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Post by londonbusboy on Aug 19, 2015 22:40:29 GMT
11H's and 57 mins later and I've successfully completed the second longest job at Leyton Garage, starting to enjoy the 56, the passengers seem to be all nice, friendly and well my age is a conversation starter plus the fact I look about 12 haha. Me with 12135 scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11902394_10203551016050767_710813574432899824_n.jpg?oh=957aba35fc3ac81fe1c4dd5a9a53b6b0&oe=563A8E3EJust I find driving the hybrids boring, they are quick but everything is just slightly delayed and taking off after closing the back doors takes a few seconds before it decides to move off same with when the handbrake is applied, They are very predictable and pretty much all drive the same, there are some faster than others and some that sound better than others but I don't know what it is, It's just not the same as driving a bus where the engine is connected to the wheels, Also the seats in them are horrible (I think this is a general envrio problem) where the seat can rock forwards and backwards, These are relatively new buses yet the TA's don't have this problem and the TA's well for me anyway are much nicer to drive even if they are slightly slower just more fun and enjoyable and the doors are quicker and the ramp is quicker and you can kneel them with the doors open. Only real thing I'm not a fan of with the 56 route is the fact you have to keep moving your bus up on the stands, I wouldn't mind having just 5 mins stand time if I had that 5 mins to myself and not be interrupted by having to move my bus 10 meters to turn it off and on again to leave, can't have everything I suppose The fake leather ones rock  The cloth material ones are much better, talking of which i went past a 75 hybrid the other day with a classic cloth drivers seat it did look a bit odd. |
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Post by T.R. on Aug 20, 2015 18:30:36 GMT
Belated congratulations ;D IIRC I've been a passenger (briefly) and can say that your driving is good  And I did overhear some passengers trying to guess your age lol |
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Post by snoggle on Aug 20, 2015 20:45:12 GMT
And I did overhear some passengers trying to guess your age lol I was just saying the same thing to my friend Beryl the other day. I got that 56 bus the other day and there was this new driver that I've not seen before. I do keep a look out you know - the nice ones who drive smoothly, and don't have me hanging on the handrail as if my life depended on it, I'll give some sweeties to. Anyway I couldn't help thinking that either I'm getting very old  or else they really are making bus drivers much younger these days. Still at least he didn't get lost this time and the bus came when it was supposed to.  Now where did I put me bag of lemon sherbets?  |
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Post by VPL630 on Aug 20, 2015 23:00:00 GMT
Belated congratulations ;D IIRC I've been a passenger (briefly) and can say that your driving is good And I did overhear some passengers trying to guess your age lol Thanks Dalston Junction by any chance ? Should have said Hi  I get it ALL the time, even when I'm walking into the garage, Other bus drivers who happen to stop next/opposite me, other car/van drivers, people walking down the street, passengers getting on/off and so far everyone has wished me well and good luck. There have been a few drivers who have made comments but all jokingly, I can deal with it, there are a lot of good friendly people at Leyton |
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Post by VPL630 on Aug 20, 2015 23:04:45 GMT
And I did overhear some passengers trying to guess your age lol I was just saying the same thing to my friend Beryl the other day. I got that 56 bus the other day and there was this new driver that I've not seen before. I do keep a look out you know - the nice ones who drive smoothly, and don't have me hanging on the handrail as if my life depended on it, I'll give some sweeties to. Anyway I couldn't help thinking that either I'm getting very old or else they really are making bus drivers much younger these days. Still at least he didn't get lost this time and the bus came when it was supposed to. Now where did I put me bag of lemon sherbets? I guess Beryl and her friends must have been on my bus Wednesday Morning, They weren't lemon sherbets tho #MintsForTheWin |
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Post by T.R. on Aug 21, 2015 12:09:12 GMT
