|
Post by Alex on Oct 1, 2015 23:17:00 GMT
Just entered And me
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Sept 29, 2015 0:27:34 GMT
Please do contact PD and tell them. They will pass on your comments to him and believe me it's very pleasant to have nice things being said about you and your driving. People are far quicker to write in complaining so getting a compliment makes a very nice change. I had to see the GM a couple of weeks ago because someone had written in complimenting me on my driving and it put a smile on my face for the rest of the day I'm so glad to read this - I wrote in about the safe driving of a route 99 driver back in August 2013, the response I got was this: I am writing in response to your message about a driver on route 99.
It was pleasing to learn of the way in which the driver reacted to your presence as we place a great deal of emphasis on the safety of cyclists as well as other road users. The driver involved has been interviewed by his garage manager and your appreciation has been passed on to him and gratefully received. A note has also been made on his personnel record for future reference.
Thank you for taking the trouble to let us know about him. Now, I was glad to get the email, but I wondered if they had actually told the driver and just saying this to make me happy.....it seems though Paul they may have been telling me the truth Good stuff (especially if good news goes on their record too)! This contrasts to an email I sent praising a 157 driver for his excellent driving skills and use of the manual PA on Ibus (in the massive disruption when a crane in Croydon snapped in the air last January).....I seemed to get a fairly standard email from TfL, nothing from Abellio and indeed when I saw the driver next time I asked him if he had heard anything....he hadn't and the first he saw of it was when I showed him the sent email on my phone .....it seems Stagecoach are better at this sort of thing as I had both the TfL reply and a personal one from a manager at WH garage. Indeed write to them, I'm sure the driver would appreciate it!
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Sept 24, 2015 1:21:54 GMT
Wow - quite a bit of discussion on my local area! If I'm honest, Plumstead is a little better than Thamesmead (not THAT much better, but hey...there are more signs of life!). But the area around PD and the station (or 'Thamesmead West') is pretty weird. I don't like the strange paths you have to go through to get from the station to McDonald's. An friend of mine lives near the 53 terminus and whenever we were hungry, we would always have go take a LONG 10 min walk just to get to Mcds for food -_- Also, the walkway twisty-turny bit reminds me of the main part of Thamesmead (ugh!). I will admit, the area's history does intrigue me. The same friend I mentioned is also interested in old 1960s architecture. Thamesmead is a great example of that. Nathan Way (haha) is pretty dead though. Lots of run down buildings which were only built 30-odd years ago (so I was told). To answer your question on twisty turny routes...I in fact completed the 386 end-to-end 3 years ago, and did the 380 between Charlton and Plumstead. I can imagine how hard it must be for new drivers to learn the 386. At the time I did the route, it was on diversion around the Ha-Ha Road area (I think). To top it off, it was raining, the Windows were misty...so I had no idea where I was going! I got to Woolwich and thought 'Ah, okay. I know this bit now' lol. I wanted to take the 380 beyond Plumstead as I've never been past that area going in that direction. What's Broadwaters like? I've never been on a 244, so I have no idea. Oh I've also done the 178 end-to-end before it was rerouted in the Kidbrooke area (which is just as bad as Thamesmead if I recall correctly ) You know, I've never used the 178 (or the 291 - the only PD route I haven't travelled on) but this used to go to the Ferrier Estate, which I would say was worse than Thamesmead. The area is completely different now as the new 'Kidbrooke Village', certainly a big transformation. To see the Ferrier on screen, look up 'Nil By Mouth', a 1990s film. Tavy Bridge in Thamesmead (as The Squirrels mentions) is preserved on film in a scene in 'A Clockwork Orange'. Look up 'Living At Thamesmead' and 'Thamesmead 1970' - they're both on YouTube. I find these very strange films to watch, knowing what the area would be like in the years to come. I find the 1960's/1970's GLC stuff fascinating, as what was seen as a new revolution then is in many areas very grim now. There's also the bit that many estates didn't last that long really, a lot of redevelopment has taken place since. I know the twisty-turny bit by Plumstead