a million years that I would get to the first stage of the process. Don't suppose anyone on here knows what the selection test entails do they? Ironically I just applied for one of the Environmental Champions, again just to see what would happen. Like my instructors said, once you're in there just apply for anything you fancy and go from there |
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Post by nickfreckle on Oct 9, 2016 7:12:59 GMT
Cheers dude. In all honesty, I thought they would have slung my application out immediately, and I didn't expect in a million years that I would get to the first stage of the process. Don't suppose anyone on here knows what the selection test entails do they? I suspect Stagecoach like people who show some initiative and "get up and go". Even if you don't succeed at the first go you will get some pointers and hopefully feedback to allow you to develop for a second go. They seem to have a knack for growing their own talent as you'll see from the regional appointments with people working in different roles and being transferred across the country (at more senior level). I spoke to an existing GS on Facebook last night, who was kind enough to give me a little heads up on what the selection test is. From what he said, it doesn't appear to be anything I would struggle with. Apparently, the process is application, and it's whittled down according to your CV, attendance, and performance. You then get called in for a test if the criteria on that is met, then it's whittled down further after the selection test according to results, then the next stage is interview. Let's hope I get through the selection test ok, and all I can do after that is my best to impress at interview as it were. I'm quite excited by it all, and it would be a monumental achievement if I was to get it. I'm not hopeful as there's probably far more experienced candidates, but on the other hand, I can see how being new and not knowing any different and being ripe for moulding in the company way could be an advantage. Using cliched corporate speak, it's 'out of the box' thinking like that which can prove to be beneficial in the long term. Totally unreleated to the above, a little milestone was reached during the week when a controller actually addressed me by my first name rather than my running number when he called me up after I had a little issue with my bus  |
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