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Post by VPL630 on May 16, 2017 8:18:27 GMT
So I Route learned the 336 today, well I tried too, it's so confusing, and there are little to none passing places and the timetable seems to be really tight, I'll be attempting to drive it tomorrow along with the 146 which is a much better route, I'll keep you updated on how badly my day goes (makes sudden decision to ride on the 336 for the first time  ) Not really.  Good luck as I think you may need it based on past remarks on here about that route and its clientel.  I don't normally find routes hard to learn but firstly, I've never been on the 336 until yesterday, very little of the roads it goes down look like a bus actually goes down them, it's also on diversion, various Hail and Ride sections, I thought the 386 was bad but this is something else, the 146 on the other hand is really simple and easy, looking forward to that bit, I'm also the last bus |
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Post by sid on May 16, 2017 15:43:59 GMT
(makes sudden decision to ride on the 336 for the first time ) Not really. Good luck as I think you may need it based on past remarks on here about that route and its clientel. I don't normally find routes hard to learn but firstly, I've never been on the 336 until yesterday, very little of the roads it goes down look like a bus actually goes down them, it's also on diversion, various Hail and Ride sections, I thought the 386 was bad but this is something else, the 146 on the other hand is really simple and easy, looking forward to that bit, I'm also the last bus I assume you mean the Bromley to Catford bit? It's not the easiest although I knew the area reasonably well when I done it which helps, it was never the most popular of routes amongst drivers, the 146 by comparison is a lovely route. |
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PaulH
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Post by PaulH on May 16, 2017 16:17:12 GMT
(makes sudden decision to ride on the 336 for the first time ) Not really. Good luck as I think you may need it based on past remarks on here about that route and its clientel. I don't normally find routes hard to learn but firstly, I've never been on the 336 until yesterday, very little of the roads it goes down look like a bus actually goes down them, it's also on diversion, various Hail and Ride sections, I thought the 386 was bad but this is something else, the 146 on the other hand is really simple and easy, looking forward to that bit, I'm also the last bus Are you covering duty 805 then? |
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Post by VPL630 on May 16, 2017 17:38:25 GMT
I don't normally find routes hard to learn but firstly, I've never been on the 336 until yesterday, very little of the roads it goes down look like a bus actually goes down them, it's also on diversion, various Hail and Ride sections, I thought the 386 was bad but this is something else, the 146 on the other hand is really simple and easy, looking forward to that bit, I'm also the last bus I assume you mean the Bromley to Catford bit? It's not the easiest although I knew the area reasonably well when I done it which helps, it was never the most popular of routes amongst drivers, the 146 by comparison is a lovely route. Annoying the only time on the 146 where you are solely on the 146 is on a Saturday, M-F and Sunday you have to suffer a 336 as well which after doing a round isn't that bad, I did laugh when a wicks lorry turned into Brookehowse Rd without looking into the road and seeing me, he quickly found reverse as there was nowhere for me to go, other than that, had no issues, times don't seem that bad I don't normally find routes hard to learn but firstly, I've never been on the 336 until yesterday, very little of the roads it goes down look like a bus actually goes down them, it's also on diversion, various Hail and Ride sections, I thought the 386 was bad but this is something else, the 146 on the other hand is really simple and easy, looking forward to that bit, I'm also the last bus Are you covering duty 805 then? Correct, all going well at the moment |
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PaulH
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Post by PaulH on May 16, 2017 19:37:24 GMT
I assume you mean the Bromley to Catford bit? It's not the easiest although I knew the area reasonably well when I done it which helps, it was never the most popular of routes amongst drivers, the 146 by comparison is a lovely route. Annoying the only time on the 146 where you are solely on the 146 is on a Saturday, M-F and Sunday you have to suffer a 336 as well which after doing a round isn't that bad, I did laugh when a wicks lorry turned into Brookehowse Rd without looking into the road and seeing me, he quickly found reverse as there was nowhere for me to go, other than that, had no issues, times don't seem that bad Are you covering duty 805 then? Correct, all going well at the moment That's good. I presume all must have gone well on the 336 as, by the time you see this, you'll be back at Bromley North on your first 146 trip. If I can get out later, I'll pop out and say hi! |
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Post by VPL630 on May 16, 2017 19:47:48 GMT
Yeah was all fine, if the rounder I've just done is anything to go by it's going to be a quiet night, 5 people so far and no one from Downe, I've got 36611 and it really is jerky, not helping my GreenRoad
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Post by VPL630 on May 17, 2017 21:48:37 GMT
I route learned the R5/10, R7 and 261 today, the 261 was pretty boring.