Station you mean, I have no issue using it. It's only a short path to the McDonalds there past the side of the Post Office building. Still strikes me as odd that these subways and walkways are the walking routes for the PD drivers to pick up on Plumstead Road. With no fares now it doesn't seem as bad but in the days of loaded cash trays this must have been a bit dicey. Broadwaters itself is quite modern and quiet enough. If you leave PD garage you go through a modern part, then a slightly older part (1970's?) through Whinchat Road and then modern again around Merbury Road. The nature of the 380 and 244 in the area is quite twisty though. Oddly I have yet to do the eastern end of the 53 and also the 291 so I've delved too deeply into Plumstead but from the main road bits I've been along I quite like it in an "old London" sort of way. There is a sense of community when I've seen bits of Plumstead from passing buses. I'd agree Snoggle there's not much at the end of the 380 route - just the turning circle next to Belmarsh Prison with a dual carriageway next to it. I'm glad you see Plumstead in the "old London" way too, I thought it was just me. I've always got a bit of a funny vibe from the Broadwaters/West Thamesmead area. Chocolate box rabbit hutch houses, small, not fantastically well built, style over substance, selling an idea like so many of these places do. Few amenities around there, a faceless sprawl, a bit aggressive at times from adults and kids alike, especially after dark. The 244 and 380 were diverted away from the area in the evenings for a time in the noughties because of vandalism issues. The apartment blocks closer to the Thames went through a big equity dip about ten years ago, before the property bubble nationwide burst, and the semi well-to-do community envisaged by the developers vanished with it. The big-ish local authority estate in the middle (Broadwaters Estate proper) can get quite lively at times. But a lot of Greenwich's estates are like that, more than any other borough I know, after over 20 years of close involvement/life in housing estates. Never quite been able to nail down why. Yes, I heard about those blocks by the Thames. Must admit I haven't gone round the estates at night so don't know what they're like after dark. I know Plumstead High Street has it's moments though. Didn't realise about the 244/380 being diverted years ago......so the older bit I mention (Whinchat Road) is the 'proper' Broadwaters bit? I think I see what you mean, as I do about Greenwich's estates. Ferrier (as was), Connaught, Morris Walk, Maryon Grove, all the big names.......
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Sept 21, 2015 23:07:01 GMT
First time going in the route ever. I have to say...it gets quite depressing after Bexleyheath. Erith...Belvedere...Thamesmead...I really don't like these areas (no offence to anyone who lives there of course). There's just...nothing there. I have to admit that did make me smile I've lived in Plumstead for quite a while now, and all those places you mention are within walking distance to me. I actually really like the area, I've done many walks and bike rides around SE London and enjoy them a lot. There's lots to explore My family background is SW London (Mum's family from Wimbledon/Clapham Junction, and my dad's side from Carshalton/Sutton) though most family live outside of the capital these days. When I lived SW I was in Morden and North Cheam. I found the areas very boring, and it was a bit 'prim and proper' for me. I don't see any atmosphere in places such as Cheam, Raynes Park, Worcester Park etc. However, I found PD a lot more interesting - it reminded me of the old London atmosphere I remembered as a kid - maybe because it's more run down etc. I also found the place friendly too. I feel very at home in the area. Thing is, my other half (from Upton Park) wants me to move over there at some point (when we're living together full time) - whilst I'd do whatever it took for us to be together and happy, my experience is that East London is A LOT worse than it is round here. I feel safer in Plumstead/Woolwich/Charlton/Abbey Wood than I do in Stratford/Forest Gate/Plaistow/Barking. But no, I didn't take any offence, I know the area is run down and anyone passing through the area might get the wrong idea, especially the old Thamesmead part - however the history of that is interesting, and it's interesting to explore (if you're brave enough ), but it's not as bad an area as it seems. In bus terms it's getting a bit standardised with loads of hybrids out of PD (one plus point is the Tridents over the water) and has some interesting routes. Just wondering Nathan if you've tried the rather twisty 380 and 386 routes? 469 has a few turns round the back roads and the estates too