Belated congratulations ;D IIRC I've been a passenger (briefly) and can say that your driving is good And I did overhear some passengers trying to guess your age lol Thanks Dalston Junction by any chance ? Should have said Hi I get it ALL the time, even when I'm walking into the garage, Other bus drivers who happen to stop next/opposite me, other car/van drivers, people walking down the street, passengers getting on/off and so far everyone has wished me well and good luck. There have been a few drivers who have made comments but all jokingly, I can deal with it, there are a lot of good friendly people at Leyton Close enough- Mildmay Park I'm of the rare breed of CAs hanging out the back of 38s on Essex Road, so I'll keep a lookout from now (didn't know what you looked like!). |
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Post by VPL630 on Aug 21, 2015 13:44:45 GMT
Thanks Dalston Junction by any chance ? Should have said Hi I get it ALL the time, even when I'm walking into the garage, Other bus drivers who happen to stop next/opposite me, other car/van drivers, people walking down the street, passengers getting on/off and so far everyone has wished me well and good luck. There have been a few drivers who have made comments but all jokingly, I can deal with it, there are a lot of good friendly people at Leyton Close enough- Mildmay Park I'm of the rare breed of CAs hanging out the back of 38s on Essex Road, so I'll keep a lookout from now (didn't know what you looked like!). Fair enough, the 56 picks up quite a lot of CA's and Arriva drivers to be fair, I just wish they would serve the changeover point stop correctly and also put there hazards on as its a pain trying to load/unload a wheelchair passenger when some 38 is "dumped" at the stop with no inductors on Still don't I wow why I'm doing next week but it should be lates, hopefully going to get onto the 179 or 275 which should be fun |
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Post by mondraker275 on Aug 21, 2015 19:09:02 GMT
Thanks for keeping us updated through your progress its been great to read (maybe because your local as well!)
Are you still advising us 'Dont do it' after your first few weeks? Reading this makes me feel I want to do this apart from the 11 hour shift you mentioned.
I used to get the 'you look young for your age', but I soon realised they were all jealous, nothing wrong with looking young!!!
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Post by VPL630 on Aug 21, 2015 20:33:22 GMT
Thanks for keeping us updated through your progress its been great to read (maybe because your local as well!) Are you still advising us 'Dont do it' after your first few weeks? Reading this makes me feel I want to do this apart from the 11 hour shift you mentioned. I used to get the 'you look young for your age', but I soon realised they were all jealous, nothing wrong with looking young!!! Is Brentwood really local to Leyton or the 275 ? haha I don't know, probably because I want to like the job, I want to drive buses, I try be nice and polite to people to passengers or customers as TFL would call them because I feel I have too, so I don't find it like a job at the end of the day, I enjoy what I do to which to some of you will say "Give it a few weeks", I just don't care at the end of the day, I don't find it stressful, I find it slightly tiring but then I have just jumped into a full time job. It's not for everyone as already there have been people from my group that have already had enough after the first week. The longs shifts well at Leyton anyway are far and few, I think the longest is a 12 hour spread on the 275, me personally I'm not a fan as I have nothing to do for my almost 4 hour break and it's unpaid  but most jobs are around the 8/9 hour mark, it does vary a little by route EG the 48 is mainly 9/10 hour jobs and the 275 is mainly 8 hour jobs |
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Post by romfordbuses on Aug 21, 2015 21:44:32 GMT
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Post by VPL630 on Aug 22, 2015 11:42:53 GMT
Just need to learn to park straight in the yard now  That's the shutters job, I quote his words "Just dump it next to that enviro" |
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Post by VPL630 on Aug 24, 2015 8:09:15 GMT
Worked my First Rest Day yesterday as Leyton were nice enough to swap a RD for me, Shame it was on the 56's but oh well, First half was nice and quiet, second half was where it surprisingly worked out better for me, My leader went mechanical at the changeover point so I had a 2 bus road ahead of me, expecting to get rammed and lose time I actually got to St Barts 13 early (1 bar down on headway) and wasn't that busy, Had a lovely 20 mins stand and had a nice and easy rounder on the way back. Finished at St Barts and ran light via the 55 route, Had to Stop at Clapton pond as I needed the toilet but even if I hadn't I don't know how they expect you to get back to the garage on time following all theses stupid 20mph limits Been promoted to the 48 route today which is a great relief as I finally get the chance to drive something different. Over the weekend I had a very little spin in an LT, They don't feel as big from the cab, it feels like a well designed bus, the big mirrors help (I like big mirrors) The steering wheel is a bit small for my liking but I suppose if I was driving them all the time it wouldn't be a problem, Something I do also like is you can lower the bus and then deploy the ramp unlike in E400's which means sometimes you have to move to a different place to get the ramp out.  Stagecoach London 12140 LX61 DDO Route 56 by David McKay, on Flickr |