The R5 is something totally different, I've never been on the route previously and was certainly an experience, I'm not sure who the driver was, young chap but his driving was spot on, couldn't fault it at all, only let down by the jerky retarder on these Voith E200's, the roads this route passes down are hardly suitable for a bus and one mistake could easily end in an accident, my gf who had the day off came with me and was totally surprised that a bus routes goes down roads like this, I will certainly be looking forward to driving this route.
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Post by Paul on May 18, 2017 11:36:47 GMT
I route learned the R5/10, R7 and 261 today, the 261 was pretty boring. The R5 is something totally different, I've never been on the route previously and was certainly an experience, I'm not sure who the driver was, young chap but his driving was spot on, couldn't fault it at all, only let down by the jerky retarder on these Voith E200's, the roads this route passes down are hardly suitable for a bus and one mistake could easily end in an accident, my gf who had the day off came with me and was totally surprised that a bus routes goes down roads like this, I will certainly be looking forward to driving this route. Given I'm on holiday until the beginning you might your services called upon to cover my duties I do find the reactions from those route learning amusing. They may have heard the stories in the canteen but have probably assumed we are exaggerating. Then they go out on the route........ I'm sure you've seen me say this elsewhere around here but the route isn't for everyone - you need a lot of patience and you need to accept that you WILL get stuck sometimes. It's probably also worth noting that the busiest trips are the 0700, 0816, 1432, 1546 and 1705 departures from Orpington are the busiest trips in terms of traffic. I'm sure Chris or Sam (the only drivers who fit the 'young guy' description ) will have told you all this Oh yeah, and watch out for Mary! |
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Post by VPL630 on May 18, 2017 12:40:16 GMT
I route learned the R5/10, R7 and 261 today, the 261 was pretty boring. The R5 is something totally different, I've never been on the route previously and was certainly an experience, I'm not sure who the driver was, young chap but his driving was spot on, couldn't fault it at all, only let down by the jerky retarder on these Voith E200's, the roads this route passes down are hardly suitable for a bus and one mistake could easily end in an accident, my gf who had the day off came with me and was totally surprised that a bus routes goes down roads like this, I will certainly be looking forward to driving this route. Given I'm on holiday until the beginning you might your services called upon to cover my duties I do find the reactions from those route learning amusing. They may have heard the stories in the canteen but have probably assumed we are exaggerating. Then they go out on the route........ I'm sure you've seen me say this elsewhere around here but the route isn't for everyone - you need a lot of patience and you need to accept that you WILL get stuck sometimes. It's probably also worth noting that the busiest trips are the 0700, 0816, 1432, 1546 and 1705 departures from Orpington are the busiest trips in terms of traffic. I'm sure Chris or Sam (the only drivers who fit the 'young guy' description ) will have told you all this Oh yeah, and watch out for Mary! Yeah, I can certainly see why this isn't for everyone and I don't blame them, enough buses get smashed up on the 146 and that only has a 5 min tight section while the R5/10 spends the majority of its hour long journey down tight roads, patience is certainly required |
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Post by lwldriver on May 18, 2017 15:51:59 GMT
Given I'm on holiday until the beginning you might your services called upon to cover my duties I do find the reactions from those route learning amusing. They may have heard the stories in the canteen but have probably assumed we are exaggerating. Then they go out on the route........ I'm sure you've seen me say this elsewhere around here but the route isn't for everyone - you need a lot of patience and you need to accept that you WILL get stuck sometimes. It's probably also worth noting that the busiest trips are the 0700, 0816, 1432, 1546 and 1705 departures from Orpington are the busiest trips in terms of traffic. I'm sure Chris or Sam (the only drivers who fit the 'young guy' description ) will have told you all this Oh yeah, and watch out for Mary! Yeah, I can certainly see why this isn't for everyone and I don't blame them, enough buses get smashed up on the 146 and that only has a 5 min tight section while the R5/10 spends the majority of its hour long journey down tight roads, patience is certainly required I used to like the 261 when I drove it from TB a few years back. |