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Sept 17, 2015 10:33:49 GMT
I remember Stagecoach stripe uniform, it wasn't that old. The coats were a crap fit and the light summer jacket was a joke; I never wore it once, especially as my mum said it looked like a cleaners coat! I doubt we would see 2 route rotas back again. They got rid of most of these in preparation for single route rotas for TUPE. I predict give a few years drivers shortages would be like it was in the 90's and early 2000's and companies would be forced to abolish many of the nasty tactics like singe rotas etc. Ahhhh....the summer jacket. If I remember correctly this was a light blue/grey coloured thing which was quite long. Cleaners coat isn't a bad description. I have various old Stagecoach bits in my collection, the blazers are made of very heavy material. Formerly they had the UK symbol (made up of the red, orange and blue segments) on the pocket but the later version has 'Stagecoach' written on it underlined by the stripes. The latter version was bought in because they issued the same uniform for a time on South West Trains.......when was the stripe uniform got rid of.....about 2001? I thought two route rotas were quite a usual thing, I thought PD had the 177/472 on the same rota, and 53/122 & 291/386 on the same schedule. Mind you I'm thinking of 2013 schedules. Saying that I'm thinking Merton still have 163/164 together......I know they split 44/77 up a while back. Going back to the driving (sorry Mr. 10301!) I'm glad again it's all falling into place, and this thread is an amazing insight into the role. Just hearing about how the buses handle and drive differently is fascinating. Shame the variety is going with the hybrids but in time as they get more worn in (or worn out) do you think these will develop their own characteristics and get more interesting? Have you driven a single decker yet? Thinking that T doesn't have any, on your plan to drive at all the depots would it be odd to drive a single deck route, or is it all pretty similar? I remember chatting to people at Merton who were very bored of doing the 163/164 routes but hated doing DD work, which made me think there may be a big difference. Just checking the Stagecoach fleet list about T, the latest one seems to be 27th June.....guessing there's been movement since then.
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Sept 15, 2015 22:52:26 GMT
He told me this himself he measures it. N199 is probably 22 miles like you stated. I predicted it as 22-23 miles at least. Just mapped the route on Map My Ride in one direction only, from Trafalgar Square to St. Mary Cray and it came up as 21.69 miles (going the right way round roundabouts, town centres etc). Took me a good while as TfL haven't put the N199 on their maps yet and reading between the 208, 199, the old N47 and reading Mr. Munsters directions at the same time just to be doubly sure made the job a bit long.....
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Sept 14, 2015 23:41:05 GMT
Additionally my dad, who works at Plumstead, told me a while ago that he knew of a driver who knew every route in the company and would do overtime at any garage either side of the river Wow - superdriver , that's a lot of knowledge, indeed there are some routes (like the 330) where the turning points have more to remember than the main route About O/T, I asked about it from day 1, basically as long as we say we know the route they will give us the duty but if we mess up we don't have anything to cover us, we can do O/T at any Stagecoach Garage, if you aren't type trained mention this before agreeing to a duty and it should be done before you go out, This will need to go on your record as if you have an accident and you aren't official type trained on the bus, no one is going to stand by you. I will at some point most likely after my probation work a few RD's at NS hopefully on the 498 Wouldn't mind doing an 86 or just driving a TA for that matter, after my probation is up I can then put in a transfer to a different garage (Most likely NS). There are quite a few WH drivers that know T routes and vice versa and when the worst comes to the worst they end up working at each others garage when there is a shortage of drivers. I would rather be on a spare list driving the same route all the time would bore me, I really don't know how some drivers manage it. I do have a plan that within 2 years to have worked a route out of every STL garage, The 96 at PD is very tempting especially with the scania's (If you don't know I really like driving them ) BK doesn't have a waiting list any more, most people have migrated into NS or the Graveyard