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Post by DLA 365 on Aug 24, 2015 12:38:48 GMT
Worked my First Rest Day yesterday as Leyton were nice enough to swap a RD for me, Shame it was on the 56's but oh well, First half was nice and quiet, second half was where it surprisingly worked out better for me, My leader went mechanical at the changeover point so I had a 2 bus road ahead of me, expecting to get rammed and lose time I actually got to St Barts 13 early (1 bar down on headway) and wasn't that busy, Had a lovely 20 mins stand and had a nice and easy rounder on the way back. Finished at St Barts and ran light via the 55 route, Had to Stop at Clapton pond as I needed the toilet but even if I hadn't I don't know how they expect you to get back to the garage on time following all theses stupid 20mph limits Been promoted to the 48 route today which is a great relief as I finally get the chance to drive something different. Over the weekend I had a very little spin in an LT, They don't feel as big from the cab, it feels like a well designed bus, the big mirrors help (I like big mirrors) The steering wheel is a bit small for my liking but I suppose if I was driving them all the time it wouldn't be a problem, Something I do also like is you can lower the bus and then deploy the ramp unlike in E400's which means sometimes you have to move to a different place to get the ramp out. Stagecoach London 12140 LX61 DDO Route 56 by David McKay, on Flickr That first journey on your second half was a pleasure to travel on. So much that I extended my travel to St Barts Hospital and back to the Angel. It is amazing to see how you can drive a bus so well and with confidence after just nine months of being on the road - well done Dave!! |
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Post by capitalomnibus on Aug 24, 2015 12:57:13 GMT
Worked my First Rest Day yesterday as Leyton were nice enough to swap a RD for me, Shame it was on the 56's but oh well, First half was nice and quiet, second half was where it surprisingly worked out better for me, My leader went mechanical at the changeover point so I had a 2 bus road ahead of me, expecting to get rammed and lose time I actually got to St Barts 13 early (1 bar down on headway) and wasn't that busy, Had a lovely 20 mins stand and had a nice and easy rounder on the way back. Finished at St Barts and ran light via the 55 route, Had to Stop at Clapton pond as I needed the toilet but even if I hadn't I don't know how they expect you to get back to the garage on time following all theses stupid 20mph limits Been promoted to the 48 route today which is a great relief as I finally get the chance to drive something different. Over the weekend I had a very little spin in an LT, They don't feel as big from the cab, it feels like a well designed bus, the big mirrors help (I like big mirrors) The steering wheel is a bit small for my liking but I suppose if I was driving them all the time it wouldn't be a problem, Something I do also like is you can lower the bus and then deploy the ramp unlike in E400's which means sometimes you have to move to a different place to get the ramp out. Stagecoach London 12140 LX61 DDO Route 56 by David McKay, on Flickr That first journey on your second half was a pleasure to travel on. So much that I extended my travel to St Barts Hospital and back to the Angel. It is amazing to see how you can drive a bus so well and with confidence after just nine months of being on the road - well done Dave!! 56 shouldn't be that busy, plus school is on holiday. Lea bridge rd has a high frequency with 48,55,56 now, compared to 15 years ago when they were 10 mins. The busy section tended to be from Clapton pond to angel. |
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Post by DLA 365 on Aug 24, 2015 13:10:45 GMT
There had been a long gap in service along the Lea Bridge Road so that part was busy. By the time we got to Hackney, we were fairly empty and by Dalston we had penny numbers on board. After this, we hardly stopped which allowed us to gain 10 minutes and follow the path of our leader.
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The cloth material ones are much better, talking of which i went past a 75 hybrid the other day with a classic cloth drivers seat it did look a bit odd.
or else they really are making bus drivers much younger these days. Still at least he didn't get lost this time and the bus came when it was supposed to. 
Now where did I put me bag of lemon sherbets? 
but most jobs are around the 8/9 hour mark, it does vary a little by route EG the 48 is mainly 9/10 hour jobs and the 275 is mainly 8 hour jobs