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Post by Paul on May 18, 2017 16:46:22 GMT
Yeah, I can certainly see why this isn't for everyone and I don't blame them, enough buses get smashed up on the 146 and that only has a 5 min tight section while the R5/10 spends the majority of its hour long journey down tight roads, patience is certainly required I used to like the 261 when I drove it from TB a few years back. Actually yeah, I meant to mention this in my original post but I never had a problem with the 261. It generally goes quite quickly but if problems do occur the delays can be substantial. I remember it taking me 2 1/2 hours to do Lee Green to Grove Park once after the South Circular was closed and all traffic diverted along Baring Road and Downham Way. I do have to say though, the 20 mph speed limits are very frustrating And also wanted to say how much I enjoy the 'new' R7. It's a long old time from Chislehurst to Chelsfield Village and back (only minimal stand at the Five Bells) but I've always enjoyed longer routes. As far as I'm aware as well the service hasn't fallen apart like many of us expected thanks to the traffic at the Chislehurst end. The stand time at Chislehurst and running time to the Aquila means you can easily pull back a 15 minute late arrival at Chislehurst |
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Post by VPL630 on May 18, 2017 21:17:02 GMT
I used to like the 261 when I drove it from TB a few years back. Actually yeah, I meant to mention this in my original post but I never had a problem with the 261. It generally goes quite quickly but if problems do occur the delays can be substantial. I remember it taking me 2 1/2 hours to do Lee Green to Grove Park once after the South Circular was closed and all traffic diverted along Baring Road and Downham Way. I do have to say though, the 20 mph speed limits are very frustrating And also wanted to say how much I enjoy the 'new' R7. It's a long old time from Chislehurst to Chelsfield Village and back (only minimal stand at the Five Bells) but I've always enjoyed longer routes. As far as I'm aware as well the service hasn't fallen apart like many of us expected thanks to the traffic at the Chislehurst end. The stand time at Chislehurst and running time to the Aquila means you can easily pull back a 15 minute late arrival at Chislehurst The R7 that day was suffering with serious delays because of temp lights in sidcup, yes sidcup, the traffic was all the way back to Bromley, our bus was turned at Orpington station and apparently was the first time a new R7 had been turned due to late running The running times on the 261 are pretty much impossible with those 20mph speed limits and extra traffic caused by the rain today, I didn't see the stand at Lewisham on my second half at all and still managed to catch my leader twice, various turns was used today, still was quite pleasant |
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Post by londonbusboy on May 19, 2017 8:36:58 GMT
Yeah, I can certainly see why this isn't for everyone and I don't blame them, enough buses get smashed up on the 146 and that only has a 5 min tight section while the R5/10 spends the majority of its hour long journey down tight roads, patience is certainly required I used to like the 261 when I drove it from TB a few years back. I never liked doing the 261 even before the 20mph limits went in |
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Post by VPL630 on Jun 19, 2017 9:37:47 GMT
The deed has finally been done, drove my first school bus today in the form of the 664, later on I'm on the R5/10 and then back on the 664 for the afternoon journey.
The 664 is quite scenic and was enjoyable, wasn't that busy but I've been told it's bad in the afternoon but anyway looking forward to the R5/10 next
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Post by VPL630 on Jun 19, 2017 14:13:28 GMT
2 rounders down and 5 lorries later, I can now say I've done the R5/10, it's actually a lovely route to drive, passengers are nice and friendly and helpful in regard to where they want to get off, the majority of car drivers are understanding until I met an Uber driver... anyway I'm glad I've done them, I don't think I'll be on loan to Bromley much longer for a various reasons mainly being I'm now traveling from brentwood, but we will see what happens
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