as it's known by some. Ok, see how that works. I mentioned it as I was travelling home from East London back to Woolwich one day and spotted a bloke in a Stagecoach uniform getting on the train at West Ham, with his bag and everything, and was thinking that I was sure I'd seen him driving my 122 earlier that week. It was a Sunday too which I thought would be unlikely for training etc at WH. Yes, I think a day on the 86 would be a good plan for a TA , you may even bag a short wheelbase one as I see those going up and down the Romford Road joining their longer counterparts. WH routes would be good for TA driving too, 69 and 330 being candidates that I can think of. I think the 97 could be interesting too with it's TAs and also the Scanias out on there too now. I would agree driving one route would get a bit much - I was quite surprised in the Stagecoach thread about the independent rotas at WH - a lifetime of the 330 must be very monotonous. Are there drivers that just stay on the spare board or when the time comes, do you have to go onto a rota? Also do some routes have longer waiting lists than others? Also are there many long serving people at T (or across STL for that matter)? I recall when I lived in South West London I'd see the odd bloke on the 163s with the 1980s striped 'London General' tie and the metal box. Also the odd London Buses LG blazer and one night bloke who wore the white shirt from that time (and also blinded the night 93 as 'N93' though they took away the 'N' ages ago ).....you could tell these chaps had done a long time. At PD the oldest uniform I've seen is from the 'Stagecoach Stripes' era of the 1990s, there's one bloke who wears the full kit (old tie, old blazer, white shirt)...... Glad to hear the 215 was good fun, and you're looking forward to a couple more days on there
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Sept 14, 2015 0:04:03 GMT
Yes, it's horrible out there. I have been almost killed several times out on my bike (notable ones being approaching a roundabout in Beckton where a car driver saw me and still decided to pull out as I was in front of them, and one only yesterday where someone coming from Queens Market decided to accelerate towards me and actually steer into me too as I was going along Green Street) - and I'm not even one of the 'lycra hell for leather' brigade. I'm very reserved (I don't even like using bus lanes - indeed on the way down on the 5 route from Wood Lane into Barking I was always looking for a big red thing behind me so I could bump onto a convenient bit of pavement), but my own observations echo those mentioned on this thread.
As I said before 10301, keep the updates coming and hoping the best for doing the 215 tomorrow. Sure you'll be fine, if you can take a bus on towards central on the 56/48, then the 215 should be very ok!!!!
Just a quick one about O/T - can you do overtime at other garages if there's demand? Reading the thread it might be a way to get some shifts closer to home (I recall you mention NS and a long waiting list) - also is the process same as it is on LU? Basically you go on a waiting list for a depot - but - if you can find someone to swap you can mutually exchange garages? We can do that but the downside is that you won't go onto a roster anytime soon, going onto the bottom of the list for the 'depot pool' (I'm guessing the equivalent of a spare roster I suppose) getting a rostered place when it comes up.
With the O/T question I realise it may be unlikely as training records would be needed for a certain route etc, but still something I've wondered about.
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Aug 28, 2015 0:23:38 GMT
Hello 10301 - just to say I have been following this excellent thread with much interest - thank you for taking the time to keep us updated and providing such detailed and well written accounts - certainly answered a lot of questions I have had for ages about being a bus driver. Keep 'em coming! This is of particular interest as Stagecoach is my favourite operator, and has been for some time now. I live close to PD garage so travel on their routes frequently, and also travel on WH routes a lot too as my girlfriend lives in East London. I don't generally take any Leyton routes (my main ones being 330, 69, 97 and Tower Transit 58) but certainly I find it interesting in East London, especially (like you) as I prefer the Tridents and it's now hybrid city in PD........ I'm so pleased for you that you've got the position of driver, are enjoying it, and reading this thread, doing very well! I imagine it's very exciting and interesting too to learn the job from that side of the screen. Thanks again for posting this thread and indeed keep up the good work!
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Apr 7, 2015 12:53:28 GMT
Just been to Canning Town and had it confirmed, and also watched a 5/69/330 using the temporary stop....it's TS2 stop on the other side of the road while the works are going on.
Thanks again for replies gents, I knew this would be the case......
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Apr 7, 2015 9:15:14 GMT
Hello - thanks for the replies, greatly appreciated. Indeed, I thought this Rathbone Market thing wasn't quite right just read this again, if he said the last stop was Rathbone how did you manage to stay on the bus and miss the station stop? Where did you get off? Did he take you to the stand? What happened is, when the bus arrived at Rathbone, one person got off downstairs as he played the 'this bus terminates here' once and turned the lights off about one second before pulling away - I was upstairs. I assumed he was playing the announcement for the Canning Town station stop and was going to flick the lights on and off to make passengers aware.....instead the lights stayed off and he headed towards the inside lane away from the stop (and when I pressed the bell I heard expletives coming from the cab) No - no stand - I got taken past the traffic lights beyond the Silvertown Way stop - and he didn't drop me until we had gone past the traffic lights AFTER those - quite a way from the station and it was a bit irritating to see the bus on the stand once I had walked back. Kept going on about how I couldn't tell him his job, the other bus drivers on every 330 I had been on before must have been doing it wrong as a notice in the garage said to set down at Rathbone, I was very taken aback. I think most people who had tried to pull a fast one would just admit it hadn't worked that time and forget about it, this chap might have had a bad day..........
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Apr 6, 2015 23:36:26 GMT
Hi all,
Just a quick one, during the current works at Canning Town bus station, which is the correct set down for route 330 terminating? My understanding is that the temporary stop is the one on Silvertown Way, opposite the station, as all the 330 trips I have been on during the works have done this. However I've just had an encounter with a driver who took me past this point, saying drivers have been instructed to set down at Rathbone Market, and then berate me for telling him his job. I can't find any information anywhere that Rathbone Market would be the last stop, was a bit of a surprise to have such a discussion on the bus........
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Mar 1, 2015 17:57:59 GMT
Seriously MetrolineGA1511, could you maybe stop with the persistent multiquotes? You're bringing up old(ish) comments on different threads and spamming the Recent Posts feed. I understand you're catching up on posts that you've missed, but there's really no need to quote every single thing you wish to reply back to. Thanks. Nathan. I'd say using 'quote' in a discussion isn't a bad idea - otherwise nobody would know what he (or anyone else who would use the quote really) is going on about
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Feb 21, 2015 0:39:58 GMT
At the time, Balaam was pronounced wrong to say "Balaaahhhm Road" when it should be "Bay-lam Street" Similarly, Canning Town Hermit Road became "Canning Town Barking Road" which is a bit vague considering how much of Barking Road is in Canning Town and East Ham "White Horse" became East Ham Central Park Yes indeed, the 330 iBus has both ways of pronouncing it. On approach it announces "Bay-lam Street - alight here for Balaaahhm Leisure Centre" Noticing 'Canning Town Barking Road' on the 474 blinds I'd agree it's very vague too.
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Feb 20, 2015 1:23:54 GMT
As always, apologies if this has come up before - this forum being many thousands of threads long it wouldn't surprise me if it has - but here goes: Looking at the excellent Ian Armstrong site, I came across the turning points for route 330. I was quite surprised, for such a short and basic route the turning points probably more than double the amount of knowledge needed for it! One that caught my eye was the Plaistow Abbey Arms turn (show blind as Balaam Street) from Barking Road, via Balaam Street, Broadway and Greengate back to Barking Road. It's about 1 mile to do each turn - on a route which end to end isn't even 4 miles long! Just wondering if there are many other long winded turns such as this - or indeed other notable routes where the curtailment points account for more route knowledge than the actual route, also is this common? It's something I only noticed recently and got me wondering.....
|
|